The Riverside Church

Designated May 16, 2000

An ecumenical church, with its roots in the Baptist faith, its history reflects the modernist religious theology of its founding pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick. Financed with gifts from members of the church, including the industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the neo-Gothic style complex, built between 1928 and 1930, consists of three distinct sections: a five-bay nave and chancel extending north toward West 122nd Street; a mid-block twenty-two story tower housing the narthex, Christ Chapel, belfry, offices and meeting rooms; as well as a one-and half story “cloister” passage extending east to Claremont Avenue.

STATUS Designated Individual Landmarks

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The first institution to move into the area was New York Hospital, which began purchasing land in 1816 to establish the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum (on the present-day campus of Columbia University) and the Leake and Watts Orphan Asylum (on the present-day campus of St. John...

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“I don’t know what the City would be without HDC. [They] testified before LPC time after time and helped us focus on the right issues. We would not be an historic district without HDC! ”

Doreen Gallo: DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance

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“Use HDC as a resource because they know what they are doing and can offer advice on how to go about creating a district from every front: architectural, political, LPC, and the media. I had floundered prior to my involvement with this invaluable organization.”

Fern Luskin: Lamartine Place Historic District; Friends of Lamartine Place & Gibbons Underground Railroad Site

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“HDC provided guidance and shared information during that process—we knew which Council members were going one way or another and we changed a few minds. I don’t think NoHo would have had as cohesive a district had it not been for HDC’s aid.”

Zella Jones: NoHo Historic District; NoHo East; and NoHo Extension

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“I remember Richard saying at a meeting, we have someone here from HDC, Nadezhda Williams, Director of Preservation and Research, to help us. She said to us, ‘You are not the only ones going through this.’ HDC included us in an enormous community”

Erika Petersen: West End Preservation Society

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"HDC has begun a series of projects to highlight the Bronx's architectural and cultural history. From booklet's and research highlighting specific sites and historic districts to the HDC's symposium in October 2018 to the latest community-based committee to look into further possible sites to qualify for landmarking, the HDC has established projects that will serve the Bronx community well."

Elena Martinez
City Lore, Folklorist
Bronx Music Heritage Center, Co-Artistic Director

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Ed García Conde,
founder and Executive Director,
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Nearby + Similar Buildings

Designated Individual Landmarks

The Riverside Church

STATUS Designated Individual Landmarks

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The Neighborhood

Morningside Heights

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