An Upper West Side congregation that wanted to demolish its church building, a Manhattan landmark, and sell the property to a developer — to the dismay of some neighbors, including a growing list of celebrities — has shelved the plans.
The congregation, members of West Park Presbyterian Church, had said for decades that it did not have the money to repair the dilapidated 19th-century Romanesque Revival building. Instead, members hoped that selling the property to a developer who wanted to convert it into a high-quality home would help sustain the church's broader work, including caring for those in need.
But the 19th-century building was declared a monument in 2010. To demolish it, the church needed approval from the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission, which members obtained in 2022, including Matt Damon and Mark Ruffalo.
In a letter sent to the commission Friday, the church's attorneys said they were withdrawing their application because the church had filed a rent dispute against one of the tenants.
The commission was scheduled to vote on the church's request on Tuesday. The church said in a statement Friday that it plans to try again once the lawsuit is resolved.
But advocates for preserving the building said they hoped the move could lead to a different future for the building.
“I’m thrilled,” said Gale Brewer, a council member who represents the Upper West Side and helped make the building a landmark, over community objections. She said she hopes the closure might lead to someone else buying the building and planning not to tear it down.
The dispute over the church had attracted national attention as celebrities campaigned to preserve the building. In addition to Mr. Ruffalo and Mr. Damon, the actor Wendell Pierce, the comedian Amy Schumer, the rapper Common and others also spoke out in favor of preservation. Mr. Ruffalo even cornered Mayor Eric Adams at the Tribeca Film Festival to defend the building.
The church had also become a focal point in the debate about the city's housing crisis. Some advocates for greater development said the celebrities and well-connected Upper West Side residents who defended the building were hindering the housing the city needs.
Housing shortages are one of the main reasons for high rents and real estate prices in New York City.
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