Is It Too Late to Landmark Visitation?

When people hear that Visitation’s campus is under contract, they may assume the decision has already been made and it is too late to ask for landmark designation. But that is not true.

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has received our request to evaluate the campus. The City has not made a landmark designation decision.

On October 1, the Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative submitted a 430-page Request for Evaluation seeking consideration of the entire 7.5-acre Monastery Square campus. The request asks the City to look at the campus as a whole: the monastery, Academy, Sacred Heart Chapel, enclosure wall, lake, grounds, and landscape.

This place’s history began before the Sisters of the Visitation arrived. The Kings County Inebriates’ Home was incorporated in 1867. The 1869 building later served as the monastery; the Academy building has an 1888 cornerstone. These are tangible parts of Bay Ridge’s story and of the broader history of how Brooklyn cared for people, educated girls, and changed over time.

Landmarking does not depend on who owns the property

Landmark designation does not transfer ownership or make a privately owned property public. It does mean that proposed changes to designated features are subject to LPC review.

An owner’s consent is not a prerequisite. The LPC explains that it can designate a property even when its owner objects. The New York Court of Appeals has also affirmed that the Landmarks Law permits designation over an owner’s objection when the legal criteria are met.

There are clear examples. The owner of the Standard Varnish Works office building on Staten Island spoke against designation, along with a tenant. LPC designated the building in 2007, and the City Council affirmed the designation in 2008. The LPC designation report records the opposition; the City Council resolution affirmed the designation.

At the United Palace in Manhattan, the owner’s representatives opposed designation. LPC nevertheless designated the theater in 2016. The LPC designation report documents the opposition and the designation.

Those examples do not predict what will happen at Visitation. They show that ownership and designation are separate questions, and that a property’s significance can receive public consideration even when its owner disagrees.

This is about who gets a voice

Our campaign is not an effort to decide the property’s future on behalf of its owner. It is about making sure the people whose lives are connected to Visitation have a voice in determining what should happen to a place that has shaped our community.

For generations, alumnae, families, faculty, and neighbors supported the school with their time, care, and financial contributions. They should be able to be marked present and accounted for in the effort to preserve its history. Their memories and commitment belong in this conversation.

This effort is about showing that an entire community is prepared to stand together to protect a place that has shaped Bay Ridge for generations.

The Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative is supported by hundreds of community members who will carry this fight for as long as needed. We cannot promise what the final outcome will be. We can insist that the campus’s history is fully considered and that the community’s voice is heard.

It is not too late to ask the City to look carefully, listen to the community, and recognize what is at stake.

Right now is the time. There might not be a second chance.

Our Home. Our History. For All Time.

BAY RIDGE COMMUNITY TO RALLY NOVEMBER 14 IN SUPPORT OF LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR HISTORIC VISITATION ACADEMY & MONASTERY

What Began as a Father-Daughter Preservation Effort Has Grown into a Major Grassroots Movement, Drawing More Than 140,000 Facebook Views, 112 Donors, and Widespread Community Support in Just Two Weeks

BAY RIDGE, BROOKLYN, NY — Hundreds of residents, alumnae, families, preservation advocates, and community supporters are expected to gather on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. for a rally calling on the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to designate the historic Visitation Academy and Monastery property as an Individual Landmark.

Organized by the Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative, the rally will take place in front of Sacred Heart Chapel at 8902 Ridge Boulevard in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The event aims to demonstrate the growing public demand to preserve the approximately 7.5-acre property, known as Monastery Square, including its historic buildings, chapel, enclosure wall, landscaped grounds, and lake.

"The purpose of this rally is to show our elected officials, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and all of New York City that we are serious about preserving Visitation," said Caroline Cardillo, Founder and Chair of the initiative. "We are here for the long haul, and we will not give up this fight. This property represents more than 170 years of Brooklyn history, and we intend to make sure that history receives the recognition and protection it deserves."

Community Board 10 Calls for Landmark Designation

The preservation effort has received support from Brooklyn Community Board 10, which previously endorsed residents' requests for landmark evaluation.

In a statement, Community Board 10 said:

"In March 2024, Community Board 10 supported residents' Requests for Evaluation of Visitation Academy and Monastery, and urges the Landmarks Preservation Commission to move forward with landmark designation of this cherished neighborhood institution."

The initiative is encouraging elected officials at the city, state, and federal levels to publicly support a comprehensive landmark evaluation of the property.

