Upper West Side Church Getting a New Life as Children’s Museum Expansion
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is planning to repurpose the century-old church at 361 Central Park West to more than double its current visitor capacity. Currently located at 212 West 83rd Street, the redevelopment of the church building on the corner of West 96th Street will yield 80,000 square feet of new exhibit space spread across seven stories. The project will also enable CMOM to “enhance its partnerships with various city organizations, including shelters, Head Start programs, settlement houses, hospitals, and the Department of Corrections,” which helps make it possible to “engage more young people from across the city with the incredible benefits of the arts.” Expected to open in 2028, CMOM has raised $200 million of its projected $300 million budget including an allocation of $46.1 million to date from the City of New York as well as monetary gifts from a variety of donors.