The Quincy City Council voted 6-3 on Monday night against purchasing the Eastern Nazarene College campus for $22.5 million, rejecting a proposal to acquire the closed college’s 27-acre property at 23 East Elm Avenue. The motion had also failed earlier in the council’s finance committee by the same margin, according to a livestream of the meeting.

The purchase request had been submitted by Mayor Thomas Koch following a deal reached with the college in April. Supporters of the acquisition argued that the offer was financially advantageous, noting that the property is assessed at $58 million—more than double the proposed purchase price. Councilor at-large Noel Dibona described the deal as “a good decision for the city,” highlighting plans to sell homes located on the campus and to repurpose its theater and athletic facilities for local students.

However, several councilors expressed concerns about the city’s current financial situation and its capacity to manage additional debt. Councilor Maggie McKee of Ward 5 pointed to Quincy’s outstanding debt, which she estimated between $1.8 billion and $2 billion, describing it as the highest in Massachusetts when adjusted for revenues. Council President Anne Mahoney underscored her responsibility to protect taxpayers and called for caution, emphasizing the risks associated with incurring more debt.

Deborah Riley, Ward 6 councilor and finance committee chair, cited a history of mismanagement involving the city’s existing real estate holdings. She warned that Quincy remains burdened by long-term debt without clear benefits from its current properties. “A once in a lifetime opportunity is only a once in a lifetime opportunity if we can afford it,” Mahoney added.

The mayor’s office did not respond to requests for comment following the vote.