An abandoned warehouse in Carle Place might soon see new life as a church and community center.
Hanullim Presbyterian Church of New York (HPCNY) bought the property at 219 Westbury Ave. in December for $1.7 million and is now in the process of asking the Town of North Hempstead for building permit approval to make some major renovations to the site.
The Korean Presbyterian church, which currently operates out of a rented building in Bayside, Queens, is hoping to renovate the 12,630 square foot two-story abandoned warehouse into a sanctuary, classrooms and multipurpose room.
“It’s been our long wish to have our own facility,” said Mike Kim, a deacon at the church. “It was a prayer answered when we found that warehouse in Carle Place. It’s a beautiful area which would serve us well.”
The church currently has close to 100 members who attend their Sunday service, as well as approximately 28 kindergarten to eighth grade students who attend their Korean culture and history school on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. They also have Wednesday night services, which draw about 30 to 40 attendees. People will mostly be at the church on the weekends and Kim said that on-site parking would accommodate the congregation’s needs.
Kim said that the church is looking to beautify the dilapidated warehouse and enhance the community. Residents are welcome to attend services or the Korean schools, as well as hold a meeting in the multipurpose room.
“The building is worn out, it’s very ugly and old,” he said. “We’re going to make it a beautiful place with stucco and partly brick. It will have a nice multipurpose room that can be used for fellowship and will be open to the community, so that the general public in Carle Place can use it for meetings.”
HPCNY will pay taxes for 2016, but will be exempt going forward. Kim said they are hoping to move in by the end of the year or early next year, but ideally would love to have their first service by Thanksgiving or Christmas.
