A conflict is brewing as the Ukrainian diaspora opposes plans to sell, rezone, and potentially demolish the center, which has served as a spiritual and cultural hub for the Somerset Township community for over 40 years. The center is part of the St. Andrew's Memorial Complex, the largest Ukrainian community center in the United States.
This was reported in a petition by the organization Svitanok NYC Inc, which initiated the campaign to protect the complex.
"Plans to sell, change the zoning, or demolish parts of the complex threaten the spiritual and cultural integrity of this sacred place, built and maintained through the sacrifices of Ukrainian immigrants and their descendants. We believe that preserving the Ukrainian Cultural Center and the entire St. Andrew's Memorial Complex is a moral obligation to our ancestors, future generations, and God," the petition states.
The facility in question is reportedly part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Center, also known as the St. Andrew's Memorial Complex, in Somerset, New Jersey. Opened in 1987, the center was built through the initiative of Metropolitan Mstyslav and with donations from the UOC of USA and the Ukrainian diaspora. Today, it includes a school, cultural halls, a church, and a cemetery.
It is worth noting that the complex's memorial cemetery, where more than 8,000 Ukrainians (including priests and cultural figures) are buried, is considered a holy place and an important center for remembering Ukrainian history in America.
The center also plays a key role in preserving Ukrainian culture amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Since 2022, the number of students at the Ukrainian school has increased significantly as many refugee families have found support there.
Svitanok NYC Inc. has proposed an action plan that includes an independent audit, community consultations, and the creation of a long-term preservation strategy. The plan also calls for considering models of co-management with community participation and attracting alternative sources of funding.
According to the organizers, the initiative has three goals: stopping all actions to sell or change the purpose of the territory, achieving full transparency regarding legal and financial plans, and involving the community in developing a long-term conservation strategy for the complex.
"We are ready to provide expert support, resources, and facilitation for negotiations. We are ready to develop a sustainable plan for the preservation of the site. We will ensure that the voice of the Ukrainian community is heard," said Oleksandr Taran, president of Svitanok NYC Inc.
Author: Inna Mikhno