Organizers emphasize that landmark designation is a public process and that the pending private sale does not eliminate the opportunity for the City to evaluate the property's historic significance.

A Grassroots Movement Gains Momentum

The Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative was established on August 13, 2026, by Cardillo, a 2000 graduate of Visitation Academy, and her father, Charles Fiore, a former president of the Academy's Fathers' Club. The father-daughter team began organizing after learning through local news reports about the pending sale of the property.

"We read about the sale and knew we had to do something," Cardillo explained. "We wanted to make sure Visitation Academy, the Monastery, and the Sisters received the fair and thorough evaluation they deserved. What began with my father and me has grown into something neither of us could have imagined."

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n approximately two weeks since launching its public outreach campaign, the initiative has experienced remarkable growth:

• More than 140,000 Facebook views.

• More than 1,800 website visits.

• 113 individual donors contributing $7,851 to support preservation efforts.

• A community action group that has grown to more than 225 members.

• More than 30 local businesses displaying rally flyers in storefront windows along Third Avenue.

• Rally materials translated into Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish by volunteers to reach a broader cross-section of the community.

The initiative recently surpassed its original fundraising goal of 100 donors, demonstrating the breadth of community participation in the preservation effort.

"Reaching 100 donors was never simply about raising money," said Cardillo. "It was about demonstrating that people are willing to stand behind this cause. Every donation represents another person who believes Visitation is worth preserving. That is a message we want the Landmarks Preservation Commission to hear."

A Community Rally for All Generations

The November 14 rally is designed to be both a public demonstration and a family-friendly celebration of the history, architecture, and community legacy of Visitation Academy and Monastery.

The program will feature remarks from community representatives and preservation advocates, including Frampton Tolbert, Executive Director of the Historic Districts Council, along with music performed by the Saint Patrick Pipes & Drums.

Following the program, participants will join "Hold the Line: The March for Visitation," a community procession around the perimeter of Monastery Square.

The initiative has also organized several interactive activities intended to engage residents of all ages:

• Draw the Line for Bay Ridge: Participants will use sidewalk chalk to write their names and symbolically draw a line in support of historic preservation and community participation in decisions affecting neighborhood development.

• Shades of Bay Ridge's Future: Participants will be invited to consider what the neighborhood might look like if its historic buildings and distinctive character are lost to redevelopment.

• Make Your Mark for Bay Ridge: Attendees will sign a community banner demonstrating their support for landmark designation.

• Memories We Carry: Alumnae, families, and neighbors will record personal memories of the Sisters and Academy, carry them during the march, and contribute them to a collection that the initiative intends to preserve.

Children will also receive specially prepared coloring books introducing them to the historic property and the importance of preservation.

"We hope families will bring their children," said Cardillo. "Historic preservation is not only about protecting the past. It is about teaching the next generation why these places matter. We want children to understand that they have a voice in the future of their neighborhood."

The Visitation Roll Call: Present and Accounted For

One of the rally's signature moments will be "The Visitation Roll Call — Present and Accounted For," a symbolic gathering of five groups whose histories are intertwined with the Academy and Monastery: alumnae, faculty, the Fathers' Club, the Ladies' Auxiliary, and the greater Bay Ridge community.

Representatives will assemble beneath identifying banners, drawing inspiration from the traditional roll calls of political conventions.

"For generations, the Sisters of the Visitation could count on the support of their students, families, faculty, and neighbors," said Cardillo. "On November 14, those same communities will answer the roll call once again. We will be present, accounted for, and united in our demand: Landmark Visitation."

More Than 170 Years of Brooklyn History at Stake

The history of Visitation in Brooklyn began in 1855, when the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary established a religious community and school at the invitation of Bishop John Loughlin, Brooklyn's first bishop.

By the turn of the twentieth century, the Sisters had outgrown their Clinton Avenue property. In 1903, they purchased a spacious Bay Ridge estate they nicknamed "Beautiful View," located at what is now 8902 Ridge Boulevard.

The property, subsequently known as Monastery Square, became the permanent home of Visitation Academy and Monastery for the next 121 years.

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ts history, however, extends well beyond the Sisters' arrival.

During the nineteenth century, the site housed the Kings County Inebriates' Home, an institution established to treat individuals suffering from alcoholism and other substance dependencies, including opiate addiction. The institution represented an early approach to addiction treatment that recognized substance dependency as a condition requiring medical care.

Two nineteenth-century institutional buildings survive on the property, including the original 1869 structure and a second building constructed in 1888. The original building was designed by architect Ebenezer L. Roberts, whose architectural work is represented in several of New York City's designated historic districts and landmarks.

