City Plans Elementary School at Former Van Cortlandt Motel
A six-story public school with 547 seats is planned for the Broadway site, opening September 2029.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Primary Education
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The New York City School Construction Authority plans a public elementary school at the former Van Cortlandt Motel site at 6393 Broadway. The city's Department of Buildings approved full demolition of the current two-story building in August 2026.
Why it matters
The project would convert a building that formerly served as a city-run shelter for asylum seekers into permanent public school capacity in New York City. The construction authority said traffic on Broadway would not increase significantly.
The planned six-story building would include 23 main classrooms, 10 classrooms for students needing specialized support, and two special education classrooms on a 37,000-square-foot site. The source material does not address construction cost or the project's schedule risk.
The players
New York City School Construction Authority
The city agency responsible for planning, building and financing New York City's public school facilities, and the body planning this Broadway school.
The details
The Van Cortlandt Motel first opened in 1955 and added a 51-unit extension in 1958, including a bridal penthouse suite and coffee shop. In 2016 it served as a men's shelter, and under the Adams administration it operated as a city-run shelter for asylum seekers. The site's three lots on Broadway will include a playground alongside the school building.
Timeline
1955: The Van Cortlandt Motel first opened.
1958: The motel added an extension, bringing its total to 51 units.
April 2024: The construction authority bought the property for $9.2 million.
August 2026: The Department of Buildings approved full demolition of the current building.
September 2029: The school is slated to open.
Roadmap
The conversion of the former Van Cortlandt Motel reflects a documented shift in how the city has used the site, from a 1950s roadside motel to a men's shelter in 2016 and then an asylum-seeker shelter under the Adams administration. Its planned transformation into a 547-seat elementary school places it in a new use tied to the construction authority's school-building program.
Families in the Broadway area will see a six-story school, including a playground, replace the motel building. The construction authority said traffic would not increase significantly, which affects how nearby residents may plan commutes during the project.
The takeaway
A former asylum-seeker shelter is being converted into permanent public school seats, illustrating how city-owned sites can shift uses over time. Residents tracking neighborhood changes can watch the demolition and construction milestones leading to the 2029 opening.
What happens next
The school is slated to open in September 2029, with the Department of Buildings' demolition approval already granted in August 2026.
Further reading
For more on school-building projects, see Primary Education coverage in New York City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Riverdale Press.
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