Mormons plan first New York temple

Mormons plan first New York temple

NEW YORK — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to renovate a building it owns on the west side of Manhattan and convert part of it into a temple for worship, its first in New York City.

The building is located across from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, at the corner of 65th and Columbus Avenue. The building already houses a chapel, classrooms, offices, a cultural hall and a family history center.

The 20,000-square-foot temple will be located on the top two floors of the building.

Work has already begun on the renovation, and is expected to be completed by February 2004.

The decision to renovate the space for use as a temple was made because of growing numbers of Mormons in the New York City metropolitan area — more than 37,000 members in 2000, an increase from about 28,000 in 1995, according to the church.