Sale Pending on Ocean Vista and Pears Cottage

Throughout the years whenever funds were low (which was, unfortunately, often), those properties that rung around the outside of the campus were often considered for sale. Houk House and Tillie Paul were sold just a few years back. With all ancillary properties on the market, it was only a matter of time before Ocean Vista and Pears Cottage found new owners. According to Davis Realty, both have sale pending. I've seen exterior work being done on Ocean Vista in recent weeks as well.

National Trust eyes Sheldon Jackson Campus

Here the story on Raven Radio here: National Trust

Hames once again in the news

KCAW Raven Radio has this story regarding last night's Assembly discussion on the future of the Hames Wellness Center. Debate mostly centered around the cost-benefit ratio of such a facility. A question not asked, but one I think relevant to the issue, is where is SJ(C?) on the issue?

Should the city decide to let their lease expire, Hames closes. SJ(C?) loses the revenue. Another building gets boarded up. What's in it for the former college to let this happen?

When University of Dubuque President Jeffrey Bullock stated that any future partnership between them and the community would require community support, I chuckled. Clearly he must not have known that the problem is the reverse. Despite community support, SJ(C?) remains uncooperative, secretive, and self-important.

SJ(C?) loses nothing by allowing the city to occupy Hames at little to no cost. The gesture would go far in establishing renewed support for a campus struggling to find a future of any kind.