Visitation Monastery has been a staple Bay Ridge location since its founding in 1855. Located at 8902 Ridge Blvd., the 7.5-acre campus had been a pre-K-8th grade all-girls Catholic school since 1903. Its Renaissance Revival-style church stands out along with a 30-foot stone wall circling half of the block. Devout Catholics would spend the weekend on a retreat there, while a small pond sat on Visitation's grounds.
But now, those grounds may be changing for good. Early last month, it was announced that Visitation had been sold for $42 million to private equity firm Integritas Capital and investment and development firm Heights Advisors.
This was two years after its school permanently closed its doors, citing low enrollment and having only two nuns left in its monastery. News of the sale sent both shockwaves and dismay through Bay Ridge.
"It's the talk of the town," said Community Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann. "I'm getting questions every day about what this means for future development."
"It was a gut punch," said former parent Jennifer C. "Bay Ridge is a small community. It's a shame and it's sad."
News of the acquisition has jumpstarted local efforts to landmark Visitation Monastery's noted buildings to protect them from being demolished and replaced by apartment buildings, like many other Brooklyn sites.
"It shouldn't be razed to the ground and put in luxury high-rises," said Allegra Miccio, who attended Visitation from pre-K to 8th grade, graduating in 2009. "I don't want to see big, bland, box condos that won't serve families."
Beckmann said Requests for Evaluation were sent to the Landmark Preservation Commission starting two years ago. In light of the sale, she mentioned giving LPC a nudge.
The LPC's director of communications, Courtney Metakis, told BK Reader that the research department staff evaluated the site and “determined that the primary, street-facing portion of the building complex may merit consideration as a landmark,” but that "further study was needed."
Metakis also explained that an RFE is not an application. She said if the LPC determines that the landmark may merit consideration, that does not mean it will necessarily be considered for designation.
City Councilmember Kayla Santosuosso told BK Reader that her office was "completely shut out" of the sale. Santosuosso explained that the sellers, the Sisters of Visitation, did not intend to turn the site over to the community, because of how they put their site up for sale.
While landmarking the grounds will not be easy, it is not too late. Both Santosuosso and Beckmann want to contact the equity firm to discuss zoning, another issue surrounding the sale of Visitation.
Integritas Capital's CEO declined to comment, except to say the sale is not final and that it is only under contract.
Rezoning and the need for affordable housing are another potential factor in Visitation's future. Last year, former City Councilman Justin Brannan got Visitation removed from the Special Bay Ridge District as part of City of Yes, maintaining parts of Bay Ridge's low-rise character of one-to-three family homes.
In addition, one of the ballots during last year's elections included suggesting to fast track affordable housing by eliminating the City Council's decision. Voters chose yes, and the changes will come into effect on Jan. 1.
Even so, some Bay Ridge residents are determined to preserve a major part of their neighborhood and history.
"Make it a green space or an adult home," Jennifer C. said. "Whatever happens, make it beautiful."
"We need to make noise," said Miccio. "This is super important. People here like to talk and complain, but no one does anything. We need to be like Sunset Park with its community involvement."
