In an example of inter-faith cooperation, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has signed a three-year lease for 40,000 square feet of shared and dedicated space at West End Collegiate Church’s facility located at 245 West 77th St.
The occupancy of this historic Collegiate Church property by multiple faith communities heralds a new chapter in the spiritual life of the congregations, said Open Impact Real Estate, a woman-owned commercial real estate services company specializing in nonprofit and impact real estate. The two religious groups will occupy the building in tandem, with each having its own dedicated spaces in addition to shared programming spaces.
“West End Collegiate was looking to activate the recently vacated space to support its programmatic and financial goals. The rare combination of a dedicated entrance and access to multiple public assembly spaces appealed to many religious and cultural organizations,” said Stephen Powers, co-founder of Open. “We are thrilled to have helped implement a shared space model that maximizes the use of large multi-purpose spaces which frequently are underutilized on many religious campuses.”
The shared spaces include the building’s Sanctuary, gym, multipurpose room, kitchen and chapel. West End Collegiate Church is also in talks with a third religious group to join the multifaith campus.
“West End Collegiate has an opportunity to reimagine and reinvigorate itself following the challenges of COVID-19,” said Margaret Tobin, West End Church member and chair of the strategic real estate committee. “We are adapting to our new circumstances, and thrilled with the outcome of our committee’s work which strengthens the financial position of the church and sets the table for its continued successful operations and growth.”
West End is one of four congregations of the historic Collegiate Church of the City of New York, the oldest continually worshipping church in America, tracing its origins to Dutch settlers in the early 1600s. West End’s brick and terra cotta landmarked facility, designed by famed architectural firm McKim Mead & White and completed in 1892, was built in a Dutch Colonial style that evokes the church’s—and City’s—Dutch past. The building also features three windows designed by Tiffany studios.
Stephen Powers, Lindsay Ornstein, Amy Lawrence and Julia Fish of Open represented the landlord, West End Collegiate Church, in the transaction; Mark Zussman of CBRE represented the tenant.
