Jacob Leifer, a Brooklyn developer, is set to transform the Transfiguration Lutheran Church and two adjacent brownstones in Harlem into a mixed-use development, Crain’s reported.
The properties, located at 70-78 W. 126th Street, are under contract for $3.5 million, pending approval from Attorney General Letitia James due to the seller’s nonprofit status.
The buildings, appraised at $3.15 million last November, will be sold as is and delivered vacant.
A Diminishing Congregation
The church has lacked a full-time pastor since 2006 and is described in court filings as having a dwindling congregation.
These documents indicate that the community has become “scattered” and “diminished,” leaving Transfiguration Lutheran unable to fulfill its original mission.
Gentrification and Development Trends
This sale reflects a broader trend of church properties being sold for development in Harlem amidst ongoing gentrification.
Real estate broker Simon McGowan noted in 2019 that “there’s not a church in Harlem that isn’t more valuable as a stack of condos.”
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Renovation Plans
Unlike many other developments that involve demolition, Leifer plans to renovate the existing structures, preserving their historical significance.
Landmark Status and Preservation Efforts
In contrast to the ongoing preservation battles on the Upper West Side, where the landmarked West-Park Presbyterian Church remains protected for now, most of Central Harlem, including Transfiguration Lutheran and its adjacent brownstones, is not designated as a landmark. This lack of protection makes the area a prime target for development.
Photo credit: Transfiguration Lutheran Google screenshot.
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