New Condo Tower Planned at 1010 Park Avenue

The Park Avenue Christian Church at the corner of East 85th Street is selling its rectory and parish house to Extell Development, which plans to build a 210-foot-tall building hovering over the site. The developer intends to raze the structure to make way for a $50 million apartment tower that will bend around the 70-foot spire atop the historic church. The new building would have 17 units spread over 16 floors, with amenities such as an indoor/outdoor pool, saunas, a playroom, gym, an outdoor recreation area and a private terrace.

The Park Avenue Christian Church is selling its five-story annex building at 1010 Park Avenue, which houses the school, to raise money for its small congregation, according to church officials.

The buyer, Extell Development, intends to raze structure to make way for a $50 million apartment tower.

The new 105,000-square-foot building would have 17 units spread over 16 floors, with amenities such as a pool, saunas, a playroom, gym, an outdoor recreation area and a private terrace.

Extell’s original design called for a mindboggling 210-foot tower that cantilevered over the landmark church, wrapping around its 70-foot spire and blocking a wall of stained glass windows on the south side of the church. The Upper East Side house of worship, completed in 1911, is known for its famous stained glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Because of the backlash, Extell and the church agreed to hold off on development until it drafted a less controversial proposal. They hired preservation experts Beyer Blinder Belle to design the new building, and in a statement, the developer said they want to "find a solution that preserves the church and is acceptable to all parties."

click to enlarge

Few obstacles stand in the way of the project, as the church buildings themselves are not landmarks.

In an unusual arrangement, however, Extell agreed to a last-minute request by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission not to alter the church itself, which dates to 1911 and features Tiffany windows, without a thorough review.

More churches are considering deals with developers as land prices reach historic highs, paving the way for disputes between builders, strapped-for-cash religious institutions, preservation groups and neighborhood residents.

The congregation of Park Avenue Christian Church said it needs money to keep the institution afloat.

Visit Our Sponsors

---

Page Views
Since October 1, 2011