Church Stands In Shadow of Park West

Congregants of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church—located on West 100th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenue—have formed a close bond with its vaulted Gothic ceilings, prominent beige Corinthian columns, and stained-glass windows. But the beauty of the church could be fleeting due to a lack of funds to reverse the structure’s general decay and repair damage wrought by the construction of luxury condominiums next door.

The 100-year-old church—known for its array of community and homeless outreach programs and worship programs conducted in both English and Spanish—faces possible demolition if appropriate finances for renovation are not garnered. Property officials said at a meeting Thursday evening that the development of Park West Village, a nearby four building condo complex, has further aggravated the building’s crumbling roof and interior.

An engineering expert, contracted by Trinity, determined that it would cost between $8 and $10 million to “restore Trinity to its former glory,” according to Trinity secretary Jennifer Graves. With a budget of only $400,000, Graves characterized the renovation cost as “totally out of the question for us.”

The financial shortfall is causing the steeple and architectural nuances of the building to waste away in the shadows of the austere steel skeleton of Park West Village. According to pastor Heidi Neumark, Village developers offered the church $150,000 to remove and store the stained glass windows, much to the chagrin of congregants, who find them spiritually uplifting.

“The windows were so beautiful,” congregant and art history buff Leanna Hiebre said, quickly adding, “What goes on inside spiritually is more important.”

At Thursday’s gathering, an ethnically diverse group of congregants and community members discussed possible ways to remedy what they consider a crisis. While a show of hands revealed that some wished to tear down and then rebuild the structure, most chose the more expensive path, calling for the building’s refurbishment. To mount the challenge of renovation, Neumark urged a “clear capital campaign” and a neighborhood network to spread the word about fundraising.

In addition to congregants’ spiritual concerns, many fear the repercussions of the loss of the homeless shelter for LGBT youths and other community programs, currently housed in the church’s basement. “People come in here for breathing space,” Neumark said.

While the church only draws about 100 congregants, she said it affects many through its social agenda. The large percentage of Spanish speakers, some of whom may be illegal immigrants, are “full citizens” when inside the church, according to Neumark.

Given the small number of parishioners, many expressed a need to publicize the issue. “There are a lot of people who pass by and do not know we’re here,” said Anne Stephens, who has attended Trinity since the 1980s. Urban planner Jeannette Rauseh said to Neuman at the meeting, “Your congregation is strong enough to survive for social and spiritual means, but not physically.”

But the forces seem resolute to preserve their house of worship. Reverend James Sudbrock of the Advent Lutheran Church on the Upper West Side remembers when Trinity had only seven members in the 1970s, but still survived. After deliberations with an architect, church Vice President Kevin Lotz announced that Trinity could renovate with the more realistic goal of $2 million.

“The church is rapidly growing, not dying,” church president Lydie Raschka said.

Councilwoman Melissa Mark Viverito expressed support. “I will be helpful and supportive of what the community chooses to do.”

Although some congregants believe that Park West Village and Trinity could coexist, others sensed a battle between the two. “We’re David and they’re Goliath,” Hiebre said. “We’re trying to figure out which stone to toss.”

scott.levi@columbiaspectator.com