Efforts continue to preserve historic Yonkers church; parishioners say they're facing another setback
Members of the church have been pushing for years to protect this church. It was set to merge with another parish due to high repair costs.
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Another hurdle has developed in the battle to preserve an historic church in Yonkers, according to parishioners who have been fighting for years to keep it as is.
The Landmark Preservation Board gathered on Wednesday to discuss the resubmission of an application for the proposed landmarking of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, also known as St. Mary's on South Broadway.
As News 12 has reported, a legal stipulation currently only landmarks the outside of the church, according to city officials. Parishioners hoped the reapplication could help preserve the inside of it as well.
However, during that meeting, members said they couldn't consider this application due to a recent court order.
"It's sad," said longtime St. Mary's parishioner, Cesar Cuadra.
Members of the church have been pushing for years to protect this church. It was set to merge with another parish due to high repair costs.
A successful appeal to the Vatican kept the historic church as an independent parish.
Parishioners say they are once again asking the Vatican for help.
"It would be a shame to lose this precious architectural building and just all the history," said parishioner, Domini Pisculli.
News 12 reached out to the Archdiocese of New York. A spokesperson said earlier this week that he was unaware of the effort to re-landmark the inside of St. Mary's, adding that services will continue to be held there.
