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Former Catholic School building being demolished and sold in Borough Park

Former Catholic School building being demolished and sold in Borough Park
Photo by Trey Pentecost

Local Catholic Church leaders are in the process of demolishing a run-down former school building on Fort Hamilton Parkway — and city education honchos may be eyeing the property.

The Brooklyn Diocese is looking to sell off the site of the former three-story former Catholic school building on Fort Hamilton Parkway between 40th and 41st Street after it is completely demolished in early September, a spokesman confirmed.

“The building on Fort Hamilton Parkway is being demolished given its poor condition,” said John Quaglione. “It is our intention to sell the property.”

When asked if they were in the process of purchasing the property, and what their future plans were, a spokesman with the School Construction Authority — the design and building arm of the public school system — suggested that they were, albeit, in the vaguest possible terms.

“We are very early in the process,” said Kevin Ortiz.

When pressed to clarify his statement, Ortiz said he “can’t elaborate further at this point,” but added a blanket statement about their procurement process as it relates to former diocese buildings.

“The [School Construction Authority] is always interested in looking at diocese buildings as viable locations for new public school space.”

The Diocese also declined to identify potential suitors, or elaborate on current negotiations surrounding the sale of the Fort Hamilton Parkway property.

The building was formerly occupied by St. Catharine of Alexandria School, before the Diocese closed the facility in 2005 due to declining enrollment.

A neighboring building — which had previously housed the parish’s convent — was demolished earlier this year, and the two properties combined would constitute a substantial lot ripe for development.

Reach reporter Aidan Graham at agraham@schnepsmedia.com or by calling (718) 260–4577. Follow him at twitter.com/aidangraham95.
An adjoining building — which previously housed the parish’s convent — was demolished earlier this month.
Photo by Trey Pentecost