St. John’s University campus on Staten Island up for sale
St. John’s University has put its scenic Staten Island campus up for sale, offering 16.5 acres of prime real estate overlooking New York Harbor. While one government official suggested it could become a “migrant village” to house the influx of thousands of asylum seekers coming from the southern border, St. John’s and its global real estate broker Savills are looking to attract another educational institution to buy the site. The campus will close after the 2024 spring semester, and could fetch tens of millions of dollars for the sale. St. John’s island campus opened in 1971, but it has experienced a steady decline in enrollment due to the closure of feeder Catholic high schools and an overall reduction in college-age students, with COVID-19 exacerbating the problem. Savills says the property presents an “opportunity for an overseas or out-of-state educational institution to plant a flag in New York City”. Notably, St. John’s island campus was once floated as a site for former President Donald Trump’s library.
FAQs
What is St. John’s University putting up for sale?
St. John’s University is selling its Staten Island campus, a scenic property offering 16.5 acres of prime real estate overlooking New York Harbor.
Why is St. John’s University selling its Staten Island campus?
St. John’s University island campus has experienced a steady decline in enrollment due to the closure of feeder Catholic high schools, an overall reduction in college-age students, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the problem. St. John’s University is looking to attract another educational institution to buy the site.
What is Savills’ plan for the property?
Savills, St. John’s and its real estate broker, says the property presents an “opportunity for an overseas or out-of-state educational institution to plant a flag in New York City”.
Has the property attracted any other interest?
Savills says it has received inquiries from potential buyers across varied segments that the Staten Island campus is zoned for. To date, neither the city nor the state has expressed an interest in purchasing the property. St. Francis College in Brooklyn recently sold its Brooklyn Heights property for $160 million.
What is the current enrollment at St. John’s University island campus?
The campus has a capacity for 3,000, but now enrolls about 800, nearly two-thirds fewer students than in 2000. Virtually all the courses there are offered at SJU’s main campus.
Staten Island’s St. John’s University Campus Available for Purchase
St. John’s University has listed its picturesque 16.5-acre Staten Island campus overlooking the New York Harbor for sale, potentially making it one of the largest parcels on the market in New York City. The property, put up for sale following a steady decline in enrollment, is being marketed by global real estate broker Savills as a pre-assembled opportunity for out-of-state or overseas educational institutions to plant a flag in one of the US’s most popular education centers with over 200 colleges and one million college students within a 25-mile radius. Despite one government official joking the property could become a “migrant village”, the solicitation states that the property is zoned for community facilities such as colleges, universities, hospitals, medical centres, or senior living facilities. However, city officials have not ruled out the possibility that the low-density zone also permits residential development, including detached and semi-detached one- and two-family homes.