New York - Father Lawrence (Lavrenty), pastor of St. George Church in New York's East Village, has expressed his unqualified support of the Cooper Union plan to "demap" Taras Shevchenko Place, a small street adjacent to the church.

The clergyman is enthusiastic about the changes that Cooper Union will bring to the neighborhood. "We will have a beautiful park in that street," said Fr. Lawrence. "It is a beautiful plan that will improve the area. Maybe we will put a statue of Shevchenko in that park."

Taras Shevchenko is an icon among Ukrainians, considered the greatest Ukrainian poet and a respected artist. One parishioner remarked that the "battle for getting Shevchenko's name for the small street," located between 6^th and 7^th Streets, and 2^nd ad 3^rd Avenues, "was very difficult. It would be a real shame to lose it." Demapping is the term used when a street is removed both physically and from the official maps.

Fr. Lawrence insists that the plan to create a park (pedestrian passageway, according to Claire McCarthy of Cooper Union) will prove to be a great boon to area residents. "The drug addicts and drunks using the street will be cleared out," he said.

When asked exactly how converting the street into a pedestrian walk might keep drug addicts away, Fr. Lawrence said it would be fenced in. "Like the fence by Gramercy Park. You will need a key to get in."

Still, with a fence to prevent use of most of the passageway, a path would have to be created alongside in order not to block access to the side doors of the church and the school. Ms. McCarthy later stated that there were no plans to build a fence, but the idea could be considered.

Did St. George inform its parishioners that plans were underway to remove Taras Shevchenko Place? "No," said Father Lawrence. "I just got this news today." After clarifying that the question was about the Cooper Union plans that have been discussed at length with himself and representatives from the university, Fr. Lawrence said, "I mean the news about the meeting." The original question went unanswered.

Father Lawrence urges all interested parties attend the Housing Committee meeting tomorrow in order to learn more about the proposal. He is convinced that everyone will agree that the plans are sound and to everyone's benefit.