By Wendy Blake
Surrounded by stacks of shrink-wrapped popcorn boxes in the Center at West Park’s office late one recent evening, CWP Executive Director Debby Hirshman was getting ready to debut the new Film Center on Sunday. What she really needs is a red carpet to lay out on West 86th Street. Actors Mark Ruffalo, Laura Linney, and Matthew Broderick will attend a screening of “You Can Count On Me,” in which they all starred, and participate in a talkback along with writer/director Kenneth Lonergan (“Manchester by the Sea”). Tickets range from $40 a seat to $5,000 to become a “Film Center Founder.”
The passionate supporters of the Center at West Park, the community arts center that is fighting to preserve the historic West-Park Presbyterian Church — the landmarked 1890 building that it leases — see the battle as a fight for the soul of the city.
“New York needs this building,” says Lonergan of the church, located at the corner of West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. “The arts inject about $120 billion a year into the city’s economy. They revitalize neighborhoods, anchor communities, and build on our stupendous past without erasing it. We are creating a new Public Theater on West 86th Street, and to wreck this church along with everything it can give the neighborhood and the city would be obscene.”
The film screenings are CWP’s latest effort to attract more visitors to the diverse and intergenerational community arts center, which was established in 2016 and hosts and produces affordable theater, music, and dance productions, in addition to supporting emerging artists. “We are filling a void for cultural programming that was created when the Metro {Theater] closed,” says Hirshman, who was recruited last year and is known as the visionary who built the Jewish Community Center from the ground up. The new film projection equipment — a high-resolution projector and big screen, along with upgraded sound and lighting systems — allows CWP to screen movies in its 375-seat main sanctuary space. The next screening, on April 30, will feature “Beat Street,” about an aspiring DJ in the South Bronx. CWP is partnering with the Gathering for Justice to present the 1984 film to honor the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Hirshman is in discussions with major directors who want to screen their favorite films with talkbacks led by film critics; groups that would curate their own series, such as Landmark West, New Plaza Cinema, and Gotham Film & Media Institute; and independent filmmakers. She’s considering an anime festival and a festival with films representing each borough. In June, Hirshman is looking to partner with Tribeca Film Festival. Plans are underway to screen a silent film on Halloween. The prices for most films will be markedly less than those at major theaters.
The venue would also be a space for emerging filmmakers to showcase work, and in the offing are free screenings of children’s films for kids and their caretakers.
CWP also plans to offer memberships, which will allow participants to get discounted tickets and other benefits.
Increasing public awareness about CWP’s activities is essential, since its visibility is, quite literally, obscured. The red-sandstone Romanesque Revival structure has been recognized for its architectural distinctiveness and was the first home of Joseph Papp’s Shakespeare Festival and the birthplace of God’s Love We Deliver. The church itself was a pioneer in LGBTQ+ rights. But its facade has been encaged in a sidewalk shed since 2001, meaning the building gets ignored by most passersby (while some blast it as an eyesore).
The church’s small congregation has been unable to afford the expense of maintaining the landmarked structure and wants to sell it to a developer that would tear it down and replace it with a luxury, residential high-rise. Efforts to do so are on hold at the moment, but the congregation says it hasn’t given up on the idea. Meanwhile, CWP is working to buy and fully restore the building — by itself or as part of a consortium. Hirshman says the center is in the process of raising $3 million to remove the shed and fix the roof and gutters.
How did this community arts institution, in a building that at a glance appears abandoned save for some promotional posters outside, garner the attention of A-listers? In part, Hirshman says, because they remember struggling as young artists themselves. “These are people who understand that if there aren’t community arts spaces, there won’t be a next generation on Broadway,” she says.
Ruffalo, an Upper West Sider, discovered CWP in April 2023 when he was looking for space for a sculpture studio. When he saw the interior, Hirshman recalls, “he said, ‘We’re not letting this get torn down.’ He called his friend Kenny [Kenneth Lonergan], who said ‘I’m in.’ The three of us sat in the sanctuary and came up with the idea for a rally, which we actualized two-and-a-half weeks later.” It was one of the first big events to bring attention to CWP. Since then, she says, the organization has been attracting funding “to give us the runway to build programs and have salaries.” (She is the sole full-time employee, but there are several part-time and freelance staffers, and many dedicated volunteers).
Community-building is vital to Hirshman, and the passion with which she speaks of connection and inclusion is palpable. It is about “anchoring a neighborhood with community entities that then take responsibility for the neighborhood.” She credits the successes of CWP to the organic nature of its growth — “not a prescribed path or controlled endeavor by a board, but rather a collaborative process by those whose hearts, minds, and spirits are dedicated to preserving this space and bringing themselves in the ways that they can.”
