The Van Cortlandt Motel opened circa 1958 at 6393 Broadway, on the corner of West 256th Street in the North Riverdale section of The Bronx. In its waning years, it became a hot sheet motel, and then finally a shelter for homeless families and migrants. The motel has been vacant since January of 2024, and will be torn down to make way for a new primary school. The NYC School Construction Authority purchased the property for $9.2 million. The new school is slated to open by Fall of 2028. This photo project will document the final months of this former mid-century retro neighborhood motor lodge.

I am always comforted to see the colorful glow of red and green neon lights piercing through the darkness. They serve as my beacon and mile marker after exiting the Henry Hudson Parkway every night. It feels as if the motel is welcoming me back home to the neighborhood.

Kudos to whoever keeps the lights on during this festive holiday season. Even the graffiti scribbled on the plywood can’t dampen my spirits!

I’m delighted, yet curious as to why a vacant property that’s slated for demolition is still bathed in glorious, vibrant color every night. This beautiful purple hue is my favorite to date. One rainy evening, I decided to capture this image through my car’s windshield.

It saddens me to know that after operating for 67 years in North Riverdale, her colorful lights have ceased to illuminate Broadway. I felt a genuine sense of loss when I passed by her this evening. Being totally cloaked in darkness, it felt as if she was taken off of life support. Photo taken March 2025.