Gentrification is an emotionally charged word in Harlem. Add “churches sold to developers,” and the conversation can become even more complex. Yet the stories behind these Harlem condo projects are rarely what they seem.
Many Harlem congregations were founded when pews were full, costs were modest, and real estate was secondary to mission. Over the decades, as membership declined and maintenance costs rose, many found themselves land-rich but cash-poor—sitting on valuable property but struggling to fund basic repairs.
As land values climbed, several faith institutions explored creative solutions. Some sold their properties outright, others transferred air rights, and a few partnered with developers to build new sanctuaries beneath modern residences. The result is a fascinating collection of buildings that form part of Harlem’s evolving skyline—condominiums, quite literally, built on faith.
380 Lenox Avenue | The Lenox Condominium
Completed in 2005, The Lenox was among Harlem’s earliest large-scale condo developments to rise on church-owned land. The site once belonged to Mount Calvary Baptist Church, which began construction on a new sanctuary in the 1980s but was unable to finish the project.
Holland & Associates acquired the stalled structure, completing it as a 12-story, 77-unit condominium with full-service amenities. At the time, Harlem was still emerging from decades of disinvestment, and The Lenox’s arrival signaled a new chapter—market-rate condominiums with a doorman, fitness center, and rooftop terrace.
Because construction costs were lower than today, the layouts were notably generous. I recently sold a three-bedroom residence in the building measuring 1,773 square feet—considerably larger than many new three-bedrooms in Harlem, which average between 1,250 and 1,500 square feet.
For many residents, The Lenox marked the first sign that Harlem real estate could achieve sustained value. For the church, it offered a dignified exit from financial hardship. Its brick façade and contextual design helped it blend with Lenox Avenue’s historic streetscape while quietly setting a precedent for how under-utilized institutional sites could be reimagined for modern living.
1485 Fifth Avenue | From Bethel Gospel Assembly to Fifth on the Park
Perhaps the most ambitious of Harlem’s faith-based redevelopments is 1485 Fifth Avenue, better known as Fifth on the Park. Completed in 2007, this 28-story tower integrates a 38,000-square-foot sanctuary for Bethel Gospel Assembly with approximately 147 condominiums and 47 affordable rental apartments.
Its height sparked discussion at the time—it rose well above the traditional 12-story limit typical of the area. Located at West 120th Street and Fifth Avenue, the building borders Marcus Garvey Park, giving north- and west-facing apartments remarkable, largely protected views over the park and landmarked brownstones.
I had the pleasure of representing one of those homes—a three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence spanning 1,440 square feet. Though smaller than comparable units at 380 Lenox Avenue, its high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and unobstructed vistas created a remarkable sense of openness and light.
The church retained its worship space while leveraging its land’s value to create a full-service residential building with an indoor pool, rooftop terraces, and panoramic city vistas. On Sundays, lines still form for Bethel’s celebrated gospel services—now listed as a Harlem destination on Trip Advisor.
Fifth on the Park remains an early, visible example of how sacred and residential spaces can coexist, each sustaining the other in Harlem’s new architectural era.
11 Lenox Avenue (10 Lenox) | Second Canaan Baptist Church
With its enviable location just one block from Central Park, Second Canaan Baptist Church opted for a hybrid approach rather than a sale. The congregation partnered with a developer to rebuild its sanctuary within a new structure.
Completed in 2020, the eight-story building—designed by Isaac & Stern Architects with interiors by Fogarty Finger—includes 29 condominiums above the church’s new worship hall. Studios initially started around $595,000, with larger homes surpassing $2 million.
The design elevated Harlem’s architectural standards, featuring chevron-patterned oak floors, marble baths with radiant heat, and a rooftop terrace offering direct views of Central Park. Residents enter discreetly on West 111th Street, while the church’s main entrance faces historic Lenox Avenue.
This “vertical partnership” allowed the congregation to remain on its site while realizing the property’s value—a model now cited by other faith institutions navigating similar challenges. The limestone façade and tall windows echo Harlem’s prewar rhythm, proving that redevelopment can also mean thoughtful reinvention.
11–13 West 116th Street | Providence Baptist Church and The Patagonia
For nearly a century, Providence Baptist Church served its congregation from a red-brick building on West 116th Street. I often passed by on Sunday mornings and was struck by how welcoming the congregation remained to all neighbors.
