With Landmark Status Secure, Fundraising Begins to Restore Historic Church Updated June 23, 2010 11:41am

Councilwoman Gale Brewer hosts a fundraiser tonight on behalf of West Park Presbyterian Church, which became an official landmark earlier this year. (DNAinfo/Leslie Albrecht)

By Leslie Albrecht

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

UPPER WEST SIDE — Winning landmark status for the Upper West Side's historic West Park Presbyterian Church took 25 years. Now preservationists face another daunting battle: raising the money to restore the church to its former glory.

That starts Wednesday night when Councilwoman Gale Brewer hosts a fundraiser on behalf of the church, whose congregation protested the landmark designation because it hoped to develop part of the church site at W. 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

West Park's Rev. Dr. Robert L. Brashear told the New York Times last month that restoring the aging church could cost $11 million to $12 million.

Brewer, who sided with preservationists, has donated $1,000 to the repair fund, which is being managed by the New York Landmarks Conservancy.

The fundraiser begins at 7:30 p.m. in the community room of the Belnord at 225 West 86 Street.

By Leslie Albrecht, DNAinfo.com

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