Hebrew Home in negotiations to purchase Passionist plot

The Passionist Fathers of Riverdale may be selling their 14-acre North Riverdale estate to their next-door neighbor, the Hebrew Home at Riverdale.

The property, located on a swath of land along the west side of Palisade Avenue between Sigma Place and West 255th Street, includes a 116-year-old mansion that overlooks the Hudson River and a retreat house at 5801 Palisade Ave. 

A representative of the Passionist Fathers confirmed the sale price as $16.2 million.

The Passionist Fathers, a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Saint Paul of the Cross in 1727, bought the property in 1927. Father Columkille Regan, a representative of the Passionist Fathers, said financial concerns forced the Passionists Fathers of Riverdale to close their doors in January.

“Reduced numbers, increasing age of personnel and a lack of people interested in the retreat led us to do this,” Father Regan said. 

The Hebrew Home did not return calls seeking comment, but Community Board 8 Land Use chair Charles Moerdler surmised the geriatric service organization might want to put a new parking lot on the land.

“The natural things that they would look at include parking ... right now there are tons of cars parking in an area that some would call verdant,” Mr. Moerdler said, adding that zoning might make it difficult to build on the land.

Mr. Moerdler said the area is zoned as Special Natural Area District, the purpose of which is to guide development to preserve unique natural features by requiring that the City Planning Commission review new developments and site alterations.

Despite the purchase price, Mr. Moerdler said he expects the community board to scrutinize any development on the Passionist plot.

“We look at what is good for the community, no matter how much is paid for a site,” he said. “What’s good for the community on a whole, what’s included in the zoning that we fought long and hard for.”