Landmarks Commission Signals Potential Approval for West-Park Church Hardship Bid

Members of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) signaled during a recent hearing that the West-Park Presbyterian Church on the Upper West Side appears to satisfy the legal requirements for a hardship exemption. Such a designation would permit the demolition of the historic 130-year-old structure to facilitate a new residential development proposed by Alchemy Properties.

While the commission has not issued a final ruling, several members and the agency’s general counsel, Mark Silberman, noted that the church faces substantial financial hurdles. The property requires extensive facade repairs and interior upgrades to meet current building codes, costs that the congregation reportedly cannot sustain. The LPC has spent eight months reviewing financial data, including analyses from three independent firms, to determine if the church can generate a "reasonable return"—defined as 6% of its assessed value—under its current configuration.

LPC chair Lisa Kersavage emphasized that the commission’s review is strictly limited to the building's financial viability, not its architectural or cultural significance. "The demolition of the building is inherently inappropriate, and that is why this is being considered under the hardship provision," Kersavage stated. The commission noted that while the church possesses transferable development rights, there is currently no viable market for them in the immediate vicinity.

Efforts to preserve the building have been led by the Center at West Park, an arts nonprofit that previously occupied the space. The group recently proposed a $7.2 million lease agreement intended to cover necessary repairs. However, some commissioners expressed skepticism regarding the proposal, questioning the organization's long-term creditworthiness and ability to sustain such payments compared to its previous rental history.

Regarding the fourth criteria for hardship—the purchaser's good-faith intent to redevelop—Alchemy Properties has already secured a demolition contract and preliminary architectural designs. While the Center at West Park has challenged the application on the grounds that court approval for the sale is still pending, Silberman suggested it would be unreasonable to mandate such approval before the commission decides on the hardship claim itself.

Hardship exemptions remain rare, with the LPC granting slightly more than half of the 23 applications filed over the last six decades. The commission is expected to circulate a draft determination among its members in the coming days. According to reports from Councilmember Gale Brewer’s office, a final vote on the matter is anticipated for August 18, 2026.