The Sisters adapted these buildings for religious and educational use, subsequently adding Sacred Heart Chapel, constructed between 1911 and 1913, and the substantial enclosure wall completed in 1922. Both projects were funded in significant part through the generosity of Visitation alumnae.

Together with the mature landscape, historic lake, and enclosed grounds, these structures form a rare surviving institutional landscape that reflects two distinct and significant chapters of Brooklyn's history.

In 2024, the Sisters announced the closure of the Academy and Monastery, bringing an end to more than a century of religious and educational life at the Bay Ridge property. Concern over the future of the site has since intensified.

A 430-Page Case for Landmark Designation

While residents and preservation organizations have previously submitted Requests for Evaluation (RFEs) seeking landmark consideration, the initiative has undertaken an extensive effort to document the architectural, historical, cultural, and archaeological significance of the entire property.

In an earlier evaluation, the Landmarks Preservation Commission indicated that portions of the property "may merit consideration," while noting that “further research was needed to determine the significance and condition of the overall site.”

Cardillo responded by compiling and submitting a 430-page Request for Evaluation on October 1, 2026, requesting Individual Landmark designation for all of Monastery Square.

The submission includes:

• An 81-page historical narrative, supported by archival documentation and extensive citations incorporating 171 sources and 242 footnotes

• A 31-page burial ground research notice, submitted by the initiative on September 1, to bring potential archaeological concerns to the Commission's attention.

• 252 pages of historical and contemporary photographs documenting the buildings, grounds, architecture, and institutional history.

• 66 pages of supporting historical documents, including archival records and primary-source materials.

Among the materials consulted were the Sisters' own 1905 and 1955 Jubilee publications, the 1917 Academy Handbook, and historical photographs and documents preserved by alumnae. The request also incorporates primary-source oral histories from longtime faculty members and alumnae Judy Aboud, Anne Kingston, and Arlene Figaro.

Some of the material was preserved through Cardillo's own relationship with the Sisters, including Sister Aimee Franklin, who shared historical photographs and accounts while helping Cardillo prepare the Academy's 2000 yearbook.

"This was not simply a collection of old photographs or memories," Cardillo explained. "We spent weeks tracing the history of the property through original documents, archival collections, the Sisters' own written histories, and firsthand accounts. Every historical claim in our submission is supported by documentation."

"The Landmarks Preservation Commission said further research was needed. We took that request seriously. We spent weeks examining historical records, collecting photographs, documenting oral histories, and tracing the property's significance across more than a century and a half. They said they needed research. We gave them 430 pages of it, meticulously documented and organized in a binder," said Cardillo.

Protected Hawks Add Ecological Significance to Historic Monastery Square

Beyond its architectural and historical importance, Monastery Square is also home to wildlife protected under federal law. Local residents and birdwatchers have reported sightings of three species of hawks on and around the property: Red-shouldered Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, and Red-tailed Hawks.

Local birdwatchers have documented hawk activity on and around Monastery Square through eBird for approximately a decade, providing valuable evidence of the property's longstanding importance as habitat for birds of prey in an increasingly developed urban environment.

The approximately 7.5-acre property, enclosed by a historic wall and containing mature trees, extensive vegetation, and a lake, provides habitat for wildlife in the heart of Bay Ridge.

All three reported hawk species are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA). Federal law generally prohibits unauthorized taking or killing of protected birds, as well as taking their eggs or active nests. Violations can constitute federal offenses and carry criminal penalties.

These protections are particularly relevant to construction, tree removal, and other activities that could harm protected birds or affect occupied nests. Such activities warrant particular care where protected birds may be nesting.

The initiative has begun working with local birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts to document sightings, identify potential nesting locations, and better understand the ecological significance of the grounds.

"These grounds are not simply a collection of historic buildings," said Caroline Cardillo. "They are a living landscape that has provided sanctuary for generations — first to people seeking healing, then to the Sisters and their students, and now to wildlife that has found refuge within these walls. We have a responsibility to understand and protect all of that history, including the natural history."

Cardillo emphasized that the initiative welcomes photographs, observations, and historical documentation from birdwatchers and residents.

"We are asking everyone in Bay Ridge to look up. Look into the trees and watch the skies above Monastery Square. If you see a hawk, photograph it from a respectful distance and share your observations with us. These grounds have stories to tell, and not all of them are written in history books."

