Report: Former St. Emeric property will yield to housing for seniors and formerly homeless individuals

As expected, the Archdiocese of New York has struck a deal to develop the block-long property on 13th Street and Avenue D that formerly housed the St. Emeric church and school. 

A collaborative effort involving Community Access, Spatial Equity, Duvernay + Brooks, and the Cooper Square Committee is reportedly launching this project to provide homes for seniors and formerly homeless individuals, including those with special needs who qualify for supportive services.

As 6sqft reported: 

Under the terms of the deal, the developers would create 570 affordable housing units across the full-block site. The project calls for two towers, one measuring 240,000 square feet and the other 570,000 square feet. Up to 60% of the homes will be reserved for homeless New Yorkers.

And... 

The first phase of construction will be as-of-right and kick off in 2026; the team may pursue a rezoning for the second phase. Any change in zoning would require the project to go through the uniform land use review procedure (ULURP). 

The now-deconsecrated church, founded in 1949, merged with St. Brigid on Avenue B in early 2013. The site adjacent to the Con Ed power plant includes a former school building, greenhouse, and large parking lot. 

In March 2022, a local church official who was not authorized to speak publicly confirmed that the former church and school would be torn down. The source also told EVG's Stacie Joy that the Archdiocese wanted to "do something positive for the community, perhaps something like affordable housing." 

The Archdiocese previously went the luxury route, selling two former East Village churches for over $80 million in recent years. 

The link below has more background on this story... 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• The former St. Emeric property could yield a 570-unit affordable housing complex on Avenue D

Report: The former St. Emeric property could yield a 570-unit affordable housing complex on Avenue D

Potential plans have been revealed for the block-long property that formerly housed the St. Emeric church and school on 13th Street and Avenue D adjacent to the Con Ed power plant.

As PincusCo first reported yesterday, Spatial Equity and Community Access, a nonprofit developer, signed a deal with the Archdiocese of New York to pay between $58 million and $68 million for a 570-unit multifamily property at 181 Avenue D. 

However, the deal is contingent upon the City Council approving a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) application for the lot. (The space is not currently zoned for residential use.)

And some reporting via Commercial Observer: 

The archdiocese filed a petition with the New York State Supreme Court for judicial approval of the sale on Monday, a requirement for nonprofit and religious organizations. 

The 1.4-acre lot will have two separate buildings, both 100 percent affordable housing, with one being about 240,000 square feet in total and the other spanning 190,000 square feet, according to the court filings.

Community Access has developed 21 affordable and supportive housing complexes in NYC, per its website. 

The now-deconsecrated church merged with St. Brigid on Avenue B in early 2013. Several years ago, the church's signage (it used to say "For God And Country, 1953") was chiseled away.

The property also includes a greenhouse...

And in the second-floor window of the school...

Here's some history of the parish via Wikipedia: 

The parish was established in 1949. The Rev. V. J. Brosman had a brick church built in 1949 to designs by Voorhees, Walker, Foley & Smith ... for $300,000. The cornerstone was laid in 1950. The church is now covered in ivy. A two-story school building was erected in 1952 to designs by the same architects for $240,000. 

In March 2022, a local church official who was not authorized to speak publicly confirmed that the former church and school would be torn down. The source also told EVG's Stacie Joy that the Archdiocese wanted to "do something positive for the community, perhaps something like affordable housing." 

The Archdiocese previously went the luxury route, selling two former East Village churches for more than $80 million in recent years. 

Developer Douglas Steiner bought the former Mary Help of Christians property on Avenue A at 12th Street in 2012 for $41 million. During the summer of 2013, workers demolished the church, school and rectory to make way for Steiner East Village, the block-long luxury condoplex with an indoor pool. 

In March 2020, Gemini Rosemont, an L.A.-based real-estate investor, bought the former Church of the Nativity property on Second Avenue between Second Street and Third Street for $40 million. The property remains vacant. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• What might be next for the former St. Emeric church and school property?

What might be next for the former St. Emeric church and school property?

In recent weeks, there has been a lot of activity on the property that houses the former St. Emeric church and school on 13th Street and Avenue D. 

Workers have put up plywood on the 13th Street side of the parking lot on the site...

As we understand it, the church and school are slated for demolition. At this point, there are more questions than answers. (More on that below.)

Earlier this month, EVG contributor Stacie Joy explored the site...

At the deconsecrated church, which merged with St. Brigid on Avenue B in early 2013, few signs remain of its former usage. The church's signage (it used to say "For God And Country, 1953") has been chiseled away.   

And in the parking lot, workers were seen carting off barrels full of an unknown substance... with leftover red tape noting "Danger Hazardous Material" ... 

And at the school, which has an entrance on Avenue D and around the corner on 12th Street... 

The property includes ample parking... not to mention a greenhouse and a small garden.

A local church official, who was not authorized to go on the record, confirmed to Stacie that the former church and school would be torn down. In addition, the source said that the Archdiocese wanted to "move on" and "do something positive for the community, perhaps something like affordable housing."

The source was unaware if the property had already been sold. Given the proximity to the Con Ed plant and various public housing, the site likely wouldn't attract a developer for any luxury projects.

Here's an aerial view via Google...

And here's some history of the parish via Wikipedia:

The parish was established in 1949. The Rev. V. J. Brosman had a brick church built in 1949 to designs by Voorhees, Walker, Foley & Smith of 101 Park Ave. for $300,000. The cornerstone was laid in 1950. The church is now covered in ivy. A two-story school building was erected in 1952 to designs by the same architects for $240,000.

