March 8, 2025

Celebrities, Elected Officials, and Community Leaders Rally to Save Landmark West Park Presbyterian Church and Celebrate its Thriving Arts and Cultural Space

Coalition Demands Preservation of Vibrant, Self-Sustaining Landmark and Community Anchor at a Gathering Attended by Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick, Laurence Fishburne, Julianna Margulies, Fisher Stevens, Kenneth Lonergan, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer, and others

New York, NY (March 8, 2025) — An influential coalition of artists, elected officials, preservationists, and community leaders joined local supporters gathered at West Park Presbyterian Church to send a clear message: New York City must act now to protect this beloved historic 135-year-old landmark, a community and cultural hub that is home to The Center at West Park (CWP).

Rallying under the banner “Love Our Landmarks: Save West Park Presbyterian Church,” acclaimed artists Matthew Broderick, Laurence Fishburne, Kenneth Lonergan, Julianna Margulies, Mark Ruffalo, Fisher Stevens, and others rallied not only to protect this landmark but to create opportunities for emerging artists that many of them lacked early in their own careers.

“This is not just about one building—it’s about the soul and heart of the city we all love and the future of Broadway and the arts in New York City,” said Academy Award-nominated actor and activist Mark Ruffalo. “West Park has been a community gathering place, a creative lifeline for artists of all ages and a sacred space, and if it is allowed to fail, it will send a chilling message that any historic site and our city’s arts and culture centers can be erased for profit. We cannot let this happen; New Yorkers deserve better than this.”

Despite the building’s official landmark designation and a fully funded Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)-approved restoration plan to remove its sidewalk shed and make other improvements, the church’s administrators have refused to authorize the work in pursuit of plans to sell the building to a developer, which could result in the demolition of an Upper West Side icon and displacement of a thriving, self-sustaining arts and community hub.

“The Upper West Side is a bastion of architectural beauty, New York history, and community activism and the West Park Presbyterian Church is a real embodiment of this trifecta,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler. “It would be a real loss for the Upper West Side if the building were to be demolished and I believe it’s crucial that the city should honor the history of this 135-years-old church and its status as an architectural landmark. I will continue working with my elected colleagues, community members and artists to protect this landmark and ensure it will be able to serve as a space for the arts, culture and community for years to come.”

“It would be a tragedy if this landmarked building and thriving community arts hub were demolished—especially given that there is a viable plan to save it,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “We cannot allow this vital piece of our city’s history and culture to be lost. We must do everything in our power to protect it. I fully support the community-driven effort to preserve this unique and special place for New Yorkers. I call on the Landmarks Preservation Commission to take immediate action to save this gem. We will not give up the fight.”

When the community first gathered in 2023, supporters hoped that this extraordinary space could be restored, that programs could grow, that financial sustainability could be secured, and that more artists, advocates, and leaders would join the cause. Just two years later, much of that vision has been realized. The Center at West Park has become a thriving, self-sustaining cultural anchor—hosting over 200 public events annually, welcoming thousands of audience members, and creating opportunities for early-career artists to build their work and careers.

“This landmark is no longer a dream of what could be—it’s proof of what is possible,” said Debby Hirshman, executive director of The Center at West Park. “We have the funding. We have the restoration plan. We have a living, breathing community that depends on this space. And now we have the responsibility to protect it—not just for today’s artists, but for the generations that will follow.”

“The preservation of the landmark West Park Presbyterian Church—home to The Center at West Park and its innovative Film Center—is crucial to the continued vibrancy of New York City’s creative community,” said actress J. Smith-Cameron. “I have been an advocate and active participant in the Film Center since its founding. It is a vital cultural and community resource that provides a much-needed platform for independent filmmakers and emerging artists to share their voices, as well as a popular destination for film lovers throughout the city.”

Designed by architect Henry Kilburn, West Park Presbyterian Church is widely recognized as one of the finest examples of a Romanesque Revival style architecture in New York City. Contributing to its architectural and historic significance are its deep red sandstone cladding, dramatic rounded arches, intricate stained-glass windows—including a rare Tiffany stained-glass window, which represents the craftsmanship of the famed Tiffany Studios, known for their pioneering work in opalescent glass—and a soaring tower, which together form a monumental and distinguished anchor on an important and prominent intersection of the Upper West Side.

The LPC has called the church “one of the Upper West Side’s most important buildings” noting its remarkably intact design and significant contribution to the neighborhood’s architectural character.

The rally comes just days after the landmark building received the “Sheddie Award” for the longest-standing sidewalk shed on the Upper West Side, spotlighting decades of preventable neglect and delayed repairs that have left this landmark hidden behind scaffolding for nearly 25 years.

“We just handed out the very first ‘Sheddie Awards,’ and with nearly 25 years under its belt, the sidewalk shed at West Park Presbyterian Church easily deserves a lifetime achievement honor,” said State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “But there’s nothing funny about why it’s still up. The funding exists. The restoration is approved. Yet this iconic building remains trapped behind scaffolding while its owners push to tear it down. We cannot let this landmark be demolished for profit. It’s a home for artists, community, and to our history—and exactly the kind of place that makes New York the cultural capital of the world. I’m proud to stand with this coalition to fight for its future and protect our city’s cultural spaces.”