Matt Dillon, who is planning to screen his 2002 film “City of Ghosts” at CWP, is all in. “This is an important place, a cultural place, a historical place,” he told the Rag, after popping by the church to chat with Hirshman. “If we don’t save places like this, we lose the city. We don’t need another high-rise with a giant drugstore.”
Keith Esposito, who works part-time in CPW’s facilities department, fully agrees. It’s not just a job, he says. “It’s bigger than me.”
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Why doesnt this group take this effort to The Metro, an actual theater so it can be preserved as one?
The Metro was gutted years ago. Other than the facade, there is no “actual theater” there anymore.
It’s been completely gutted. Nothing but a shell. I walked past one day and a door was open. The exterior is landmarked but not the interior. Stripped down to bare brick walls.
My thoughts exactly
Fantastic! It was heartbreaking to hear that this iconic building might be torn down, and the public theater project is perfect for the neighborhood. Hirshman is a genius! I’m so grateful to her, Mark Ruffalo, and everyone who has worked so hard to preserve this exquisite building, and transform it into a space we can all to enjoy.
HOORAY!!!!!!! Bravi to all!
Now – – can we PLEASE save The Metro???
It’s heartwarming to see that this community can always come together over its hatred of housing
I’m not aware of any hatred of housing that’s contextually harmonious with the existing neighborhood and available to people of moderate, middle-class means.
Luxury condos for tax evading patricians and their merry band of sycophants don’t really help the cause.
So well said, Claire.
“that this community can always come together over its hatred of housing“
Agreed, if you mean hatred of luxury housing. Dead wrong if you mean affordable housing.
So to clarify this is not part of the new Lincoln Plaza Cinema. Project? Be cause seems exactly like the fulms they used to show at Lincoln Plazs. As I recall, the Metro showed commercial films, no?
You’re right — New Plaza Cinema is an independent film center based at Macaulay Honors College on West 67th street. It screens Fri-Sat-Sun and
shows arthouse, classic and international films: e.g., this weekend includes
Woody Allen’s “Coup de Chance,” Terence Malick’s 1973 “Badlands” and the French film “Farewell Mr. Haffmann,” set in 1941 occupied Paris.
Saw “Casino” at Metr years ago.
I saw Austin Pendleton play RICHARD III in the loft at this church. You don’t give an address. Is the screening inside the church?
But the entrance for this event is on Amsterdam. Yes, the screening is inside the main sanctuary.
It is 165 W 86th St. https://www.centeratwestpark.org/
Agree with Bill Williams, another commenter, that restoring an actual theatre has so many advantages. Our family is still active in the restoration of a single screen theatre in a small city on the west coast – that has gone on to show up to five features a DAY! And had been adapted for live performances that fill the space on weekends.
It was designed as an Historic Structure years ago (this city created an entire downtown historic district, one of the earliest in the country) and anchoring the success of this effort is The Lark. And, it’s dependent upon sustaining memberships, bequests, as well as the box office, event rentals, and of course, the sale of the best ice cream and popcorn in the region!
The remaining small congregation may have such large expectations of payout, combined with the extraordinary costs of very old building renovation, that it would be hard to imagine a film center, alone, could attract the funding, contributions, tax advantages, etc. for such restoration. Partnered with other public programming components (adult day programs? Child care facilties? Historic architecture museum programming?) there might be a revenue stream sufficient to maintain such a large, high maintenance facility, but this would be after accomplishing the purchase and renovation of the entire place.
As the story says, there is already a thriving arts center–theater, dance, music, events for kids, and much more–that is functioning inside the building. And now film screenings. Please visit when you can! https://www.centeratwestpark.org/
You want to save it? Buy it. Done.
Best news I’ve heard in years! There is always the possibility of recreating wonderful city treasures like this when it comes to landmarks. It just takes the will of the people to do it! We would not have the magnificent Grand Central had it not been for that. It’s done all over the world just not in New York where big real estate literally runs City Hall and is ramming luxury housing into every square inch of space. Which was precisely what was planned for this historic Romanesque building.
West Park was once where Joseph Papp began his famous and successful theater company New Yorkers love now at Astor Place in a landmarked building. It’s possible to have a world class movie, theater company and community space here at West Park as an enhancement to this city while restoring and reclaiming this landmark.
The community has power when they get in the game and do more. The real estate Yimby’s are infiltrating themselves into our community boards and our city council. We have a government captured by them and as a result we have lost so many important irreplaceable monuments over the last 20 years.
Thank you so much to the actors and creative people who came forward to save this church and don’t let it be the last of these endeavors!
Let’s say “Enough” to New York’s legacy being sold to the highest bidder!
Best news on the upper west side I’ve heard all week with an exception of all the cherry blossoms holding in there another week due to the cool weather. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
When I walk by this church I see a rundown and decrepit building that has been surrounded by scaffolding for the past 23 years.
