Massasoit Community College's third commuter campus is coming to Middleborough as early as this July, with the former St. Luke's Hospital, long a blight on the town's business district, a possible location.
Massasoit's plan for a satellite campus in Middleborough recently got the go-ahead from the state Division of Capital Asset Management, the agency that oversees building needs for all state institutions.
The approval is specific to Middleborough, according to Richard Cronin, spokesman for college president Charles Wall. A deadline of Jan. 9 is set for the state to receive proposals from would-be landlords.
Massasoit has 10,000 students who attend classes at campuses in Brockton and Canton. Middleborough became the front-runner for another campus because of its accessibility - near Interstate 495 and Routes 105, 79 and 44, and with a commuter rail station on the Middleborough-Lakeville line.
Massasoit's new Middleborough branch will offer professional courses to people already in the workforce. Course offerings will be tailored to the area, officials said. For example, the need for medical support positions is great in Southeastern Massachusetts.
The commuter branch would be the town's first center for higher education - although other colleges are also discussing setting up branches in town, according to Mary O'Donnell, owner of the former St. Luke's Hospital building.
"I think the more different colleges we can get, the better," she said. "Right now you either go to Boston, or you stay igno rant."
Massasoit is looking to lease 5,800 square feet of classroom and office space, and has said the location must have at least 100 parking spaces within a quarter-mile. The hospital site has 170 spaces of its own as well as an acre of parking in a nearby town lot.
"We've been working on this thing for five years now, so we will aggressively bid," O'Donnell said.
Although the college had initially anticipated needing more space, the scaled-down plan is "a start," said O'Donnell.
"I don't really care how much space they are looking for," she said. "Once they get in there, the demand for education will be so great, they'll be asking for more."
O'Donnell and her son Shawn are also negotiating with a gym, some medical operations, and other colleges.
The O'Donnells bought the St. Luke's Hospital property in 2002 for $625,000 from Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center of Brockton. At the time, the 3.5-acre site on Oak Street was valued by the town at $4.8 million.
The O'Donnells initially intended to convert the hospital to a 61-unit affordable housing complex. The pair abandoned that plan when Middleborough's zoning board limited their permit to 46 units. Mary O'Donnell said the lower number would not be cost-effective.
The building has stood vacant while the O'Donnells explored other uses. About $1 million has been spent to date gutting the building, and the O'Donnells will now build to suit the tenant.
Town officials and business leaders first met with Massasoit representatives about a year ago to discuss the details of a satellite campus in St. Luke's. Local merchants and town leaders were eager to have the foot traffic in the town's commercial center that a college campus would generate.
"I think it will be a catalyst for improving the downtown," said Selectman Wayne Perkins. "It will be a great thing for the town."
Cronin said that while the bids will be submitted to the Division of Capital Management, the college board of trustees will make the final decision.
According to Cronin, cost will be the major factor. O'Donnell would not comment on what she planned to charge per square foot.
College officials are looking for a three-year lease with a provision allowing them to break it in 18 months, if necessary.
Cronin said college officials continue to scout other possible satellite campus locations. On that list are Weymouth, downtown Brockton, and Taunton. Those could move forward in addition to the Middleborough site.
"Our objective is to bring our college to wherever we're needed," Cronin said.
Christine Wallgren can be reached at CLWallgren@aol.com.
