City declines to landmark church in Flatbush, clearing way for demolition

The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission has decided not to landmark the Baptist Church of the Redeemer in Flatbush/Ditmas Park, giving the owners a clear path to demolish the structure and replace it with a nine-story supportive housing building.

The church is partnering with affordable housing developer Mutual Housing Association of New York to construct a residential building that will still feature the church at the bottom, according to City Limits. The owners say they need to knock down the current church because of how much it has deteriorated.

The plan has angered some community members, and a local preservationist requested that Landmarks evaluate the church to stop the demolition. However, the agency determined that the roughly 100-year-old building did not meet the standards for becoming a landmark.

The new development will likely take about two years to build and give low-income people a place to live.

“It is primarily for poor people who need housing,” pastor Sharon Williams told City Limits. “The church will, of course, have new space for its activities, but that is not the main purpose of this development.” [City Limits] – Eddie Small