By the early 2010s, however, the church faced familiar pressures: costly repairs, aging infrastructure, and a shrinking membership. Azimuth Development Group, a Harlem-based firm experienced in complex assemblages, proposed a solution—a 12-story mixed-use condominium with a new 11,000-square-foot church at its base and roughly 30 residences above.
Azimuth Development Group arranged financing through a consortium of Argentinian investors who recognized Harlem’s growing appeal and central location between Fifth and Lenox Avenues. The new structure, completed around 2022 and now known as The Patagonia, introduced a contemporary 12-story condominium with thoughtful amenities including a fitness center and a landscaped rooftop terrace. Many of its sleek, light-filled residences feature private outdoor space overlooking the building’s rear gardens, offering a tranquil counterpoint to the neighborhood’s energetic rhythm.
From the street, The Patagonia blends naturally into Harlem’s evolving mid-rise skyline—modern yet modest in scale. Its story is a reminder that many of today’s residential buildings stand on foundations laid by faith communities that nurtured the neighborhood for generations.
18 West 116th Street | The Baptist Temple Redevelopment
The newest chapter in this ongoing story began with the Baptist Temple, one of Harlem’s oldest congregations. In 2025, the church broke ground on a partnership with Edward Poteat of Carthage Advisors to construct a 50-unit mixed-income building incorporating a new sanctuary.
Unlike earlier projects focused on luxury sales, this one aims for balance—combining affordable and market-rate apartments while modernizing church facilities. For Poteat, a Harlem native, it represents “community-first development,” designed to preserve the church’s presence while addressing housing needs.
The Baptist Temple will retain ownership of its worship space, ensuring long-term continuity. It’s a promising example of how redevelopment can evolve—reinvesting in community assets rather than simply replacing them.
Why These Stories Matter
Each of these projects reflects Harlem’s remarkable capacity for adaptation and reinvention. They also reveal the quiet balancing act that so many institutions face — between mission, maintenance, and market realities.
Faith organizations were never meant to be real estate developers, yet the costs of maintaining century-old buildings often make creative partnerships unavoidable. In many cases, these redevelopments were acts of stewardship rather than speculation — a way to preserve community presence while securing financial stability for the future.
The public conversation often frames these projects as symbols of gentrification, but the reality is more nuanced. For some congregations, redevelopment meant survival: the chance to rebuild, modernize, and continue serving their members in a new form. Others used proceeds to fund charitable programs or endowments that extend their mission beyond their walls.
And while these transformations drew new attention — and occasionally new capital — into Harlem, they also connected the neighborhood to a broader network of investors and institutions. In that sense, the evolution of Harlem’s religious properties mirrors the story of the city itself: a place where local faith and global finance meet, reshaping the landscape while keeping Harlem’s enduring sense of purpose alive.
Looking Ahead
The Baptist Temple redevelopment suggests a new path forward—one where faith, housing, and community priorities align. Harlem’s church conversions are not simply about real estate; they’re about legacy, adaptability, and the neighborhood’s ongoing evolution.
As the neighborhood continues to evolve, these Harlem condos stand as enduring markers of that transformation—places where old and new coexist, and where the city’s spiritual and architectural stories are still unfolding. Harlem real estate remains among the most dynamic in New York, defined by its history, creativity, and constant capacity for renewal.
Walk along Lenox Avenue or 116th Street today and you’ll see the layers of this transformation: stained glass giving way to modern facades, sanctuaries reimagined as community halls, and new residents living above the spaces where generations once gathered.
Each building tells the same quiet story—that Harlem’s enduring spirit continues to find new ways to rise.
FAQ: Harlem Church Conversions and Real Estate
Q: Are church-to-condo conversions common in Harlem?
A: They’re rare but significant. Over the past two decades, several Harlem congregations have partnered with developers to modernize their properties while preserving community presence.
Q: Which Harlem condos were once church sites?
A: Notable examples include The Lenox on Lenox Avenue, Fifth on the Park on Fifth Avenue, 10 Lenox Avenue and The Patagonia on West 116th Street.
Q: What makes Harlem real estate unique?
A: Harlem offers a rare blend of historic architecture, cultural heritage, and new development opportunities, making it one of Manhattan’s most dynamic residential markets.
About the Author
Julia Boland is a real-estate broker with The Boland Team at Corcoran, specializing in Harlem and Upper Manhattan. With over 24 years of experience representing buyers, sellers, and developers, she brings historical insight and market expertise to every transaction.
