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PRESERVATION NEWS
ASTORIA PREDBYTERIAN CHURCH

Possible Demolition Sparks Concern
Queens Tribune January 16, 2004

By AZI PAYBAKAH Queens Tribune page 12, 2004, January 16, 2004

The remaining members of the Presbyterian Church of Astoria, which at one point claimed 1,200 members and the largest Sunday School service in the state, will vote next week on whether to replace their 82 year-old church with a newer, easier to maintain, facility, a common issue for congregations across Queens and something local preservationists want to stop.

Church Pastor Don Olinger, who will moderate the Jan. 18 vote, said that the 100 member congregation is, facing nearly $ 1 million in heating, wiring and plumbing repairs. "The size of the congregation [and its facility] ... are no longer a conducive match." He said.

If approved by the church membership, the matter will go before the Presbytery of New York, which owns the property located at 33-30 33rd St. in Astoria. The land includes the church, a gymnasium, a house occupied by Olinger, a day care center, a weekend homeless shelter, space for 12 step program meetings, and the Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC).

According to Olinger, the church is considering several plans to save money, including tearing down the church, which was constructed in .1922, in favor of a more modern, easier to maintain facility. Another possibility is the addition of assisted living for older adults and mixed income housing at a market rate. In that case, Olinger said, the church will not be torn down in favor of residential units, but the units will be added.

As late as 1972, the church boasted 600 members, according to Olinger But the church "began to lose contact with , the community, " he said. By that time, Astoria's demographics had already begun to shift." He said the 10,000 to 12,000 square facility "As big as it became invisible in the community."

Small congregations facing enormous bills to maintain historic places of worship is a scenario that could be repeated throughout Queens said preservationist Ann Friedman of the New York Conservatory, who called the situation "a crisis."

Referring to a study her group funded in the 1980s, Friedman said, "We ' are getting to a point of crisis. Over the next 10 to 20 years you're going to see a lot of church closures." To alleviate that financial burden and preserve, historic places of worship for all religions, the Conservatory offers grant money, referrals and consulting, services through its sacred sight program., which Friedman directs.

At present time, Astoria Presbyterian was not working, with them.

Eagerly awaiting the congregation's decision is the Greater Astoria Historical Society (GAHS), which posted 10 photos of the church on their website at http:/www.astorialic.org/index.shtml. The group makes a plea on the site to be kept informed of any plans regarding the church.