New York Real Estate Journal

OPEN Impact signs Zeta Charter Schools to 35,000 s/f

March 10, 2026 - Brokerage

Manhattan, NY OPEN Impact Real Estate (OPEN) said that Zeta Charter Schools has signed a new two-year lease at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, located at 517 West 164th St. The 35,000 s/f lease will provide temporary space for Zeta’s first high school.

OPEN Impact Real Estate’s Lindsay Ornstein and Alexander Smith represented Zeta Charter Schools in the transaction. The landlord, the Archdiocese of New York, was represented directly in the lease negotiations.

The lease allows Zeta to accommodate near-term enrollment needs while maintaining flexibility as it evaluates and grows its long-term high school footprint in the neighborhood. The space will serve students from Zeta’s existing campuses, including its schools in Inwood and the South Bronx, as the organization continues to grow.

“Zeta’s growth requires real estate solutions that are both mission-aligned and adaptable,” said Ornstein, co-founder of OPEN Impact Real Estate. “This lease gives the school the flexibility it needs in the near term while supporting high-quality learning environments for its students.”

The St. Rose of Lima property offers a large, school-ready footprint in Washington Heights, a neighborhood, and will be significantly upgraded to reflect the high standards of Zeta facilities.

“We are thrilled to welcome our first ninth-grade class into our beautiful high school space in Washington Heights,” said Zeta Charter Schools founder and CEO Emily Kim.  “Creating Zeta High School seats for our Upper Manhattan and South Bronx communities has long been a part of our plan.  When students and families arrive at the start of school this August, they will walk into a beautiful building designed in every detail to prepare students for powerful college, career, and life trajectories that enable them to fulfil their highest potential.”