The
real-estate-obsessed rector of Trinity Church is sealing his dream deal — and altering the downtown skyline.
The board of the historic lower Manhattan church has approved a plan to demolish two Trinity-owned buildings and replace them with a residential and office tower.
The
Rev. James Cooper’s development push was one of many sore points that led to a mass exodus of church board members two years ago.
... “The new condo tower is going to be the worst possible backdrop, and will be much taller than the current building,” said parishioner Jeremy Bates. “It may be an economically smart decision, but
it’s symbolically wrong.”
... Former board member Tom Flexner noted in a December 2011 letter to fellow members of the vestry that
Cooper wanted “to pursue ill-conceived projects in order to promote his own power.”
“I would specially note his almost obsessive desire to redevelop 68-74 Trinity Place into
a sort of mega-monument — a facility more expensive and more expansive than any reasonable assessment of our needs would suggest is appropriate,” Flexner wrote.
In the midst of the controversy over his leadership,
Cooper considered retiring, but only if he got perks, including a burial plot in the historic church graveyard. His compensation package in 2010 topped $1.3 million ....
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