By Dan Murphy
The people of Yonkers received bad news when the Archdiocese of New York announced their intentions to close St. Mary’s Church, the oldest Catholic Church in Yonkers, located on South Broadway. Over the past few months, parishoners and concerned residents have been looking for alternatives to keep the church open, but they have also been reviewing the Archdiocese’s $10 Million cost estimate of what it would take to renovate the church.
We recently received the following letter. “I have been following your reporting on the Archdiocese of New York proposal to close St. Mary’s Church and appreciate the information that you have included in your reports. I wanted to let you know that the congregates of St. Mary’s are opposed to this proposal and did not want you to think they we are not going to meekly accept this proposal without fighting to save the Church from closing. I am attaching for your information letters that I have written to the Archdiocese and the City of Yonkers questioning various aspects of the 2023 Investigation Report upon which the Archdiocese is basing their decision and the action by the Council to grant Landmark Status for the Church.I have not received a response from the Archdiocese,” writes Yonkers resident Tony Kunny.
Kunny also wrote to City Council President Lakisha Collins Bellamy to “express my appreciation for your efforts on behalf of the congregation of St. Mary’s Church in requesting that the Archdioceses of New York reconsider its decision to close St. Mary’s Church.
I am a life-long congregate of the Church and my family has close ties to St. Mary’s. Myself and my brother and sisters are graduates of St. Mary’s Grammar School. In addition my mother, Rose Kunny was the church organist for 38 years and taught music to the children of the grammar school for a number of years, and my sister, Joanne Kunny was a member of the Parish Council and also served as President while being a member of the Council.
I have written to the Archdiocese with questions and concerns regarding the 2023 Facade Investigation Report prepared for the Church, and am enclosing a copy of this letter for your information. It has been reported that 10 million dollars will be required to address the issues with respect to the fa9ade and other portions of the Church structure conditions. There is no question that these conditions of the Church need to be addressed but there are questions as to the cost associated that will be required for this rehabilitation work,” writes Kunny.
Kunny also wrote a detailed letter to the Archdiocese and their project management company, asking for more information about their cost estimates associated with a St. Mary’s renovation. What Kunny and many other Parishoners want to know is a breakdown of the $10 Million cost estimate, and specifically a break out of the cost to repair the façade outside the church, which has had an overhang to ensure the safety of persons entering the church.
Kunny wants to know the cost of that specific project, which needs urgent repair. The hope is that funds can be raised or the Archdiocese might be willing to help in that cost, estimated at $1-$2 Million. The other repairs needed perhaps can wait, while funds are raised. At least the church can stay open.
The other option that some have proposed is to Landmark the Church. This would require approval by the Landmarks Board and the City Council If the church is landmarked, it cannot be demolished, but the same repair issues and pricetag would remain.
Kunny, who has served as Town Engineer in the Towns of Lewisboro and North Castle in Westchester County, brings an expertise to this issue, combined with his family’s generations of love and attendance at St. Mary’s .
Let us hope a resolution can be found to keep this great church open.
