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STOP REDEEMER CHURCH FROM MAKING OUR HOMES UNLIVABLE! SIGN THE PETITION AND SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF 160 EAST 91ST STREET!

PETITION!

Dear Neighbors,
 
As residents of 160 East 91st Street, we ask you to support us against an aggressive bully in our neighborhood.
 
Redeemer Presbyterian Church is proposing to construct a 12-story megachurch at 150 East 91st Street, a mid-block lot on a quiet residential street. If their project goes forward as planned, they will build across the full width of the lot and eliminate an 18-foot lightwell that has separated their lot from our adjacent building, 160 East 91st Street, for nearly 120 years. This means that their walls will come within three feet of the windows and fire escapes at our building and will block the air and light in 24 apartments in our building. Residents of these apartments could be trapped with no light, no ventilation, and no way to safely exit the building in the event of a fire.

To add insult to injury, Redeemer has filed error-riddled drawings with the Department of Buildings, omitting the light and air well, claiming more square footage than permitted by law, and proposing to erect a gigantic cross that will top out at 200 feet above street level when zoning laws do not allow signs, religious or otherwise, more than 25 feet above street level. 


We have asked Redeemer Church to add a modest 5-foot setback to their building to allow sufficient light and air and fire safety in these 24 apartments, but Redeemer has refused. Representatives from Redeemer declined even to enter our building to see firsthand what their aggressive plans would do to us. They would rather turn our apartments into dark, airless deathtraps than scale back their project a measly five feet…all so they can make their megachurch even more mega!

Would you treat your neighbor this way? Apparently Redeemer which claims "Neighborhood: we are sent into the Neighborhoods in which we are rooted, to love people where they are, serve the community and seek justice for all who are nearby and those in need" as a value, does not include its immediate neighbors in its declaration of love and justice!
 

Support your neighbors! Love and Justice for All! Protect Your Community! Sign this petition which will be mailed to Mayor Eric Adams, City Council members, the Department of Buildings, the FDNY, the NYPD, Congregants of the Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

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-160 East 91st Street Owners Corp.,

 The Board 

 Email: contactboard@160east91.com

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Hello,
 

I am reaching out to you about the construction of the new Redeemer East Side Worship Ministry Center at 150 East 91st Street. 

 

Redeemer Presbyterian Church is proposing to construct a 12-story megachurch at 150 East 91st Street, a mid-block lot on a quiet residential street. If their project goes forward as planned, they will build across the full width of the lot and eliminate an 18-foot lightwell that has separated their lot from the adjacent residential building, 160 East 91st Street “160E91”, for nearly 120 years. This means that their walls will come within three feet of the windows and fire escapes at 160E91 and could block the air, light, and fire exits in 24 apartments in the 160E91 building. Residents of these apartments could be trapped with no light, no ventilation, and no way to safely exit the building in the event of a fire.

 

To add insult to injury, Redeemer has filed error-riddled drawings with the Department of Buildings, omitting the light and air well, claiming more square footage than permitted by law, and proposing to erect a gigantic cross that will top out at 200 feet above street level when zoning laws do not allow signs, religious or otherwise, more than 25 feet above street level. 
 

Redeemer has been asked to add a modest 5-foot setback to their building to allow sufficient light and air and fire safety in these 24 apartments, but Redeemer has refused. Representatives from Redeemer declined even to enter 160E91’s building to see firsthand what their aggressive plans would do. They would rather turn apartments into dark, airless deathtraps than scale back their project a measly five feet…all so they can make their megachurch even more mega!

 

Would you treat your neighbor this way? Apparently Redeemer, which claims "Neighborhood: we are sent into the Neighborhoods in which we are rooted, to love people where they are, serve the community and seek justice for all who are nearby and those in need" as a value, does not include its immediate neighbors in its declaration of love and justice!

 

The plea of the residents and shareholders of 160E91, is not unreasonable: they request that the Church  provide a modest 5-foot recess (not the original 15 feet that existed for more than a century) so as to provide for a decent amount of light and air for 24 apartments in the N, O and P lines.
 

As Redeemer has been part of the Upper East Side community for decades, we ask for consideration.

 

Residents of 160E91 street require light, air, and access to fire escapes. With the shift to remote and hybrid work since covid, many of our apartments have also become our offices. The numerous hours spent in our homes would not be possible without access to air and light. The last pandemic has also given a new impetus to the need for air (especially when a virus is airborne). 

 

We impress upon Redeemer that a Church can only be built on love and respect for its neighbors.

 

For more information about the impact to 160E91, please visit www.justfivefeet.com. Thank you for supporting your neighbors.
 

Respectfully, 

SIGN HERE

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EVENTS:

  • February 9, 2023: Residents and neighbors protested in front of the Redeemer's work site.

  • January 31, 2023: the Board met with the Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Buildings;

  • January 30, 2023: the Board met City Council Member Julie MENIN who empathized with our community and will reach out the Emergency Services and the Redeemer Church.

  • January 24, 2023: the Board presented its plea to CB8's Sub-committee on Zoning which adopted a resolution in support of the residents of 160 East 91st Street for adoption by the Community Board no. 8 substantially in the following form:

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  • January 23, 2023: the Board went to the Department of Buildings;

  • January 23, 2023: the Board attended a CB8 Board meeting a plea for support of its cause.

  • December 2022: Redeemer refused to release to 160 East 91st Street the data on building vibrations of the demolition phase. 

  • November 10, 2022: the Board filed an opposition to Redeemer's lawsuit seeking access to 160 East 91st Coop to install protections

  • November 7, 2022: the Board filed a complaint with the Department of Buildings (Click here to access the complaint).

  • November 4, 2022: the Board learned accidentally that Redeemer had filed their permits with the DOB but mailed their mandatory 10-day notice to 160 East 91st Coop's old management company at their old address...

  • July-August 2022: Redeemer filed its building permits with the Department of Buildings. 

  • July 2022:  negotiations between Redeemer and 160 East 91st Street Owners Corp. for a license agreement covering access to 160 East 91st Street's premises to install protections during the construction phase: the Board subjects approval of the new license agreement to Redeemer accepting a set back of JUST FIVE FEET on their lot, as against 15 feet that preexisted for almost 120 years! 

  • March-May 2022: negotiations between Redeemer and 160 East 91st Street Owners Corp. for a license agreement covering access to 160 East 91st Street's premises to install protections: an agreement is reached to cover only the demolition phase. The agreement provides inter alia for the installation of devices to monitor vibrations.

  • September 2021: ...3 months later, Redeemer requested a meeting with the Board to explain why they will reject 160 East 91st's request to maintain an air & light well! The Board refuses to participate in such a meeting.

  • May 2021: Meeting between representatives of Redeemer Church and the Board of 160 East 91st Street Owners Corp. where the Board puts Redeemer on notice that their proposed plans eliminates an air & light well and that it is not acceptable. Redeemer represents that they will get back to the Board in 3 weeks...  

  • Spring 2020: Redeemer Presbyterian Church acquired for $29.5 million a residential building located at 150 East 91st Street (between 3rd avenue and Lexington Avenue).

  • 1906-2022: a light and air well between two neighbors, our community at 160 East 91st Street and 150 East 91st Street (later acquired by Redeemer Presbyterian Church in 2020), providing necessary light and air to residents of both buildings.   

Be it resolved, CB8 supports the efforts of the residents of 160 East 91st street to have sufficient light and air to ensure the habitability of the apartments in the N and O lines, and safe egress in the event of fire or other emergency.  We call upon the Church to negotiate in good faith to identify a solution that meets these needs.

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