There are just two weeks left to voice your support for West Park Presbyterian Church, an Upper West Side landmark whose owners want to destroy it. July 10 is the last day to submit testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC).
The Conservancy has been fighting to save West Park for 25 years.
- Read our most recent statement on West Park
- Conservancy statement opposing 2025 West Park hardship application, 12/9/25
- Conservancy statements in response to West Park’s 2022-23 hardship application, as the current application relies on information similar to the earlier hardship application. (June 2022, June 2023, October 2023)
On June 23, LPC general counsel Mark Silberman presented guidelines for the Commissioners to evaluate the Church’s claim that the building is no longer suitable for its needs and should be demolished on the basis of hardship. The use argument is the “Third Factor” of the Landmarks Law’s hardship test. Watch the presentation on the LPC YouTube channel.
The Church has claimed that the building no longer suits its purpose because it is too expensive to maintain. The Church has also claimed that the minimum cost to repair the building is $50 million. Cost estimates from the LPC’s own consulting engineer contradict that claim. As do our decades of experience with restoring landmarks. Our testimony pointed out that West Park is, in fact, still open periodically for church services and other events. The Church also ignores the rental income and maintenance provided by the non-profit Center at West Park, which the Church created to assist with maintaining the building. The Center also had restoration plans which the LPC approved, but the Church refused to let the Center make the repairs.
This church can be saved. Allowing West Park to be destroyed would set a terrible precedent.
LPC Chair Lisa Kersavage has announced that the hearing’s record will close on July 10. We expect the Commission to start its deliberations later that month.
If you want to add your voice, email the Landmarks Commission here: testimony@lpc.nyc.gov by Friday, July 10.