Second Acts for Closed Campuses

"When Birmingham-Southern College closed in 2024, local residents raised concerns about the loss of a long-standing institution with a significant footprint in one of Alabama's largest cities. Beyond the loss of the college, locals were concerned about what would become of the property. Both Alabama A&M University and Miles College expressed interest in buying the site, but those talks fell apart, leaving the fate of the 192-acre campus in limbo for two years."

"While the college sold off a number of assets shortly after closure-including statues, yearbooks, office furniture and other assorted items-the property remained on the market until last month, when the U.S. Coast Guard finalized its $126 million purchase of the BSC campus. Now the Coast Guard plans to open a training center on the campus later this year."

""We all know that this investment represents not only a new mission for this historic campus, but it's transformational as it relates to the opportunity for economic growth as well as so many other things around workforce development in this city," Birmingham mayor Randall L. Woodfin said at a press conference when the deal was first announced. "We're talking about 1,000-plus jobs.""

"But other campuses that have closed in recent years have faced sharply different outcomes. While many have been bought by private K-12 schools, developers and religious institutions, others have remained on the market, in some cases falling into disrepair as maintenance issues compound on largely untended campuses. And as pressures mount on colleges amid dwindling enrollments and economic headwinds, experts are predicting additional closures in the future, meaning more communities could soon find themselves figuring out how to deal with their own vacant campuses."

Birmingham-Southern College closed in 2024, prompting concerns about the loss of a long-standing institution and uncertainty about the 192-acre campus property. Alabama A&M University and Miles College expressed interest in buying the site, but negotiations ended without a deal, leaving the campus in limbo for two years. After closure, the college sold various assets, including statues, yearbooks, office furniture, and other items, while the property remained for sale. Last month, the U.S. Coast Guard finalized a $126 million purchase. The Coast Guard plans to open a training center on the campus later this year, with local leaders citing economic growth and workforce development, including 1,000-plus jobs. Other closed campuses have had mixed outcomes, sometimes remaining vacant and deteriorating, as experts anticipate more closures amid enrollment declines and economic pressures.

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