An Invitation to All of Brooklyn

The November 14 rally is open to the public, and organizers encourage residents, alumnae, families, preservation advocates, and anyone who values Brooklyn's architectural and cultural heritage to participate.

"This rally is about more than one school or one monastery," Cardillo said. "It is about whether the history of our neighborhoods matters, whether communities deserve a voice in their future, and whether we are willing to stand together to protect the places that make Brooklyn extraordinary."

"We have done the research. We have organized the community. We have demonstrated public support. Now we are asking our elected officials and the Landmarks Preservation Commission to recognize the significance of what stands at Monastery Square. Bring your family. Bring your sign. Let your voice be heard" said Cardillo.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: Landmark Visitation Community Rally

WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: In front of Sacred Heart Chapel, Visitation Academy & Monastery, 8902 Ridge Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11209

WHO: Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative, alumnae, faculty, families, local residents, preservation advocates, and community supporters

ACTIVITIES: Guest speakers, Saint Patrick Pipes & Drums, family-friendly preservation activities, community roll call, and march around Monastery Square

WEBSITE: www.LandmarkVisitation.com

EMAIL: contact@landmarkvisitation.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram: @LandmarkVisitationFacebook: Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark InitiativeX: @LandmarkVA11209

About the Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative

Founded on August 13, 2026, by Caroline Cardillo and Charles Fiore, the Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative is a grassroots community preservation effort dedicated to securing New York City Individual Landmark designation for the entire historic Monastery Square property in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The initiative advocates for the preservation of the site's nineteenth-century institutional buildings, Sacred Heart Chapel, historic enclosure wall, landscaped grounds, and lake, recognizing their collective architectural, historical, cultural, and community significance.

Press & Media Notice

Members of the media seeking interviews, historical documentation, photographs, additional research materials, or information about the Visitation Academy are encouraged to contact the Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative at contact@landmarkvisitation.com

Learn more by visiting our press and media page landmarkvisitation.com/blog

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Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative Surpasses 100-Donor Fundraising Goal

November 5, 2026 | Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

The Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative has surpassed its initial fundraising goal of 100 individual donors, marking another significant milestone in the growing grassroots campaign to preserve historic Monastery Square in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

To date, 105 donors have contributed a combined $7,101 in support of the initiative's efforts to secure landmark designation for the property.

The campaign, launched to demonstrate broad community support for preservation, emphasized participation over contribution amounts. Each donation, regardless of size, represents an individual commitment to protecting one of Bay Ridge's most historically significant properties.

The milestone comes just five days after the launch of the initiative’s fundraising campaign and only two weeks after its grassroots preservation efforts were made public. In that short time, its Facebook page has generated more than 120,000 views, its website has recorded more than 1,600 sessions, and its community action group has grown to more than 220 members.

These figures reflect the expanding public interest in the future of Monastery Square and strengthen the initiative's call for the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to formally consider the property for designation.

Preserving Monastery Square

Located at 8902 Ridge Boulevard, Monastery Square encompasses approximately 7.5 acres of historically significant buildings and landscaped grounds. Originally developed in the nineteenth century as the Kings County Inebriates' Home, the property became the permanent home of the Sisters of the Visitation in 1903.

For more than 120 years, Visitation Academy served generations of students and families. The property includes two nineteenth-century institutional buildings, Sacred Heart Chapel, a century-old enclosure wall, mature trees, and a historic lake.

On October 1, 2026, the initiative submitted a comprehensive 430-page Request for Evaluation to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, seeking designation of the entire Monastery Square property as an Individual Landmark.

Community Rally Scheduled for November 14

Building on the momentum of its successful fundraising campaign, the initiative will host a public rally on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., in front of Sacred Heart Chapel at 8902 Ridge Boulevard.

The event will bring together alumnae, former faculty, families, neighborhood residents, preservation advocates, and community leaders to demonstrate support for landmark designation. The program will include remarks from speakers and community participation activities.

The initiative encourages all who value Bay Ridge's architectural, cultural, and religious heritage to attend.

“Reaching 100 donors represents more than a fundraising achievement. It demonstrates that the landmark designation of Visitation Academy and Monastery is a matter of substantial public interest, supported by a growing community committed to advocating for its preservation,” said Caroline Cardillo, Founder and Chair of the Visitation Academy & Monastery Landmark Initiative.

To donate vist https://gofund.me/5fcd8df2a

For additional information about the landmark initiative and the November 14 rally, visit LandmarkVisitation.com.