What will the former Van Cortlandt Motel become?

The site formerly known as the Van Cortlandt Motel at 6393 Broadway is slated to become a public elementary school opening September 2029, according to the New York City School Construction Authority.

The school will have 547 seats, the construction authority said.

According to city records, the construction authority bought the property in April 2024 for $9.2 million. The city’s department of buildings approved full demolition of the current two-story building in August of this year.

The building will be six stories tall with 23 main classrooms, 10 classrooms for students who need specialized support, two special education classrooms and other spaces for speech resources and the arts, according to the construction authority. The 37,000-square-foot site will take up three lots on Broadway, including a playground.

The motel formerly served as a city-run shelter for asylum seekers under the Adams administration. Before this, in 2016, the motel served as a men’s shelter.

According to previous reporting by The Press, community members were pleased with the idea of a school, though some expressed concern for an increase in traffic on Broadway, which the construction authority told the city council wouldn’t be significant.

The Van Cortlandt Motel first opened in 1955, according to The New York Times. Three years later the motel added an extension, bringing its total number of units to 51, and adding a bridal penthouse suite and a coffee shop. The Times said the motel was “one of the first of its kind within city limits.”

The motel’s former owner listed in property records could not be reached for comment.

Community Inquiry answers questions from community members.