House of Deputies Debating a Resolution to sell the TEC Property at 815 2nd Ave, NYC

Posted by Kendall Harmon

The text of the original resolution D016 [amendment(s) are currently being attempted] is as follows:
Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That it is the will of this Convention to move the Church Center headquarters away from the Church Center building at 815 2nd Avenue, New York City, as soon as it is economically feasible; and be it further Resolved, That Executive Council is directed to appoint a Task Force on Real Property including knowledgeable real estate and finance professionals, to explore alternatives and make recommendations for the most effective economic way of a sale, lease, or other disposition of the Church Center building; and be it further Resolved, That the Task Force on Real Property is to make its report to Executive Council by February 2013; and be it further Resolved, That Executive Council will proceed with all appropriate speed to implement the Task Force Recommendations, including (if so recommended) placing the Church Center building on the market for sale, lease, or other disposition, as soon as it makes economic sense to do so; and be it further Resolved, That Executive Council is directed to appoint a separate Task Force on Church Center Location to identify other suitable alternatives for locating the
Church Center, giving special attention to available properties owned by Episcopal-affiliated entities, locations close to large airports, ease of travel, cost of living for Church Center employees, and cost of acquiring or leasing the properties; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force on Church Center Location will make its report to Executive Council by June, 2013; and be it further Resolved, That Executive Council will be prepared to relocate the Church Center headquarters to the new location or locations as soon as it is economically feasible; and be it further Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $20,000 in the 2013-2015 triennium budget to pay for expenses associated with the work described in this Resolution.
Update: The amended resolution as worded and passed is now here.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • General Convention • --Gen. Con. 2012 • * Culture-Watch • Urban/City Life and Issues • * Economics, Politics • Economy • Housing/Real Estate Market

13 Comments
Posted July 6, 2012 at 4:28 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Ralph wrote:

At last, something that makes sense.

I know of some property near Deltana, Alaska that would be perfect, and that would come at the right price.

July 6, 5:50 pm | [comment link]
2. Tomb01 wrote:

Ralph #1:  Actually, I expect they are probably looking for something in Haight-Ashbury or the Castro District of San Francisco….

July 6, 6:02 pm | [comment link]
3. dwstroudmd+ wrote:

Are they giving the money to the indigenous peopls of NA who were forced out by the Doctrine of Discovery?

I have beachfront property in ARIZONA that should do ‘em nicely.  No electricity, though, or water.  Not that they’d need those things.  They can whisk up with their canons, regulations, and “true gozpell”.

July 6, 6:11 pm | [comment link]
4. Oreo wrote:

Word from one of our delegates is that it passed the HOD.

July 6, 6:24 pm | [comment link]
5. centexn wrote:

Stay away from Austin, Tx. Its plenty weird as it is already.

July 6, 6:33 pm | [comment link]
6. Kendall Harmon wrote:

Easy on the sarcasm, please. Article now up on what happened.

July 6, 6:35 pm | [comment link]
7. dwstroudmd+ wrote:

No time limit on the sale.  Most likely to occur when hell freezes over.  Same time as they will give the money to the indigenous peoples displaced by the Doctrine of Discovery.  They prefer to make faux laments, like Diocese.

July 6, 6:37 pm | [comment link]
8. SC blu cat lady wrote:

Watching the debate in the House of Deputies was kind of interesting. They did indeed pass a resolution to sell 815 at some indefinite time in the future.  Another organization I know moved its headquarters from NJ to Ohio.  Should not be a surprise that they decided to sell 815.

July 6, 6:51 pm | [comment link]
9. Northwest Bob wrote:

They could move to Cleveland, Ohio like the United Church of Christ did decades ago.  They would be close to the like minded UCC.  There is plenty of low cost housing, low cost office space, public transportation including light rail direct to the airport, and a very sympathetic Trinity Cathedral.  The low prestege value would probably not sit well, however.
IHSV,
NW Bob

July 6, 6:54 pm | [comment link]
10. fishsticks wrote:

At some point (in the 1980’s, I think), Ed Browning agreed to move the Church Center to KC or STL, MO. I don’t remember why it fell through, but the rationale behind moving was two-fold: (1) it would be much less expensive to run out of the Midwest, and (2) it would put the Church Center *in* the center.

July 6, 7:27 pm | [comment link]
11. MichaelA wrote:

Does the passing of this resolution have any effect?  Or can 815 ignore it, or do something else entirely, as they see fit?

July 7, 2:03 am | [comment link]
12. SC blu cat lady wrote:

Michael A, Passing this resolution by the house of deputies simply mean that this resolution is half way to being anything that has to be done. Next, this resolution needs to be considered by the House of Bishops. Once that is done (if the bishops concur), then the process of selling 815 should begin.  The resolution does not give any deadline by when it should be sold but just that 815 should be sold- that is all. As the old saying goes- weak as pond water.

The original resolution did give a deadline (by the next convention) but that was changed by an amendment which struck that part of the resolution. The resolution passed with no deadline after a few deputies mentioned the lousy real estate market and how a sale should be between a willing seller and willing buyer and not forced.  Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yawn.

July 7, 6:58 am | [comment link]
13. MichaelA wrote:

Blu Cat Lady, I am shocked and saddened by your cynicism ... ;o)

July 8, 2:18 am | [comment link]
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