Dutch Reformed Church
NEWBURGH – Following a two-hour public hearing and another hour-and-a-half of debate by council members, the Newburgh City Council Monday night approved a resolution to apply for a RESTORE New York grant of $845,450 to shore up the roof of the vacant Dutch Reform Church.
There is concern that without shoring up the roof, the weight of snow this winter could collapse it.
City Economic Development Director Deidre Glenn explained that the grant would only be for the old church and not include the old City Club building or property at 2 Montgomery Street. The three parcels as bundled together, have been proposed for development but the grant application is just for the old church building.
“Saving the Dutch Reform Church has been in our plans for a long
time now and it has been in the works for a long time now and the City
of Newburgh has not been able to do it alone,” Glenn said.
To vote the application down or tabling it would mean the fate of the Dutch Reform Church would be “demolition by neglect,” said Councilwoman Karen Mejia.
Several residents who spoke called for the Dutch Reform Church to be separated out from the other two. In the end, any reference to the other two parcels or a potential developer, were removed from the grant application resolution.
The application must be filed with Albany by December 15.
