Mercy College Signs 3-Year Lease For Our Lady of Victory Building

Mercy College announced it has signed a three-year lease with the Sisters of Mercy—owners of Our Lady of Victory Academy—for the use of the campus effective July 1.

Our Lady of Victory Academy, a Catholic high school in Dobbs Ferry, closed at the end of the 2011 school year for financial reasons.

Mercy College has been renting most of the building for evening classes for many years and the College’s primary power plant is located in the facility. 

"We will spend the summer ensuring the building is ready for college use in the fall," Mercy College representatives said. "Our relationship with the Sisters of Mercy has been cooperative over the years and throughout the negotiations on this lease.  We look forward to a smooth transition in the upcoming weeks."

Mercy College's expansion has garnered mixed reactions among Dobbs Ferry residents. "This is disappointing, as we had hoped that housing like the Landing would be built there and the property returned to the tax rolls in Dobbs Ferry," said Carolyn Whittle, who lives near the campus. 

Padriac Steinschneider agreed with Whittle that it is in the best interest of the village to get as many properties on the tax roll as possible, but he also believes Mercy College should play a more central role in the community.

"If Mercy Colleg, but does not increase enrollment, it will decree traffic and there will be a captive group of students frequenting our stores and eating in our restaurants. That would be a positive thing for Dobbs Ferry."