Church Moves Closer To Landmark

west park presbyterian church is one step closer to achieving landmark status. the city planning commission voted unanimously march 9 to make the century-old church a landmark.

the city council will now hold a public hearing on the designation and will have a final vote in the matter. but that seems to be a formality.

council member gale brewer, whose support is crucial for a full council vote, has advocated for landmark protection for the church.

and the push for landmark status has had crucial backing from city agencies, including the landmarks preservation commission. during the commission's jan. 12 vote, chair robert tierney called west park presbyterian, "one of the best examples of a romanesque revival-style religious structure" in the city.

landmark west, a neighborhood preservation group, has had west park presbyterian on its preservation "wish list" since 1985.

but rev. robert brashear has opposed granting the church landmark status. he told the west side spirit in january that he feared that landmarking would have a "chilling effect" on negotiations with developers to help restore the aging, deteriorating building.

west park presbyterian church has not hosted any services since 2008; the congregation currently meets at the church of st. paul and st. andrew united methodist church on west 86th street and west end avenue.