Crumbling UWS Church Moves To Evict Nonprofit Fighting Demolition

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A crumbling Upper West Side church filed suit this week against the nonprofit tenant foiling its plans to demolish and sell, court records show.

West-Park Presbyterian Church at 165 West 86th St. — a dilapidated landmarked building which church officials hope to sell to developers for an apartment complex — launched its legal battle in Manhattan Supreme Civil Court Monday against the Center at West Park, according to court documents.

The church seeks to void the performing arts organization's discounted $2,200 lease, signed in 2017, which they argued the nonprofit nullified when it failed to renovate the 132-year-old building as promised.

"The compromised structure and dilapidated condition of the Premises pose serious safety concerns," the lawsuit contends.

"The below-market rent was, in part, due to Tenant’s obligation under the Lease to raise funds towards restoration and take steps towards restoring the Premises, which it never did."

West-Park Presbyterian Church has been grappling for months with the problems of renovating a landmarked building, which include strict city guidelines and a steep price tag they estimate to be $50 million.

Faced with a dwindling congregation and decades of disrepair, the church decided in March to sell the house of worship to developer Alchemy Properties for an apartment tower.

But its tenant has been working with local organizations to prevent the sale — contingent on demolition, which must be approved by the Landmark Preservation Commission. The Center at West Park's bid to take over the building and prevent the sale entirely has won support from advocates including City Councilmember Gale Brewer, as Patch previously reported.

The nonprofit argues the church has overestimated the cost of repairing the historic building, which it puts at $18 million, reported the Commercial Observer.

West-Park Presbyterian's local efforts to revoke landmark status have not gone well for the church — both Community Board 7's preservation committee and the executive board denied its application in June.

The Landmark Preservation Commission heard a presentation on the church's condition in July and is currently reviewing its hardship application, city records show.

Zachary Tomlinson, who runs the nonprofit, declined to comment on pending litigation but told the Commercial Observer earlier this year that repeated offers to buy the church had been declined.

Related coverage:

• UWS Community Board Says No To Local Church's Demolition Request
• Demolition Of Crumbling 132-Year-Old UWS Church? Local Board Votes No
• Opening Meeting Set For Upper West Side Church's Fate
• UWS Church Pushes To Lose Landmark Status To Save Building: Report