The church was constructed by Emery Roth, a Hungarian immigrant. On June 11, 2019, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to designate the First Hungarian Reformed Church as a New York City landmark. The First Hungarian Reformed Church is located at 346 East 69th street in the Yorkville neighborhood of Manhattan. The church was constructed in 1915 by Emery Roth and serves as the home of the First Hungarian Reformed congregation. The church has continued to serve the Hungarian population in the neighborhood for 103 years.
The yellow church features Secessionist and Arts and Crafts details with an 80-foot tower that stands out amongst the 19th-century rowhouses that surround it. The church features a three-bay symmetrical facade with flat walls and stylized patterns. A large, circular window above the entrance highlights the geometric features of the building associated with the Secessionist style.
During the hearing for the vote, Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll described the church as an example of architectural and cultural history combining in one place.
Landmarks calendared the church on January 22, 2019, and held a public hearing on the proposed landmark designation on March 26, 2019. At the public hearing, five people spoke in support and no one spoke in opposition. For CityLand’s prior coverage of this designation process, click here.
U.S. Representative Caroline Maloney stated, “. . .The First Hungarian Reformed Church of New York is a truly unique and instantly recognizable building, a wonderful reminder of the Hungarian community that once flourished in Yorkville. . . We are truly fortunate to have an active and effective Landmarks Preservation Commission working to preserve New York’s great architectural and historic gems.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)