QUINCY, Mass. — Eastern Nazarene College, once a bustling institution, now lies abandoned. Tennis courts are overtaken by waist-high weeds, and ivy covers the entrance of a former dormitory. The baseball field now serves as grazing grounds for Canada geese, with wild turkeys frequenting the underbrush. The college shuttered last year due to a sharp drop in enrollment and overwhelming liabilities totaling $18 million.
Across the U.S., many closed colleges remain vacant, sparking debates on their future use. Experts suggest converting such campuses into housing to address a pressing need. Local resident Donna Glynn, who has lived across from Eastern Nazarene for 50 years, supports the idea, emphasizing the potential for “nice, new, clean housing.” However, attempts to transform the campus have faced numerous hurdles.
Freddie Mac estimates the U.S. needs 3.7 million new homes to meet current demand. Massachusetts alone requires an additional 222,000 homes by 2035. Quincy is short by 4,400 homes, highlighting the urgent need for solutions.
Eastern Nazarene’s location makes it ideal for redevelopment. A proposal to build over 600 housing units by a private equity firm fell through due to opposition from Quincy’s mayor, who deemed the number excessive. The city council later rejected a plan for the city to purchase the campus, citing high costs.
The challenge of transforming closed colleges into housing is not unique to Quincy. Many campuses face zoning issues, neglect, and outdated facilities. Kurt Wheeler, mayor of Cazenovia, New York, faced similar challenges when Cazenovia College closed. The village adapted zoning laws to attract developers, eventually converting parts of the campus into housing and communal spaces.
Despite the obstacles, some communities have successfully repurposed closed campuses. In Oakland, California, plans are underway to build 165 homes on the former Holy Names University campus. In Denver, a closed branch of Johnson & Wales University now serves as low-cost housing.
Real estate developer Chris Ales, working on housing at Iowa Wesleyan University, believes college campuses are well-suited for adaptive reuse. Senior housing projects free up existing homes for younger families, preserving green spaces. “It’s a good solution, despite the challenges,” Ales said, pointing out that it’s a logical approach given the housing scarcity.
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