Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts, closed in 2025 following a sharp decline in enrollment and accumulating debts totaling $18 million. Since its closure, the 27-acre campus has stood largely dormant, with nature gradually reclaiming the grounds. The college’s abandoned facilities—once bustling with students—now feature overgrown tennis courts and unused dormitories locked and falling into disrepair.
The fate of Eastern Nazarene reflects a broader challenge facing communities across the United States: the repurposing of closed college campuses amid an ongoing housing shortage. Experts and local residents alike have highlighted the potential for these sites to be transformed into housing developments. Still, the process has proven complicated due to financial, zoning, and political hurdles.
In Quincy, initial plans to convert Eastern Nazarene’s campus into over 600 housing units by a private equity firm owned by an alumnus fell through after local officials opposed the density of the proposed development. Subsequently, the city’s mayor suggested purchasing the property for $23 million to implement a scaled-back housing plan. However, this proposal was rejected by the City Council in June due to cost concerns, leaving the campus unused and the future uncertain.
Neighbors in the area have expressed mixed opinions. Some, like resident Donna Glynn, favor redevelopment for housing to meet pressing local needs. Others hope to preserve the campus's current green and quiet character, emphasizing the value of its arboretum and open spaces. Opposition groups have mobilized to influence the outcome, demonstrating the challenges involved in balancing development and community interests.
The difficulty in converting college campuses into housing is not unique to Quincy. Many institutions that have closed nationwide face similar obstacles. Older campus buildings often require substantial renovation to meet modern accessibility and living standards, and zoning laws frequently restrict residential conversions. Furthermore, the broader trend of college closures is expected to accelerate—estimated at 442 private nonprofit colleges at risk over the next decade—exacerbating the issue of what to do with vacant campuses.
Some communities have found paths forward. In Cazenovia, New York, local officials navigated these challenges by modifying zoning laws and collaborating with investors to repurpose a closed 200-year-old college into a mixed-use development dubbed a new “town square.” Similar initiatives have been undertaken or proposed at former campuses such as Holy Names University in California, Dana College in Nebraska, and Newbury College in Massachusetts, often incorporating senior or affordable housing.
Real estate developers and local leaders emphasize that while the conversion process can be lengthy and complex, adaptive reuse of closed campuses offers a practical solution to housing shortages. Projects focused on senior housing also help free up existing homes for younger residents, which can positively impact local housing markets.
Despite skepticism from some city councils and residents, many see redevelopment as a common-sense approach to reintegrating large, centrally located properties back into the community fabric. Still, the experience of Eastern Nazarene and others indicates that turning closed colleges into housing requires patience, flexibility, and cooperation among stakeholders to overcome financial, regulatory, and political barriers.