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Queens Corner seeks to buy Galilean Theological Center; board extends 90‑day stay pending funding and ownership
Summary
Queens Corner reported it is finalizing a purchase agreement for the Galilean Theological Center at 1769 East 28th Street, presented an architect's letter saying the 1924 structure is 'structurally sound with a few exceptions,' and the board extended a 90‑day conditional stay while staff awaits ownership transfer, engineer reports and funding documents.
Marilyn Vicente, representing Queens Corner, told the Demolition Board of Appeals she is finalizing a purchase agreement to take ownership of the Galilean Theological Center at 1769 East 28th Street and plans to convert the building to dormitory-style housing with counseling space and a substation.
Vicente said she has engaged an architect (Mark Rubio) and a structural engineer; she provided the board with a letter from Rubio dated Nov. 18 that the existing 1924 structure is "structurally sound with a few exceptions." Vicente said project funding commitments are in process and that representatives have placed the project at the top of their lists. She estimated renovation costs could be about $1.5 million to $1.8 million but said the final figure awaits a full structural assessment.
Building staff and the law director clarified two key points: (1) a stay of demolition is conditional until the purchaser actually holds title (the property must be in the buyer’s name to be removed from the demolition list), and (2) the board will require written proof of funding commitments, letters of intent or memoranda of understanding from tenant organizations and an engineer's cost estimate before making a final decision. The law director noted there are current property maintenance violations and housing court charges attached to the parcel and described a process to work with current and prospective owners to resolve those issues.
Board members expressed support for the project’s goals and urged Vicente to submit written funding commitments and the forthcoming engineer’s estimate. One councilwoman said the project meets an identified local need and encouraged Queens Corner to forward all correspondence to city staff so the city can coordinate support.
The board voted to extend the conditional 90‑day stay until the next demolition‑board meeting; staff said they expect the structural engineer’s report and formal funding documentation to be provided before the board's next review. If the purchaser does not secure title or adequate funding, the property will remain on the demolition list.
