Proposed affordable housing could be built on Quaker cemetery

Some community members in Westchester Square say they're concerned that a proposed affordable housing building could be built on top of an old Quaker cemetery.

News 12 Staff

Feb 8, 2019, 3:38 AM

Updated 1,910 days ago

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Some community members in Westchester Square say they're concerned that a proposed affordable housing building could be built on top of an old Quaker cemetery.
Anthony Pisciotta used to walk by St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Westchester Avenue every day as a kid. The presence of the still-remaining church, tombstones and property inspired him to volunteer at Research Cemeteries. He says it's important to determine whether the site is a burial ground.
St. Peter's Church, Chapel and Cemetery Complex was designated as a New York City landmark in 1976. A portion of the lot is not under landmark jurisdiction, even though the city's planning site shows that all of lot No. 6 is a cemetery.
A proposal made to Community Board 10 last month to build affordable housing on the seemingly empty end of the church's property sparked a passionate fight to find out if anything, or anyone, is underground.
An 1865 map that clearly shows a Quaker cemetery and meeting house.
Longtime community members say they want a third party to survey and use a radar on the portion of the church in question to find the truth.
The church's attorney sent News 12 a statement saying:


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