Community Board 8 was forced to cancel a much-anticipated meeting on the public school proposed for 160 Van Cortlandt Park South last Friday when School Construction Authority officials backed out with only a few days’ notice, citing a mysterious lawsuit against them. more

Community Board 8 members have known since last October the School Construction Authority wanted to build a school on a shady block across from Van Cortlandt Park where the former Church of the Visitation sits consumed by weeds. But, now they want to know the details — and they are prepared to leverage their influence. more

For five years, the padlocked church and parochial school at 160 Van Cortlandt Park has remained vacant, succumbing slowly to Mother Nature. It was one of 18 Catholic churches the New York Archdiocese deconsecrated in a single day in 2017, paving the way to sell or redevelop the properties, though it appeared not to be in a hurry to do so. more

The Archdiocese of New York sold the former site of the Church of the Visitation on Van Cortlandt Park South for $29 million to the New York City School Construction Authority and Tishman Speyer on Aug. 16. more

It’s been five years since the parochial school at Visitation closed its doors for good. But soon, there may be a new crop of children running around after the bell rings. more

After decades of personal success, one core mission now drives Stanley Manne: To give back to where he came from. That’s why Manne wrote a check for $18 million to the alumni foundation for his alma mater, The Bronx High School of Science. more

Schools are overcrowding across the city, and this part of the Bronx is hardly immune. But ever since the Vatican closed the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and its parochial school and the land was deconsecrated in 2017, many have eyed its valuable West 239th Street land next to Van Cortlandt Park as the perfect site to build a new public school. more