After two failed conversions, St. Luke’s Church is going to auction

August 30, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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CLINTON HILL — AFTER TWO DEVELOPERS FAILED TO SUCCESSFULLY develop St. Luke’s Church, the site, which includes an accompanying parish house, is being auctioned. The Metropolitan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sold St. Luke’s, which is located at 257 Washington Avenue, to Brookland Capital in 2015. The property was subsequently acquired by Serabjit Singh Malhotra in 2019, who declared bankruptcy last May. Bidding will open on Sept. 24, Crain’s New York Business first reported. Bidders must register by Sept. 20 and deals will require approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District.

St. Luke’s presence in Clinton Hill has existed for over a century: acclaimed ecclesiastical architect J.W. Walter designed the Gothic-and Romanesque-style building and it was constructed in 1894. The church was slated to close after its last service in June 2014, the Eagle reported. In previous negotiations for development, dating back to December 2017, Brookland Capital wanted to remove historical stained glass windows because they deemed the religious iconography inappropriate for development, which caused conflict with the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The LPC ultimately approved the windows’ removal in February 2018.

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