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St. Brigid’s Church Re-Opens, But the Historic East Village Still Needs Your Help

The newly renovated St. Brigid's Church. Image via EVGrieve.
The newly renovated St. Brigid’s Church. Image via EVGrieve.

Yesterday, after years of renovation work, St. Brigid’s church on Avenue B and East 8th Street was re-opened to the public. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan consecrated and dedicated the refurbished church, which will merge with the nearby St. Emeric’s Church on Avenue D.  EV Grieve reported on the ceremonial procession of the congregation from St. Emeric’s to the new St. Brigid’s.

brigid-crack
A large crack was visible at the rear of the church in this photo from 2008.

The restoration of St. Brigid’s church was made possible by an anonymous $20 million donation, which came after the church was closed and slated for demolition by the archdiocese after serious structural problems were found in the building in the early 2000’s.  The community rallied for years to save the church and stop the looming demolition.

The restoration of this church building, constructed in 1848 by local, mostly Irish immigrants who also worked at the nearby East River docks, restores a historically significant part of the architectural heritage of the East Village.

Tomorrow you will have the chance to help save more of that historic fabric of the neighborhood at a city council hearing for the landmark designation of the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District.

The proposed East Village/Lower East Side Historic District
The proposed East Village/Lower East Side Historic District

Join GVSHP, local and citywide historic preservation groups, and East Village neighbors to tell the city council to move ahead with landmarking this area. The Landmarks Preservation has already signed off on the landmarking and now it is up to the city council to give its final approval.

The public hearing is tomorrow, Tuesday, January 29th at 11:00 A.M. at the Council Committee Room at 250 Broadway, 16th Floor.

Letters to city officials and sample testimony for tomorrow’s hearing can be found here.

We hope to see you tomorrow!

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