Historic Bowne St. Church Could Be Demolished

Since 1892, the elegant, red brick Bowne Street Community Church has graced the corner of Bowne Street and Roosevelt Avenue. But the building that has welcomed generations of Flushing residents may be torn down if a plan goes through to sell the lot it stands on to a Manhattan-based developer.
According to a church document circulated at a Community Board 7 meeting, The Clarett Group approached the church with a proposal to purchase the church and its parking lot and build a high-rise apartment building. In exchange, The Clarett Group developers would build a new church free of charge on a portion of the land and could donate as much as $1 million to the congregation.
Preservationists have decried the proposal, noting the churchs beauty, particularly its magnificent stained glass Tiffany windows. But the church document cites the financial strain of keeping up the 110-year-old structure. The document also says the new building would likely contain Sunday school classrooms that could also be used as a low-cost day care facility.
"The church makes this part of Flushing unique and like no other," said Mitchell Grubler, director of the Queens Historical Society (QHS). "It adds a great deal to the sense of place." James Driscoll, a historian at QHS, explained that the Tiffany windows inside were made by a parishioner of the church, Agnes Northrop, and had been designed specially for the space. "Northrop was a member of that congregation for 70 years," he said. "She made those windows for people she knew."
Borough Historian Stanley Cogan added his voice to the chorus against the demolition. "It would be a tragedy to lose this building," he said. "Old Flushing is almost all gone."
Local residents walking past the front of the church last Wednesday said they, too, would be sad to see the building go.
"They shouldnt do it," said Virginia Rivera. "Its been here a long time. It would be a shame to see it go."
Aziz Khan, another local resident agreed, adding, "Basically [Flushing] is really condensed already. If they build a new building it would be too much."
Jozo Bosnjak, the superintendent of the apartment building across the street from the church, was also against tearing the old structure down. "Thats a historic building," he said. They dont make stuff like that any more."
Even three Bowne Street parishioners standing at the church gate were against the proposed demolition. "Look at this beautiful church," said one woman, who declined to give her name. "You can keep the old and just add on to it if you need to. Im all for history."
Though the parishioners said they thought the demolition plan was only tentative, the church document listed numerous advantages to accepting the deal.
"The building is costly to maintain," it says. "We are now spending significant money for repair and maintenance that could be used instead for outreach and community service." It also speaks of the benefits of having a new building, with better sound equipment and expanded seating. Additionally, the document notes that the Tiffany windows would be preserved and placed in the new church.
The churchs pastor, Reverend Norman Chang, declined to comment on the status of the negotiations. "The church tries to serve the community in the right way," he said, adding that the church desperately needed a new education area. "If someone would contribute a huge some of money, we could keep this building." Chang would not, however, detail the costs of maintaining or adding on to the existing structure.
"Legally, we dont stand a chance," Cogan said. According to the Department of City Planning, the blocks zoning rules would allow the plan to go through. "Our only hope is to begin getting it landmarked as soon as we can." Initiating the landmarking process, he explained, would be the only way to prevent the demolition. Significant public outcry could also dissuade church leaders from executing the plan, Cogan noted.
Alejandro Ruiz, who lives across the street from the church, said the it was already a landmark in the minds of the community. "If they do research and find that [the new plan] would benefit the community of Flushing, then its okay," he said. "Not if its just for the people in that church. The church is part of our lives. Leave it as it is."