UES Hungarian Church May Become City Landmark

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A historic Hungarian church on the Upper East Side may be the neighborhood's next building to become a city landmark.

The city Landmarks Preservation Commission voted Tuesday to add the First Hungarian Reformed Church on East 69th Street between First and Second avenues to its landmarks calendar. Next steps for the building's landmarking process include a to-be-scheduled public hearing and then a commission vote.

The First Hungarian Reformed Church is notable on both architectural and cultural levels, according to the commission. The building is one of the few religious institutions designed by architect Emory Roth. Roth, who was born in Austria-Hungary, was one of New York City's distinguished architects in the 20s and 30s and designed acclaimed buildings such as the San Remo and Beresford apartment buildings.

Roth designed the First Hungarian Reformed Church for a congregation moving from lower Manhattan to the Upper East Side in the early 20th century. The building was completed in 1916 and still holds services in Hungarian.

City landmark status won't be the first time the First Hungarian Reformed Church is recognized. The church building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The block of East 69th Street housing the church is also famous for its historic row houses.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch