In 2002 the leadership of APC realized the congregation could no longer afford its existing facilities. With rising costs for utilities and the need to repair and renovate the existing facilities, which needed new plumbing, wiring and heating, the congregation sought a solution. The pastor and others in the congregation began to explore alternatives, looking at the option of obtaining grants; selling off a portion of the property to address some of the needs; and reducing employee expenses by moving to a part time pastor and using recorded music instead of a live musician. None of these solutions even began to cover the more than $1 million (with some estimates running as high as more than $3 million) expense needed to save the facilities.
At the same time the pastor and others were talking with community leaders seeking to determine the greatest needs in the community. Over and over they heard “affordable senior housing”. Seniors who could no longer afford to stay in their homes and apartments in New York City were having to wait three and more years to secure affordable housing. At the same time the congregation and volunteers from the presbytery learned that a zoning regulation dating back to the 1920s would allow a larger, and therefore affordable facilty if it offered “senior domiciliaries” - the 1920s term for affordable senior housing.
Partnering with the Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Corporation (HANAC) and The Enterprise Foundation, the congregation developed a plan for 94 units of affordable senior housing that would also provide a new church facility that was fully handicapped accessible and energy efficient. While smaller than the existing facility, it could meet the needs of the congregation while serving the community. The congregation began to call this approach “mission focused development”, since it sought to serve the needs of the community (mission) while developing a new facility.
Demolition of the old facility will begin in the summer of 2009, with the new facility opening in the fall of 2011. It will provide 94 much needed units of affordable senior housing along with a 5000 square foot church space. The community will retain the witness of the APC while benefitting from having one of its major needs addressed in a small way.
During its “exodus” time away from the old 33rd Street location, the congregation is holding worship in a renovated doctor’s office and working to focus its mission to children (through music and the arts); to seniors (establishing a partnership with a nearby senior facility); and to those seeking to enhance their job skills through a computer lab that will open in the fall of 2009. It is an exciting and challenging time as we move forward to serve God and our community.