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The Sisters of the Divine Compassion are exploring the sale of all or a portion of their 16-acre Good Counsel campus in White Plains.
The decision comes after a 10-year strategic planning process and two-year review of the property, located at 52 N. Broadway. The campus features 12 buildings comprising a total of 162,180 square feet. The buildings include the order’s motherhouse, the Good Counsel Academy elementary and high schools, a counseling center and the Chapel of the Divine Compassion.
The sisters have retained the real estate and investment firm CBRE Group Inc. to market the property.
“We have been blessed to be the stewards of this wonderful property for 124 years, and our mission and ministries throughout the region emanate from here,” said Sister Carol Wagner, R.D.C., president of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, in a statement released May 30 with the announcement.
“At the same time, to assure that we continue in our mission and that we are able to provide for the sisters particularly in their later years, upon careful reflection and thorough analysis we are actively researching and exploring the possible sale of the property.”
Sister Carol said the future of the Good Counsel Academy schools is of concern. Both schools have outgrown the existing facilities on the campus, the sisters’ announcement said, adding that the board of trustees and administration of the schools are exploring options and potential new locations for the schools. There are 400 students in the high school and 160 students in the elementary school.
In a statement issued separately May 31, Sister Laura Donovan, R.D.C., principal of the high school, said, “Good Counsel Academy is a vibrant girls’ high school alive in mission with 400-plus students. We will continue to operate a full academic and extracurricular program.”
Sister Imma De Stefanis, R.S.C.J., the board president for the high school, said, “Good Counsel Academy retained the services of CBRE realtors to assist in identifying potential future locations for Good Counsel Academy High School should the need arise beyond the 2014-2015 academic year. Our commitment to educating confident women and compassionate leaders for the 21st century stands firm.”
The sisters have been educators, administrators, social workers, counselors, religious education teachers, health care professionals and pastoral care ministers at more than 40 schools, parishes and agencies in Westchester.
There are 82 Sisters of the Divine Compassion, with 24 living at the motherhouse.
