Housing Preservation and Development asked the New York City Council subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Dispositions to designate Praise Tabernacle in Jamaica, Queens, an urban development action area and approve an associated UDAA project to preserve the church and its community services.

HPD planner Duncan Miller told the subcommittee that the church sits across two tax lots (Block 10141, Lots 54 and 87), that Lot 87 is city‑owned and largely vacant, and that the narrow remaining portion of the lot — roughly 30 feet between the church and the property line — makes housing development infeasible under rear‑yard and light‑and‑air constraints. "Because of this, HPD is seeking to convey Lot 87 to conserve the existing community facility use," Miller said.

Lamont Bailey, representing Praise Tabernacle, described the congregation’s community programs — weekly and midweek services, after‑school care, youth programs, fellowship groups, and a school of urban ministry — and said conveyance would let the church finance repairs, expand services and secure long‑term ownership. "This will allow Praise Tabernacle to make improvements to its church facility," he said.

No members of the public testified on LU 433 during the subcommittee hearing, and committee members asked no substantive questions of HPD. The chair closed the public hearing and the item was laid over for further consideration.

What it means: The UDAA designation and UDAA project, if ultimately approved, would enable the city to transfer the identified city‑owned lot to the church so it can preserve and invest in a neighborhood community facility. The action does not itself authorize construction beyond the stated conservation purpose; final disposition and any conveyance conditions will be set in later steps if the Council advances the item.

Next steps: The subcommittee laid the item over; no vote was taken at this hearing. The Council will consider the application in subsequent Land Use and full Council stages as required by ULURP.