NYU Acquires Hebrew Union College’s West 4th Street Campus as Hebrew Union College Plans To Relocate
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC) has agreed to sell their Greenwich Village campus to New York University (NYU). According to a joint statement from both institutions, the decision aligns with HUC’s strategic plan to enhance its facilities while ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
Hebrew Union College’s West 4th Street Campus (The NYU Review)
HUC is the primary educational and leadership institution for Reform Judaism and provides rabbinical, cantorial, and Jewish professional training. Plans have been finalized for HUC to relocate to a new Manhattan location, which it describes as better suited for its evolving needs. The West 4th Street building sale will provide the necessary funds to purchase and renovate the new facility while simultaneously strengthening HUC’s endowment.
NYU has long shared a collaborative relationship with HUC—including course reciprocity and library access—and plans to repurpose the site for classrooms and potentially a center for executive education. NYU President Linda G. Mills explained that “Hebrew Union College will carry on its important mission in an excellent, new facility, and the West 4th Street location will continue to be part of New York’s higher learning landscape, as it has for the last 46 years.” HUC will continue to operate from its current location until the completion of its new campus, which is anticipated in 2027.
The move marks a significant transition for the institution, which has been in Greenwich Village since 1979. The college merged with the Jewish Institute of Religion in 1950 and has played a vital role in Jewish education and clergy training in New York City. Its new campus will be housed in a landmark Manhattan building and is expected to provide an improved environment for students, faculty, and the broader HUC community.
The sale reflects a broader trend of educational institutions reevaluating their real estate holdings to ensure alignment with their academic missions. With this move, both NYU and HUC aim to enhance their ability to serve students while maintaining their historical presence in New York’s educational landscape.