AMHERST, MA–Culminating discussions that began nearly five years ago, UMass Amherst through the UMass Building Authority has purchased The Newman Catholic Center at 472 North Pleasant Street in Amherst. The building is located at the southeastern gateway entrance to the campus, a location of significant long-term strategic importance to the campus.
The Newman Center will continue its mission of service to the UMass community. As part of the agreement, UMass is leasing the existing building back to the Newman Center for up to five years. During this time, the Newman Center plans to build a new replacement facility on UMass land that will be ground leased to them, across the street from the existing Newman Center.
Purchase price for the Newman Center property is $12.5 million, made with one-time university capital funds dedicated to this acquisition. The Newman Center will make a one-time ground lease payment to UMass of nearly $2.1 million upon commencement of construction on the replacement facility. The prices were established through a fair market value assessment.
The property consists of approximately 1.36 acres and includes a three-story building, erected in 1963, of approximately 58,000 gross square feet. The property directly abuts the main UMass Amherst campus to the east of the Isenberg School of Management. The campus will use the Newman Center to address priority space needs in the highly visible location. Current potential uses include instructional and office space.
