The St. Ignatius Retreat House in the Village of North Hills is hanging on to life by a thread despite the growing opposition to demolishing this historic building.
Earlier this month, state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) joined the chorus of local politicians, civic associations and other organizations fighting to keep the Jesuits from selling the property to a Chinese developer who apparently wants to use the site to build luxury condos.
In a letter to state Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey, Schimel called for the preservation of the 33-acre Gold Coast-era estate of wealthy industrialist Nicholas Brady. She asked the commissioner to “prevent the wrecking ball on a beautiful, historically significant structure in my assembly district.”
In her letter, Schimel said, “I understand the financial pressure on the Jesuit Order because of operating costs, but I hope a manageable solution which respects the community wishes of long-term preservation for the architectural structure and fair financial compensation to the owner can be achieved.”
One might fairly ask if public officials have any right to interfere with the sale of a property owned by the Roman Catholic Church and the Jesuit Order. Our answer to that is a resounding yes.
The Jesuits have run Inisfada as a seminary and retreat house for more than 50 years after it was bequeathed to them by Brady’s wife Genevieve. We’re certain that she never envisioned her beloved property being sold to a developer with no connection or concern for the North Shore.
The estate known as Inisfada, the Gaelic word for Long Island, is treasured by Islanders of all religious persuasions. It deserves better treatment than it is getting.
We note that the Jesuits are also selling a similar property, although smaller, in Staten Island. The local residents there are equally passionate in their opposition. They have also been ignored.
We somehow cannot believe that the world’s most famous Jesuit, Pope Francis, would approve of his order placing profits above the concerns of two large communities.
The Jesuits have other options.
The nonprofit SynergyFirst made a $36 million cash offer to the Jesuits for Inisfada in late July that included a demand to reconstruct the Genevieve Chapel and restore any furnishings and rooms the order had removed since the retreat house closed. The Jesuits rejected the offer.
The Jesuits can walk away from Inisfada with a pile of cash and no more upkeep and, most important, the good will of the Long Island community.
Or they can give in to the temptation to sell this historic site to the highest bidder.
