(Washington) Fewer churches, more houses. Even luxury homes. Something like this could be the motto of estate agents in New York. The real estate market of New York is booming. Although the eight million inhabitants, only grows to a more modest degree, about 0.2 percent each year, but the demand for housing remains strong. More and more single households and higher demand will be satisfied. So real estate speculators eagerly spy for the churches of the city. Numerous churches are risking soon to be demolished to make way for luxury condominiums.
Some are already gone. Thus the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. She was sold, according to USA Today, for 13.8 million dollars. Today there is a building there with 40 apartments. Each of them can be rented at the price of 4,250-5,500 dollars a month. Another example is the Church of Mary Help of Christians in the East Village. Soon the church of Our Lady of Vilnius in Lower Manhattan at the entrance to the Holland Tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey. For them, a $13 million price was paid. In their place, a 18-storey residential building is to be built.
Rising costs, declining demand
Church of Our Lady of Vilnius will soon be discontinued
In the Upper East Side, the Church of Our Lady of Peace should belong to the demolition of candidates. The Church was built in 1886 by the German-American community, and was later became the home of Italians . It is located in a historic part of the city. The church facade is a listed building. No problem for the real estate industry. The facade will be preserved behind a modern building with luxury apartments. The historic façade will bring a special flair to the living space of future owners.
Just one kilometer away the Church of Saint Thomas More could be demolished. It is the church which was visited by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. There, the memorial service for her murdered husband, US President John F. Kennedy took place.
Reason for the feverish pursuit of churches by the real estate industry is the announcement of the Archdiocese of New York, to merge parishes and close some churches by year end. This is due to rising maintenance costs, shortage of priests and decline of practicing believers. Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Cardinal, announced that his archdiocese will no longer spend $ 40 million to maintain the parishes that do not need it.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Vatican Insider / Curbed NY (screenshot)
image: Vatican Insider / Curbed NY (screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
7 comments:
At least the landlords pay taxes unlike the corrupt racketeering organization called the church.
I was incomplete in my thought above. The protestants are full of shite too.
If the Church is a racketeering organization, there isn't much hope for the rest of society to be any better. The values and value of Catholic organizations brings more to the table than false claims, if it's lived in Its fullness.
Hello Tancred,
Could I ask a favor? Could you kindly explain the countdown clock in connection with Cdl Mahony?
Thanks.
It's when he ceases to be a papal elector. Worse than even Tallyrand.
The Vatic-anus Real Estate Queer Support Holdings, Inc.
Some truth in that statement....unfortunately!
Those churches were paid for with pennies contributed by almost penniless Catholic immigrants during the latter 19th century. Instead of building luxury condos on those sites it would honor the memory of the founders and aid the welfare of the present generation of Catholics if nursery centers and homes for retirees were built. We won't hold our breath.
Is it any wonder even suburban churches are emptying.
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