Kingsbridge Development Adds School and Affordable Housing

Construction is underway in the Bronx to build a new elementary school and a large residential complex on a former church site.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Construction

Steel construction frame rising over a dense neighborhood of brick residential buildings in New York City. — Tishman Speyer and the NYC School Construction Authority are transforming a former Bronx church site into a public school and housing complex. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Developers are transforming the former Church of the Visitation site in Kingsbridge into a 100,000-square-foot public elementary school and a 279,000-square-foot residential complex. The project includes 339 apartments designed to serve a range of income levels.

Why it matters

The development repurposes a long-vacant church property to address two critical community needs: public school capacity and affordable housing. This project is expected to expand educational infrastructure for 700 students while providing stable housing for low-income and formerly homeless residents.

The new school will accommodate 700 students, while the residential building includes 53 supportive housing units for formerly homeless individuals. Construction on the site, which spans 1.3 acres, is scheduled to finish by Fall 2027.

The players

New York City School Construction Authority

This agency is responsible for the design, construction, and renovation of public school facilities throughout New York City.

Tishman Speyer

This real estate firm is a global developer, owner, and operator of commercial and residential properties.

The details

The site at 3850 Review Place and 160 Van Cortlandt Park South is being developed by Tishman Speyer alongside the New York City School Construction Authority. To facilitate the work, authorities have implemented weekday traffic closures on Review Place between West 239th Street and Van Cortlandt Park South.

The Visitation parish merged with St. John's in 2015.
Tishman Speyer acquired the property in 2022.
Review Place is closed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Dec. 26, 2026.
The school and residential complex are slated to open in Fall 2027.

Market Landscape

This development reflects a growing industry trend of repurposing underutilized institutional land for multi-family residential and public infrastructure. By integrating supportive housing into the master plan, Tishman Speyer is positioning the project to capitalize on city-wide demand for affordable units.

Residents in the Kingsbridge area should plan for ongoing traffic disruptions on Review Place through late 2026. Once complete, the project will offer new housing options for households meeting specific income requirements and provide local families with access to a new school.

The takeaway

The transformation of the former Church of the Visitation site demonstrates how developers can utilize land-use partnerships to address urban shortages. Prospective residents should keep an eye on upcoming lottery information as the 2027 completion date approaches.