Holding an occasional movie screening there might make these wealthy celebrities feel good about themselves but it will not change the fact that – by all accounts – it will cost millions of dollars to repair this building. So far nobody has presented a practical plan to raise these funds.
My guess is the church and the scaffolding will remain there for many more years to come.
I suppose you’re right: A bunch of celebs could afford to purchase it together:/
When this story was originally posted last year, people were complaining that Mark Ruffalo only gave $1000 to save the church. If he and his Hollywood friends (he was an Avenger after all) can’t come up with the money then I don’t hold out much hope for this endeavor.
How is gale brewer doing raising money? Sorry, I meant “raising money”? It’s the height of entitlement to insist on maintaining this building in its current state with an investment of NOTHING. ” it’s historic” ” it’s unique” ” character of neighborhood”. These are specious luxuries no one is willing to pay for, all on someone else’s dime.
Based on the 375 seats being filled tonight to see the film and the talkback, and the 520-person waiting list, I have no doubt the money will be raised. A hopeful neighbor – Melissa
I wish every article about this church would end with one number – the amount of money that opponents have actually raised and deposited in a bank. They have spent years fighting tooth and nail against this congregation and they are no closer to actually doing something with this building.
From what I understand, the Center at West Park is continually upgrading the facility–as per this article–and the building is structurally sound.
This is such insipid nonsense. Why don’t you silly celebrities start by fixing the facade with its 23 year old sidewalk bridges that represent a real liability to our community and passers by. Where are the actual laws of this city at work that have time limits on such work. After that you can work on whatever film center you want to create out of a church when there are plenty of vacant purpose built theater spaces that would more easily function in such capacity.
It is not just a film center. There’s a very active arts community inside that includes affordable space, fantastic theater companies, music, dance, kids’ programmings. Now they’ll do screenings. I went to the event tonight. The screen resolution and sound were amazing.
You’re right, Sam. They are also the home of the wonderful Amore Opera company, after they lost their space at the Riverside Church. I recently played in the orchestra for their production of Don Giovanni, and they are hoping to do Madame Butterfly soon.
That is the plan–to remove the sidewalk shed–and I doubt it will take long given the fund-raising efforts. I do wish they’d publish a specific number, but I’ve read that support is coming from neighbors and established arts organizations. Some of the commenters here don’t even mention the VALUE of affordable space for artists, and the VALUE of community, which saddens me. This neighborhood will become a sterile desert without places like these.
$3 million to fix the roof and remove the scaffolding? That is aspirational accounting if I ever saw it. First off, as a landmarked structure, many modern materials cannot be used in the repair. Everything will have to approved by LPC. Further, it is a sloped roof. My coop just had our flat roof replaced (you have to rip off the old one, and put the new one down) the cost of that and the scaffolding was near $3 million without the need for LPC approval, DoB was tough enough with permitting. The preservationists seem to think those in favor of tearing down the church want it to go. Not true, we would all be very pleased if a donor stepped up with the tens of millions obviously needed to restore the church and bring it up to code. But after 20 plus years of promises by local officials and this “arts group,” we are all still stuck with a collapsing 19th century covered in scaffolding, with no reasonable expectation of restoration.
As an additional comment, I’d love to know how someone came up with the number that the arts inject “$120 billion” into the city’s economy?
The data about the amount that arts bring to NYC’s economy are online. It’s direct impact, and indirect (hotels, restaurants, and much more)
According to Americans for the Arts. org “The arts have a $5.6 billion annual impact on the New York City and New York-New Jersey metropolitan economy. ” FWIW the NYS Budget for 2024-5 is $237 billion…the arts, worthy as they are, don’t bring in more than half the state’s annual budget.
Dear Wendy Blake, First, congratulations on you terrific article about efforts to make West Park Church into a new center for the arts on the Upper West Side. One thing, though, you state that the church was “the first home of Joseph Papp’s Shakespeare Festival” which it was not. Papp’s first theatre company began (also in a church!) – the Emmanuel Church on the lower East Side (729 East 6th Street near Avenue D) in 1953. However, Joe Papp (along with Helen Hayes) did take part in the dedication of the newly renovated theater in West Park Presbyterian Church as the Shakespeare Center, home of the Riverside Shakespeare Company of New York City, in 1982. I was, at the time, Riverside’s Artistic Director. And for five years Papp and the New York Shakespeare Festival were the sponsors of our bus & truck tours of free Shakespeare productions that Riverside produced throughout the five boroughs, often performing before audiences of several hundred. There’s more to this story, but suffice it to say that West Park Church has proud history in supporting the arts on the Upper West Side. All the best to Mark Ruffalo, and to you to keep up your work in supporting this newly dedicated center for the arts at West Park Presbyterian Church.