CityRealty Insider > Houses of Worship: Converted Churches Become Coveted Residences

Houses of Worship: Converted Churches Become Coveted Residences

NOVEMBER 4, 2008

Former churches become heavenly homes when property values rise

Converting houses of worship into living spaces is nothing new—their spaciousness, unconventional layouts, and solid construction makes them ideal for residents looking for something beyond than the cookie-cutter apartment or standard-issue loft space.

New York's best-known religious conversion—so to speak—may be the former Limelight night club run by club don Peter Gatien in Chelsea in the 1980s. The building was originally constructed in 1846 as the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, but those who remember its second coming as a house of nightlife worship will recall the way its collection of cozy, hidden chambers and vast spaces lent themselves to creative revelry.

Manhattan real estate is accorded near-religious status by so many of the city's residents, so it's no surprise that converted churches represent a desirable option. A prime example: the former Washington Square Methodist, in which FLAnk Architecture created Novare, featuring eight luxurious apartments, six of them with original stained glass, that have sold for upwards of $3 Million each. The former Harlem Gospel Temple Church at 2056 Fifth Avenue was recently converted to luxury condos as well.

ALSO IN NEW YORK CITY INSIDER

© 2024 CityRealty.com, LLC Powered by Leadkit Terms of Use Privacy Policy Site Map

RLS IDX Data display by CityRealty.com, LLC. This information is not verified for authenticity or accuracy and is not guaranteed and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. ©2024 The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., All rights reserved. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.

All information furnished regarding property for sale, rental or financing is from sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof and same is submitted subject to errors, omissions, change of price, rental or other conditions, prior sale, lease or financing or withdrawal without notice. All dimensions are approximate. For exact dimensions, you must hire your own architect or engineer and for no listing shall the number of bedrooms listed be considered a legal conclusion.

All closed sales data has been provided by the New York City Department of Finance via the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS). No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of any data provided by ACRIS or any other sources.

CityRealty is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. If you wish to report an issue or seek an accommodation, please contact us at accessibility@cityrealty.com.

An equal housing opportunity

{"1":[40.775,-73.94,"East Side","_es"],"2":[40.79,-73.99,"West Side","_ws"],"11":[40.76,-73.98,"Midtown","_m"],"3":[40.736,-73.99,"Downtown","_d"],"13":[40.711309,-74.01,"Financial
District\/BPC","_fd"],"4":[40.682676,-73.973007,"Brooklyn","_b"],"12":[40.8444,-73.9376,"Upper Manhattan","_um"],"5":[40.7477089,-73.930411,"LIC \/ Queens","_qns"],"18":[40.8889782,-73.9025,"The Bronx","_bx"]}