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Upper Manhattan CUNY Campus Likely to Move From Good Shepherd Space

By Carla Zanoni | December 28, 2010 4:19pm

By Carla Zanoni

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

INWOOD — News that the City University of New York’s Upper Manhattan campus may move to another location in Inwood has further clouded the future of Good Shepherd School, the imperiled Catholic school that was recently placed on an "at risk" list by the New York Archdiocese.

Jay Hershenson, City University of New York’s senior vice chancellor, announced that the school is in negotiations to possibly move the campus to the Inwood Center at 5030 Broadway, one of Inwood’s newest buildings, built in 2008 and operated by Edison Properties.

The school has rented space at the Good Shepherd owned 108 Cooper Street building in Inwood since 2005.

Edison Properties confirmed that it is in negotiations with the school to move its nearly 3,500 person student body to the first floor of Inwood Center, the Manhattan Times reported.

Hersehnson said an agreement has not yet been finalized, but said he hoped the school would move as soon as possible.

Rev. Robert Abbatiello, the school’s pastor, said he had only learned of the potential move secondhand and would not be handling future rental agreements as the Archdiocese has a real estate division that does so.

"It’s up to them, really," he said. "I don’t know any details at this point. All the details are in the hands of the Archdiocese right now."

The Archdiocese did not return calls for comment.

Good Shepherd School alumni, parents and parishioners have been working on a proposal to keep the school open since the Archdiocese announced the Catholic school’s at risk status in November. the plan includes a fundraising drive along with a five-year fiscal and academic plans for the school.

A final decision regarding closures by the Archdiocese is scheduled to be announced in January 2011.

Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat celebrated the potential move at the full Community Board 12 meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 21, calling it a positive step for the community.

"Bringing increased traffic to Broadway and the businesses there will be good for the community," Espaillat said.