NY Daily News-
A historic Jamaica church is fighting tooth-and-nail to thwart a city landmarks designation that could cost its dwindling congregation thousands of dollars in building maintenance and repairs.
Members of Grace Episcopal Church launched a campaign to persuade local members of the City Council to overturn the city Landmarks Preservation Commission's designation when it comes up for a Council vote next year.
But not a single church member attended the commission's public hearing earlier this year to oppose the plan. The church's Memorial Hall was officially landmarked on Oct. 26.
"We're going to fight the designation," said Grace Episcopal's leader, the Rev. Darryl James. "It siphons off potential funding for ways in which we can really continue to do the work of Jesus Christ."
The congregation's church and cemetery were landmarked in 1967 - and Grace Episcopal has felt the financial pinch of the designations ever since, he said.
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http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2010/12/21/2010-12-21_struggling_jamaica_church_shuns_costly_landmark_status.html#ixzz18qPD8kTp
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