Everyone agrees this space is sacred — just not for the same reasons.
A community board hell-bent on preserving Williamsburg’s history voted to recommend the city landmark the Ukrainian orthodox church at S. Fifth Street on Tuesday — despite objections from its own landmarks committee that it will make the space too expensive for the congregation to maintain.
“I think it is important to respect the history of the community, and landmarking is one way of doing that,” said Community Board 1 member Artineh Havan.
Panel members voted 19–6 to give their blessing for the historic designation of the Holy Trinity Church at Driggs Avenue — going against the recommendation of committee, which last week acquiesced to the church’s fears that the classification would make repairs difficult and pricey.
“The congregation of this church is concerned that it’s hard to get contractors to work when they know it’s a landmarked building,” said committee chair Del Teague. “And when they do find a contractor, they charge more money.”
The handsome turn-of-the-century Beaux-Arts building was originally the Williamsburg Trust Company bank, designed by the same architecture firm behind the Greenpoint Savings Bank on Manhattan Avenue and the pavilion in McGolrick Park. The church bought the property in the ’60s.
Today, the building is in constant need of patch-ups due to vibrations from the nearby Brooklyn Queens Expressway, claimed Teague. The church fears the maintenance would be too difficult once it is saddled with all the red tape that comes with landmark status — which includes seeking city approval for any noticeable changes to the facade — she said.
But board members disagreed with the house of worship and committee’s objections, arguing that any extra costs could be offset by funds the state sets aside specifically for the upkeep of landmarked religious buildings.
Church leaders say they’re not buying it, however — any grants they might be eligible for would probably not be immediately available, and they remain devoutly opposed, said a church rep.
“We continue to be opposed to any efforts to landmark the church,” said church spokesperson, who wanted to remain anonymous.
The community board’s vote is ultimately only advisory — the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission will make the final determination.
The building is one of dozens across the city the commission is evaluating as part of its ongoing effort to work through its backlog of stalled submissions. The Park Slope Civic Council requested its evaluation in 1964, and Deputy Borough President Diana Reyna echoed their calls several times during her tenure as the local Council member, according to commission records.