“The Center at West Park is a cultural gem that we are fortunate to have right here in the heart of the Upper West Side,” said Assemblymember Micah Lasher. “It is part of what makes our neighborhood special, and I am grateful for all of the artists and volunteers who make it happen. The scaffolding above the Center has been up for far too long, and this cultural institution deserves a clean and clear sidewalk befitting of its important mission. May we continue to be enriched by the work of the Center for many years to come!”

“The Center at West Park is prepared to repair and restore the church at its own cost, and its plans to do so have already been approved by LPC,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “The building owners, on the other hand, are refusing to let the work proceed, which is consistent with their years-long effort to demolish it. The Center meets the criteria under LPC policy to obtain the work permit without the owner’s signature. LPC must allow them to proceed. I cannot understand why LPC isn’t up in arms over this demolition by neglect situation when it so transparent that the owner is acting in bad faith.” 

As a long-standing supporter, Daniel O’Donnell, former NY State Assembly member, reflected on the broader stakes: “For over two decades in the Assembly, I fought to protect the cultural and historic fabric of this city—and West Park Presbyterian Church has always been part of that fight. Spaces like this are the beating heart of New York’s economy and identity. If we lose this landmark, we lose a part of who we are as a city. The question now is simple: which New York will we choose—the one that values history and culture, or the one that sells it off to the highest bidder?”

“In June 2022, Community Board 7 voted against the demolition of this remarkable building. The progress The Center at West Park has made since then in raising restoration funds and building a flourishing arts community has proved we were right,” said Beverly Donohue, Chair of Manhattan Community Board 7.

Advocates warn that this moment is about more than just one building—it’s a litmus test for the future of historic preservation in New York.

“We can take nothing for granted, but we have faith that the Landmarks Preservation Commission will ultimately reaffirm this landmark building’s protected status,” said Marian M. Warden, Founder and Board President of The Center at West Park. “We have the money in hand for the restoration work that the commission has already approved—work that the church leadership has refused to allow. Given The Center at West Park’s stewardship of the building, its financial viability, and the overwhelming outpouring of public support, I am hopeful that LPC will recognize the urgency of this moment and rule in favor of preserving this irreplaceable landmark for all of New York.”

Preservation leaders underscored that the landmark building is part of a growing movement to breathe new life into historic spaces citywide.

“Historic Districts Council (HDC) strongly believes that adaptive reuse of our historic religious sites is vital to the future of the city,” said Frampton Tolbert, Executive Director of HDC. “Adaptive reuse asks: what could this be? The Center at West Park offers the answer that our city’s most beloved spaces can take on new lives as engines of creativity and remain vibrant community anchors. West Park joins such shining examples as St. Mark’s in the Bowery and Irondale in Fort Greene, which show how historic houses of worship can become dynamic affordable arts incubators. We don’t support sacrificing West Park’s affordable community arts space for luxury development. We hope instead that West Park, and the artists it helps nurture, will continue to thrive in New York City.”

“The Center at West Park has shown that this beautiful landmark church is well-equipped to host public events and has raised the money to fund the necessary repairs,” said Peg Breen, President of the New York Landmarks Conservancy. “It is inspiring that the community has valiantly come together in an effort to save this impressive landmark, despite the Presbytery’s willful neglect.”

For arts leaders, the loss of the landmark would be yet another devastating blow to the city’s creative ecosystem.

Karen Hopkins, President Emerita of BAM, said, “The Center at West Park is one of the critical not-for-profit organizations in New York that offers affordable opportunities for artists to perform and collaborate. These types of spaces are disappearing in New York as costs increase, making West Park’s role in a fragile ecosystem even more essential.”

Beyond the arts, The Center at West Park is a critical resource for youth and educational programming, including the Ballet and Beyond NYC R.Y.S.E. Conservatory. “As the co-directors of Ballet and Beyond NYC’s R.Y.S.E. Conservatory, we are deeply grateful to the Center at West Park for providing a home for our summer program,” said Michelle Cave and Carlton Terrence Taylor, Jr. “We serve 75 NYC students, ages 8-17, with a free 6-week intensive performing arts training program. After losing a space that served our students and families for eight years, being welcomed at CWP deepened our commitment to our community and enabled us to further our mission of providing free high-quality dance and performing arts training for NYC youth.”

Saturday’s rally was part of a full slate of events celebrating the cultural vitality of The Center at West Park. The day featured a performance by the New York All Stars Latin Jazz Band, a screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off followed by a talkback with Matthew Broderick and Kenneth Lonergan, and a staged reading of Laurence Fishburne’s Riff Raff with an all-star cast of Fishburne, Titus Welliver, Yul Vazquez, and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis.

About The Center at West Park:

The Center at West Park (CWP) is a 501(c)(3) serving the Upper West side, Harlem, and NYC as a hub for social responsibility, community conversations, and the arts. CWP provides affordable performance, rehearsal, and event space to artists and community members; mentorship programs connecting established and emerging artists; and a weekly worship home for the Lighthouse Chapel. CWP is in use seven days a week, providing a full range of programs for all ages while maintaining and preserving the landmark West Park Presbyterian Church Building in which it resides.