Immanuel Lutheran Church

Built in 1932 at 1448 Cortlandt Street in Houston Heights, this brick church combines eclectic design with Gothic Revival influence. Contrasting stone trim marks the battered piers, buttresses, and the steps leading to the upper level, where a slightly arched doorway opens into the nave. A squared doorway beneath the steps leads to the basement, which was the first stage of construction. Other features include arched Gothic windows with stained glass, a stone foundation, a steep pitched roof of wood shingles, and a corner parapet tower that holds chimes. A carved cross marks the front gable, and the church name is cut into the stone above the main doorway. The building dominates its corner because of its size, yet its style suits the surrounding houses. The church complex occupies the northern half of the block, alongside a school and a modern sanctuary that the survey calls incompatible with the old church. It was recognized for its architecture at the local level and for its role in the social life of the neighborhood.