H/T to EVG reader QueenzEnglish for first alerting us to the construction!

 

Con air

Photo on Avenue D featuring the Con Ed plant and the former St. Emeric ... thanks to jdx for the photo. Find more of his work on Instagram.

Report: Discussions on a mixed-income community for former St. Emeric property

[EVG file photo]

There is some development news to report about the former Church of Saint Emeric, which has sat empty since merging with St. Brigid's in early 2013.

St. Emeric's, built in 1950, is on a lonely stretch of 13th Street near Avenue D. The church sits next to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection's Manhattan Pumping Station and across the street from the Con Ed power plant ...


[EVG file photo]

As Curbed reported late last week, the Archdiocese of New York is considering a proposal to turn the 300,000-square-foot property, which includes a former school, over to a land trust for 400 units of below-market-rate housing.

Per Curbed...

The Cooper Square Community Land Trust has offered to partner with developer Jonathan Rose Companies to create a mixed-income community ...

The Archdiocese has already committed to devoting 100,000 square feet of the property toward affordable housing — though they have yet to define tenant income requirements — on land that houses the former Church of St. Emeric. But housing advocates say the church should further its charitable mission by devoting the entire lot to low- to middle-income housing.

And...

[I]f the trust’s proposal to develop St. Emeric's is accepted, the project would also include community space, as well as services for mental and physical health, senior services, and educational programming. The group would fine tune the plan based off of community feedback.

And if all this goes through, given the proximity to Con Ed, the land would require environmental remediation from contaminated soil.

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese doesn't seem so keen to convert the former Church of Nativity on Second Avenue between Second Street and Third Street into similar housing.

The Church closed after a service on July 31, 2015, merging with Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street. In the summer of 2017, the archdiocese desacralized the former church, clearing the way for a potential sale of the desirable property.

Back to Curbed:

The Cooper Square Community Land Trust ... offered to buy Church of the Nativity for $18.5 million (with $5 million in closing costs) over a 30-year period, but the Archdiocese has instead expressed interest in seeking market value for the land and using the funds to address needs at the Most Holy Redeemer and parishes across the city.

The Cooper Square Community Land Trust is currently organizing a town hall this spring with Community Board 3 to discuss "how decommissioned churches can be best utilized by the Archdiocese and the communities they once served." Something other than demolishing them to make way for ultra-luxury condos.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Looking at the Church of Saint Emeric on East 13th Street

From St. Emeric's to St. Brigid's

Educator: Turning the former Church of the Nativity into luxury housing would be a 'sordid use' of the property

From St. Emeric's to St. Brigid's

This afternoon, parishioners traveled from St. Emeric on East 13th Street between Avenue C and Avenue D ... to the newly reopened St. Brigid's on Avenue B and East Eighth Street...

As The Villager first reported in June, St. Emeric’s, built in 1950 at 740 E. 13th St., will close and merge with St. Brigid's.

Bobby Williams took the following photos...

St. Brigid's reopened today after more than 11 years ... in a special mass presided by Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan.

Here's the WABC report... with bonus Casey Anthony coverage tacked on...

Looking at the Church of Saint Emeric on East 13th Street

Catholic churches are coming and going these days in the East Village. Parishioners held the last mass this past Sunday at Mary Help of Christians on East 12th Street. (The Villager has a nice farewell feature in this week's issue.)

The Catholic Archdiocese is selling the church property, which includes the Don Bosco Salesians rectory adjacent to the church and the church's former school on East 11th Street. No official word just yet on the new owner.

Meanwhile, renovations continue at St. Brigid's on Avenue B at East Eighth Street.

And then there the Church of Saint Emeric. As The Villager first reported in June, St. Emeric’s, built in 1950 at 740 E. 13th St. at Avenue D, will close and merge with St. Brigid's.

Per The Villager, Father Lorenzo Ato, priest in charge at St. Emeric for the past four years, will be the pastor of the new parish and has already moved into the Brigid's rectory.

Joseph Zwilling, archdiocese spokesperson, said there weren't any immediate plans for the St. Emeric’s church building or the two-story parochial school built in 1952 next door on East 12th Street and Avenue D.

In any event, I figured this was a good time to visit St. Emeric's ... located down a rather lonely stretch of East 13th Street, which dead ends at the Con Ed power plant. The church sits next to the Manhattan Pumping Station that's currently being refurbished ...

... and across the street from the Con Ed power plant...

On the morning that I walked by here, there were a handful of men huddled atop the sidewalk bridge sleeping...

... and here's a look from the East 12th Street side...

The church building itself is fairly unremarkable (I haven't been inside) and the chunk of real estate is in an unglamorous spot — surrounded by the Con Ed plant, pumping station and public housing. Not sure what would work here outside of some utilitarian purpose or nonprofit use. In other words, no dorms or condos.

But!

Things being what they are these days in Manhattan, I could see some enterprising restaurateur open an eatery and offer an East-River-to-table small plates Tasting Menu for thrill-seekers who desire a real "gritty" East Village meal (don't worry — the eel with be flown in fresh daily from Nihonbashi) ... or a developer launch a boutique hotel with Super Charged Weekend Packages for travelers who yearn what it's like to work at a power plant. Other authentic "street" touches include the housekeeping staff who push their supplies in imitation C-Town grocery carts (for sale in the gift shop for $1,695) and the bar that sells craft beers in brown paper bags.

Yeah, anyway — this is the Church of Saint Emeric