Northern Wisconsin city seeks redevelopment options for closed Northland College

The city of Ashland is seeking outside input on potential new uses for the shuttered Northland College campus.

The Ashland City Council signed off on a contract up to $7,500 with Oregon-based Civilis Consultants to determine whether the campus could be purchased and reused to economically benefit the community.

Ashland Mayor Matt MacKenzie noted the city is not seeking to buy the campus itself. He said the consultant will examine other schools and vacant properties to provide examples for potential redevelopment.

“We hope that somebody comes in and opens it as a college and we continue to have a college in our community. But realistically, we’re not sure that’s a strong likelihood,” MacKenzie said. “We just want to … (see) how we could help get something else in there.”

The college closed at the end of May due to rising costs and declining enrollment, affecting around 150 employees and roughly 250 students. Past media reports indicate the college created a more than $45 million economic impact over a five-county region. It had operated for 133 years.

In its proposal, Civilis said the college has many “turnkey spaces” that could be immediately reused as office space, a YMCA, food hall, smaller educational uses or hospitality and residential opportunities.

“The public sector stakeholders in the region and state have an opportunity to consider acquiring and/or partnering on the acquisition of the college to create a model for rural economic development in the state of Wisconsin,” the proposal states.

The campus includes 19 buildings on the 130-acre campus. The assessment would collect information on building plans and determine revenue streams from various ideas for reuse of those buildings.

Brant Kucera, Ashland’s city administrator, said the city wants a better idea of the cost to operate and maintain the campus.

“It gives us an understanding: If you were to parcel it out, what does each piece cost and what could it potentially bring in as far as income?” Kucera said.

Northland Board of Trustees Chair Ted Bristol has previously said the board’s goal is to identify a buyer for the entire campus, which was listed for sale last month. The board has enlisted Chicago-based Huron Consulting Group, a major higher education consulting firm, and New York-based global commercial real estate firm Newmark to collaborate on the sale.

Representatives with Northland and its consulting firm Newmark did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

State Rep. Angela Stroud, D-Ashland, said brokers are seeking a buyer from the higher education market.

“I hope that they’re able to attract someone who could bring a higher ed institution to campus. That’s a huge benefit for the community,” said Stroud, who formerly taught at Northland.

“If they are not able to do that, we can’t just sit around and hope for the best,” Stroud continued. “Those of us who are responsible for this area, we have to have plans in motion so that we can act if things don’t go well.”

Colleges and universities nationwide have been struggling amid rising costs and declining enrollment. Nationally, the number of high school graduates is expected to peak this year and drop 13 percent through 2041, according to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Hundreds of private colleges like Northland may close or merge with other schools in the next decade, according to Bloomberg News.

Stroud, who serves on the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, added that institutions also face cuts to federal funding and declines in international enrollment as President Donald Trump has elevated scrutiny of student visas.

Without action, Stroud worried a potential developer may purchase the campus and let the site sit vacant. She said other vacant properties have been prone to vandalism or squatting.

Kucera said Northland has hired a company that will manage the buildings, including security.

But the city may lose revenue for its water and sewer utilities now that the campus is closed. Kucera said the college accounted for up to 3 percent of the city’s total demand. However, he said the loss of Northland would not result in any rate increases for customers.

The feasibility study will also examine the local real estate market and develop a preliminary plan for rapid redevelopment of the campus. That would include buildings, housing and parking lots. The assessment would then examine financing options for reuse.

The findings of the study are expected sometime between the end of the month and the middle of November.