The long-vacant Sisters of St. Joseph convent beside Holy Name of Mary School in Valley Stream is one big step closer to coming down, with a housing developer lined up to buy the property and neighbors bracing for a fight over multifamily units on the quiet parish block.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre has agreed to sell the convent parcel at 94 South Grove Street to Blueprint Community Development LLC for a $2.1 million base price, according to Newsday. The contract builds in a $33,000 bump for every residential unit ultimately approved on the site, and an appraisal tied to the deal assumes roughly 30 to 35 units. That projection would push the final sale price up by about $990,000 to $1.155 million if the project gets a green light at that scale.
Court filings reviewed by Newsday spell out a key escape hatch for the buyer. Blueprint can walk away if it fails to secure village approvals after the existing convent is demolished, which puts Valley Stream officials and the public review process squarely between the developer and a completed deal.
Property and school history
The convent sits directly next to Holy Name of Mary School, part of a parish campus that has anchored the block for generations. The school notes on its website that it opened in 1939 and that a convent was constructed to house the Sisters who taught there. While the school continues operating at 90 South Grove Street, the convent itself has been empty for years and is now slated for the wrecking ball if the sale closes.
Public property records offer a more clinical snapshot of the site. PropertyShark lists the address, the existing building’s recorded square footage, and the property’s 2026 assessed market value.
Bankruptcy settlement and parish response
The timing of the sale overlaps with a much larger financial reckoning for the Diocese. In late 2024 it confirmed a bankruptcy plan that put just over $323 million on the table to resolve hundreds of abuse claims. An official diocesan statement said the plan included about $234.8 million contributed by the Diocese, parishes, and related entities, along with slightly more than $85 million from insurers.
Parish leaders, however, are pushing back on any suggestion that the Valley Stream convent is being cashed out to feed that settlement. Rev. Eric Fasano said the sale was a parish decision and “has nothing to do with the bankruptcy process,” according to comments parish officials gave to Newsday.
What happens next
For now, the convent still stands, and Blueprint’s plan is far from a done deal. The buyer must secure village approvals before any demolition or construction can move forward, and the contract’s contingency language gives the developer a clear exit if key permits are denied.
Valley Stream’s review process is expected to include public hearings and planning board scrutiny, giving neighbors, school families, and parishioners a chance to weigh in on what replaces the convent. No closing date has been set. Court documents indicate the sale remains subject to municipal sign-offs and any remaining court conditions before the Diocese and Blueprint can actually seal the deal.
