Bally’s Saves J. Lo’s High School with Bronx Land Buy

Bally's is investing $10 million to purchase the buildings of a Bronx Catholic school — a decision that will prevent pop star Jennifer Lopez's former school from shutting down. 

The regional casino operator, seeking a casino license in that borough, is acquiring the Preston High School buildings in the Throgs Neck area and will rent the property back to the school for only $1 each year for 25 years. 

As part of the deal, $8.5 million will be allocated to the Sisters of the Divine Compassion — the Catholic organization associated with the all-girls school. That organization is also getting $600,000 to address legal expenses related to the agreement. An additional $1 million is being allocated to enhance the property. 

The school is situated only three miles from Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point — the site where the gaming firm aims to construct a casino hotel. 

Additional Fascinating Details About Bally's Bronx Agreement 

The mere fact that Lopez graduated from Preston High School is intriguing, particularly for pop culture enthusiasts, but there’s additional context to consider. 

Battling New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) is one of the state and local officials who campaigned to maintain the school's operation. That could be intriguing since if Bally’s secures one of the three downstate casino licenses, it is obligated to make a $115 million payment to the Trump Organization. This would be in addition to the $60 million the gaming firm spent to obtain the lease rights for Ferry Point from President Trump’s business. 

James is an adversary of the president. In her 2018 campaign for attorney general, she prioritized litigation against Trump. She fulfilled that promise, discovering a court that declared the president guilty of 34 charges of financial fraud, even with clear proof that the Trump Organization fully repaid the loans involved. 

Currently, James herself is facing criticism for purported real estate fraud. Records show she acquired a house in Norfolk, Va. in 2023 and stated it would be her main residence to obtain a mortgage from federal lenders. According to New York law, she must maintain her primary residence in that state since she holds an office that serves the entire state. 

James's political "trophies" tend to reappear. Trump not only returned to the White House, but former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), a politician James is largely seen as having ousted, is at the forefront of the New York City mayoral race. 

Bally's Bronx Charm Campaign 

Bally’s, for its part, is avoiding the political turmoil. The firm is clarifying that the effort to support Preston High School is not associated with its casino proposal. 

“The school is not tied to the license, and there’s no quid pro quo,” Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim told The New York Times. “It’s just a way to show we care about the Bronx.”

The school affiliated with the parish was established in 1947.