By Gus Saltonstall
Construction has officially begun on the project to transform a century-old Upper West Side church into the new home of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
The museum is expected to move from its longtime home at 212 West 83rd Street into the new, much larger space at 361 Central Park West, on the corner of West 96th Street, in 2028.
Shawmut Design and Construction is overseeing the project to turn the church into what it describes as a “seven-story learning lab for the children and families of New York City.” The demolition of the interior of the church has already been completed, and the technical structural work has begun “to delicately thread seven floors within the cavernous building while preserving the overall structure and key spatial features,” according to a statement from Shawmut.
The new 80,000-square-foot building will be double the size of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s current home at West 83rd Street and include a cafe, museum store, performance space, and rooftop terrace.
“We are excited to begin this next phase and ultimately build a welcoming, expanded, and accessible space that will serve the community for years to come,” said David Margolius, executive vice president of Shawmut’s New York Metro region, in a news release.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan aims to raise $300 million for the project, including donations already made of $50 million from Laurie M. Tisch, $46.1 million allocated by the city, and $30 million from the Bezos Family Foundation.
The former house of worship on West 96th Street was the home of First Church of Christ, Scientist, which closed in 2014 and was originally expected to be turned into condos. The city ended up rejecting the plan in 2016, though, and then in 2018 the children’s museum announced that it had purchased the building.
The renovation of the West 96th Street church marks the first time the museum has expanded in more than four decades.
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Excited this is finally happening.
Unfortunately my kids will have long since aged out despite being prime age when this was announced pre-COVID
That will completely change that corner for the better at 96th/CPW!
A whole church was successfully bought on the UWS without the participation of the church-buyer-in-chief? No mention of her? That’s gotta be a mistake.
For the children!
Great use of the church. Would be nice to make a museum out of the other Cchurch on W 83
What will happen to the space on 83rd they will be leaving?
Repeat that price tags again— $300 million?
It’s a massive conversion of an idiosyncratic, vintage building, which probably also has lead and asbestos abatement issues. There needs to be accessibility, fire safety, additional restrooms, and other features not present in the current building.
Hey — you can build a nice ballroom for that much!
Oh, wait…..
“ The Children’s Museum of Manhattan aims to raise $300 million for the project, including donations already made of $50 million from Laurie M. Tisch, $46.1 million allocated by the city, and $30 million from the Bezos Family Foundation.”
But I thought we were supposed to hate the rich?
Not at all a question of hating the rich; it’s about forcing the rich to pay a fairer share of taxes.
Them yes, their donations to charity are gratefully accepted!
We were supposed to eat them, she said, at the rich-only fashion extravaganza. Then she jumped on a private jet with Bernie.
Who doesn’t “eat” them when offered millions of dollars for the act?
It was ‘tax the rich’ actually… glad to see these donations, there’s no hate here just a desire for appropriate tax rates & closed loopholes (as someone who pays a ton of W2 taxes)
I am excited for this addition to our neighborhood. I hope the larger scape will allow for programming for pre-teens and teens as well.
What a waste of prime space.
I’m curious – why is it a waste to have a bigger children’s museum?
By all means, elaborate…
Sorry it’s not a Bank of America. Can’t imagine something that’s a better use of space on the park.
Beginning when my son was a toddler, more than 15 years ago, I used to take him there just to see him have fun. It was a special place for both of us. For him because he loved the place and loved taking all kinds of classes. For me, because it was the space where I began to realize that this fatherhood thing suited me well. After his play time there we used to cross the street to Cafe Lalo for a warm drink and a cookie.
Too bad no good news for the church on 86th st sitting idle for years.
I put that property into contract twice but landmarks denied both group’s development plans.
If only new buildings looked this great and durable.