The Conservancy joined a June 16 press conference at West Park Presbyterian Church to show support for The Center at West Park. Located within a designated New York City landmark of significant architectural and cultural merit, the Center provides accessible, high-quality arts and community programming.
Conservancy President Peg Breen spoke in favor of preserving the historic building, reiterating our longstanding opposition to proposals that would demolish it for market-rate development. Other speakers included Councilmember Gale Brewer, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Center Executive Director Debby Hirshman, and artists Matt Dillon, Mark Ruffalo, Fisher Stevens, and Kenneth Lonergan.

The Presbytery sent the Center an eviction notice recently after turning down the Center’s offer to spend some $8 million to clear violations at the building and take down decades-old scaffolding. The Center has also offered to match a developer’s multi-million-dollar offer for the building. The Presbytery is likely to return to the Landmarks Preservation Commission shortly to ask permission to demolish this Romanesque Revival landmark for high-rise, market-rate housing.
We remain committed to protecting this irreplaceable landmark and encourage others to support the effort by signing the petition circulated by The Center at West Park.
Thank You!