Officials call for change at Van Cortlandt Motel

Following news that the hot-sheet motel on north Broadway is up for sale, elected officials here are calling on the owner to make sure the next proprietor ends the location’s legacy as a place for assignations and possible drug use.

On Monday, Councilman Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Rep. Eliot Engel and state Sen. Jeff Klein wrote the Van Cortlandt Motel’s current owner, Vishal Patel, requesting a meeting about the site’s future use.

“Given concerns over the existing property and its future, it is our hope that you engage with the community and local elected officials regarding any future purchaser of your property,” the letter states.

Mr. Klein recently proposed a bill that would require the City Planning Commission to hold forums to receive input from community boards and residents before approving or denying applications to build hotels in Bronx County.  The legislation would empower the commission to rescind approval for sites that allow prostitution, drug use and other criminal activity.

The new bill is yet to receive a vote in Albany. But the senator said he would bring the legislation to bear on the Van Cortlandt Motel if Mr. Patel and the real estate firm selling the site, Cushman & Wakefield/Massey Knakal, do not involve the community in the sale of the property.

“I want to know who the potential buyers are or who he’s interested in selling it to and hopefully get assurances that it’s not going to be another hot-sheet motel,” Mr. Klein said.

Asked what kind of building he would like to see replace the motel, located across from Van Cortlandt Park, Mr. Klein declined to go into specifics. But Councilman Andrew Cohen and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said the site would be ideal for market-rate housing.

“I think that it is a desirable location and could support very nice market-rate housing,” Mr. Cohen said.

“Ultimately, I do want to see what development I think is appropriate there, but I’m not going to solicit brokers or anything like that,” he said. “I don’t think that’s appropriate for me.”

Mr. Dinowitz said he was thrilled that the motel is up for sale.