Blessed art thou, Lord our rent...

Retrofitting former houses of worship comes with a unique set of challenges .

If you checked out Part 1 of this series, you can probably name them. If you’re just joining us, here’s a couple:

1. Cost: It’s extraordinarily expensive to modernize these older structures while preserving the architectural and spiritual features that once defined them. Developers often face an uncomfortable math problem — spend heavily to restore and adapt a historic building with limited upside, or demolish it and build from scratch, going higher and denser to make the numbers work.

2. Age: These buildings tend to be old. Their bones are sturdy — built in an era when materials and craftsmanship could outlast generations — but their systems are not. Mechanical stacks, plumbing, HVAC, accessibility, and fire safety requirements all need substantial upgrades. And while time-tested construction offers durability, the convenience and efficiency of modern building science is far easier to deliver in new development than in a 120-year-old nave or sanctuary .

Yet despite the challenges — and because of the effort required — conversions of former houses of worship can be extraordinary . When done well, they preserve irreplaceable details: vaulted ceilings, stained glass, timber trusses, arches, clerestory windows, and the subtle geometries meant to evoke reverence . These conversions tend to be expensive not just because restoration costs are high, but because the original footprints and floor plans limit density. A developer may walk away with far fewer sellable units than a ground-up project — and so each home must carry a larger portion of the total cost .

On the Lower East Side, one might expect a long list of these examples . The neighborhood once held dozens of houses of worship, including grand synagogues that served thriving immigrant communities. Some remain active; others have been repurposed; many have vanished entirely .

If you watched our short featuring Adath Jeshurun of Jassy Synagogue on Rivington, formerly an Orthodox shul for Romanian immigrants, you know of one. Yet, even that conversion offers little visual record of its interior residences . And that’s part of the challenge: we have the history, we have the buildings, but we don’t always have the imagery .

Other examples include the Delancey Spanish SDA Church, which was formerly the Forsyth Street Synagogue. That, of course, is not residential, but if you look here you can see evidence of the church’s former purpose . Sadly, this building is aging and neglected, and has previously sought partners to bring it into a new era .

Finally, while it’s not a house of worship — and therefore tangential to this story — The School House at 371 Madison Street stands as a prime example of a local conversion .

Nevertheless, while there are scant examples in 10002, New York City boasts numerous remarkable conversions across its boroughs — projects that show what’s possible when a developer chooses preservation over replacement . Here are five standout examples:

99 Clinton Street
Featured unit: #8
Sold on 7/31/2023 for $1,765,000

99 Clinton Street is a rare Brooklyn Heights residence carved from a historic Presbyterian church, where soaring ceilings, timbered beams, and luminous stained-glass windows create a loft-like grandeur impossible to replicate today .

Thoughtful contemporary upgrades — from fireplaces and wide-plank pine floors to modern kitchens, spa-level baths, and central air — blend seamlessly with the building’s Gothic Revival bones .

This boutique, self-managed co-op is just steps from the Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park — the property offers a deeply intimate, one-of-a-kind living experience rooted in history and architectural character. Check out the stained glass windows in the bedrooms!

58 Strong Place
Featured unit: #1H
Sold on 5/22/2023 for $4,250,000

58 Strong Place #1H is a one-of-a-kind home carved from an 1855 church and reimagined by CWB Architects into a trophy-level condo that blends the autonomy and garden lifestyle of a townhouse with the ease of condominium living .

Loft-like scale, 12-foot ceilings, mahogany arched windows, and three exposures frame a sprawling layout with a chef’s kitchen, multiple ensuite bedrooms, abundant storage, and two private, landscaped garden spaces directly adjacent to a deeded parking spot .

Set on one of Cobble Hill’s most picture-perfect blocks, this award-winning residence offers historic grandeur, modern luxury, and a level of indoor–outdoor living rarely found anywhere in Brownstone Brooklyn. (Yeah, it’s $4.25M. Would you consider it if the budget was not in question? )

242 East 7th
Featured unit: #4
Sold on 2/22/2024 for $1,990,000

242 East 7th Street offers the rare chance to live inside a landmarked 1908 synagogue — once the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Anshe Synagogue — now a boutique five-residence cooperative on one of the East Village’s most beautiful blocks .

Residence #4 is a sun-filled triplex loft with stained-glass accents, high ceilings, a flexible three-level layout, and a showstopping private terrace that feels like a true outdoor oasis .

Blending historic character with modern comfort, this distinctive home delivers privacy, architectural pedigree, and prime access to Tompkins Square Park and the neighborhood’s best shops, cafes, and riverfront paths . (Oh, and it looks out on a church. Holy moly! )

360 Court Street
Featured unit: #B
Sold on 8/28/2022 for $1,385,000

360 Court Street #B is a singular three-level residence tucked inside the southeast tower of a landmark Romanesque Revival church, offering the feel of a private brownstone with its own gated entrance and exclusive patio .

Original arches, vaulted dome ceilings, and luminous stained-glass windows — all insulated with custom interior panels — create a dramatic backdrop for updated Viking-equipped kitchens, modern baths, and newly installed central HVAC .

With soaring ceiling heights, a tower-level bedroom/home office, and the charm of a historic conversion paired with full-service amenities, this is one of Brooklyn’s most distinctive homes. (Be sure to see the arched ceiling in the bedroom. Talk about spiritual heights! )

317 East 8th Street
Featured unit: TOWNHOUSE
Rented on 6/29/2022 for $39,500/month (Yes, you read that right! )

317 East 8th Street is a rare East Village townhouse carved from one of the city’s last surviving tenement shuls, transformed in 2005 into an Architectural Record–recognized residence that blends sacred history with high-design living .

Soaring 22-foot cathedral ceilings, restored brick walls, replicated synagogue windows, and a sequence of terraces anchor a four-level, 3–4 bedroom home filled with bespoke finishes, advanced automation, and an extraordinary chef’s kitchen .

Offering unmatched privacy, outdoor space, and dramatic architectural character, this furnished, short-term rental stands as one of Manhattan’s most singular and storied living experiences. It’s yours from June to September for $120k .