Celebrities Rally to Save Deteriorating Church

A conflict over whether to tear down a historic church on the Upper West Side of New York City and replace it with luxury apartments has become a battle between the congregation and preservationists, with celebrities such as Mark Ruffalo and Wendell Pierce joining the fight to save the building. The church says it cannot afford to fix up the deteriorating building and hopes to sell it to a developer, while preservationists argue that the building should be protected as a landmark. The situation highlights the city's struggle to balance growth and preservation, as well as the challenges faced by houses of worship in the face of declining membership.