For Bay Ridge’s so-called “Faith Avenue,” the end is near.
The Bay Ridge Baptist Church is pondering selling its Fourth Avenue property, making the boxy building at the corner of 67th Street the fourth house of worship on the thoroughfare to considering unburdening itself of its most earthly possession: land.
“We’re considering practical measures for the future of the church,” said Pastor Jason Walker.
Those practical measures include listing the church and its land on the Web site of the brokerage Massey Knakal as “a condominium development site” that would allow for buildings as tall as 70 feet.
Repeated calls to Massey Knakal were not returned by the time of publication. The Web listing instructions would-be buyers to call to discuss a price.
In the end, the worshippers at the 56-year-old church — which has yet to completely repair its damaged roof since last summer’s tornado — will have to choose their own fate.
“The decision has to be made by the congregation, and it’s really up in the air right now,” Walker said.
Plans are much more definite at the Bay Ridge Jewish Center at 81st Street, where the congregants voted overwhelmingly last month to tear down their synagogue and sell off of a chunk of their land.
At Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, the dwindling congregation plans to tear down its 80-year-old, 80th Street building because it can’t afford the $100,000 annual upkeep.
And then there is the “Green Church” — the Bay Ridge United Methodist Church on Ovington Avenue — where preservationists and congregants are engaged in a bitter battle over the planned demolition of the emerald-colored house of worship to make room for condos.
