Development deal saves Grand Concourse church
First Union Baptist Church has been a community mainstay at 2064
Grand Concourse since 1977. It was founded in 1915.
Schneps Media / Patrick Rocchio
pastor, Rev. Dr. James Wilson
Jr.
Wilson said that the congregation
responded with
“jubilation and joy” when the
news was shared.
“We have been under a
(fi nancial) burden for about
eight years,” said Wilson,
who has been pastor for 45
years. “(A) heavy load that
was on us has been lifted.”
by
by
A
Aaron Sorkin
Di
Directed by
El
Elizabeth Paldino
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
A Grand Concourse
church’s future was secured
by a development agreement
for the property.
Following a long legal
struggle with the mortgage
holder, First Union Baptist
Church, established April 4,
1915 at 595 Courtlandt Avenue,
will be able to continue
its mission at its current location
as affordable apartments
rise along with a brand
new house of worship.
The project is slated to begin
later this year or early
next.
Under the deal the church,
which moved into the former
synagogue building in 1977,
along with its attorneys –
The Legal Aid Society and
Kasowitz Benson and Torres,
which took the case pro bono,
were able to fend off a serious
debt situation.
As part of the agreement
the church’s debt was retired
by Thorobird Companies, an
affordable housing developer,
and its land title surrendered
on the condition that residential
development and a 4,500
square foot worship space be
built, confi rmed the church’s
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The church has seen its
share of hardships, including
a Chapter 11 bankruptcy
fi ling in 2012 and the foreclosure
attempt, said multiple
sources.
This kicked off years
of litigation in both Bronx
Supreme and bankruptcy
courts where lawyers Susan
Chase of the Legal Aid Society
and David Abrams and
Andrew Elkin of Kasowitz
Benson and Torres litigated
on behalf of the church.
A deal was agreed to towards
the end of 2018.
First Union’s case was
taken up by the Legal Aid Society
because of the impact
it has on its community and
the need for affordable housing,
said Susan Chase of Legal
Aid.
“This is a perfect example
of collaborating to build sustainable
communities while
at the same time protecting
those vital institutions that
maintained stability during
the turmoil of economic and
social unrest,” said Chase.
Abrams said it was very
important that the church
congregation stay in its current
location, especially
since many congregants are
elders.
“Kasowitz Benson Torres
is extremely gratifi ed to
have had the opportunity to
help save First Union Baptist
Church in a win-win
resolution that will return
the church to a sound fi nancial
footing and also provide
housing to low-income New
York residents and their families,”
Abrams said.
Thomas Campbell, of
Thorobird said the church
approached the company in
2015 and told him that they
were going to lose their land
if they couldn’t satisfy the
mortgage.
Campbell, a member of
the congregation, said that
he met with the pastor to discuss
the situation. He feels
churches are the bedrock
that many communities are
built on.
In most cases, Thorobird
wouldn’t usually put capital
upfront without more defi nitive
plans, but they decided
to do so to save the church,
said Campbell.
“Our goal is to embrace
communities and help them
accomplish their goals
through real estate, he said.
He said that the project is
still in the design stage, but
he estimates that more than
60 units of affordable housing
along with church space
can be developed on the 6,854
square foot site.
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