Community Board 2 Approves Ramp For Landmarked Emmanuel Baptist Church

Community Board 2 voted at their Executive Committee meeting last night in favor of a wheelchair accessible ramp for Clinton Hill’s Emmanuel Baptist Church (279 Lafayette Avenue at St. James Place). Construction of a new barrier-free 88 inch concrete access ramp to assist the elderly and disabled at the church’s front entrance was approved following a presentation led by Design AIDD‘s Andrea Harris.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission certificate of appropriateness application, which also includes the relocation of two lamps, seeks to integrate the ramp as subtly as possible into the church’s original design–keeping it concealed from view and matching the existing colors of the stunning 19th century structure.

“We tried to incorporate the ramp into the architecture, so it’s hidden and not creating eyesores,” said Harris, adding that her firm had chosen accompanying period Gothic-style lighting.

Emmanuel Baptist, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, was also included in the Clinton Hill Historic District by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1981. The church was designed by skyscraper-focused architect Francis H. Kimball and completed in 1887.

Prior to approving the plan, members of the executive committee praised the measure and Ms. Harris’ presentation.

“It appears from your proposed conditions that this ramp will not be visible at all to those driving by or those walking by unless they’re very close,” said CB2 Land Use Committee head Lawrence Whiteside.

There is already an existing ramp on St. James Place, Harris said. The new ramp would allow visitors access to the church’s main entrance on Lafayette Avenue. A public hearing will be held concerning the ramp on September 9.

By Paul McCaffrey