St. John’s in talks to sell Staten Island campus to neighboring Wagner College

St. John’s University is in serious negotiations to sell its scenic Staten Island campus property to neighboring Wagner College for $30 million, The Post has learned.

A source familiar with the talks said Wagner signed a preliminary agreement to buy the 16.5 acre site in Grymes Hill overlooking New York Harbor.

“They have an agreement and they’re working toward the closing,” a source familiar with the talks said.

The agreement had a 60-day escape clause that has since elapsed, and Wagner is now seeking financing, including from the state Dormitory Authority, to commence the closing.

St. John’s Staten Island campus was once floated as a site for President Trump’s library Steve White for NY Post

Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella confirmed the two universities are trying to close the deal.

“Wagner and St. John’s are aggressively trying to make this deal happen… It would be the best arrangement and situation for Staten Island and the future of Wagner College,” Fossella told The Post.

“It’s not a done deal. But they are trying to get it to the finish line,” he added.

Wagner’s campus also is on Grymes Hill, nearly adjacent or just walking distance from St. John’s Staten Island location.

St. John’s main campus is on Utopia Parkway and Union Turnpike in Jamaica, Queens.

Fossella praised St. John’s for seeking other educational institutions to buy the campus. The property is also zoned for housing and neighbors opposed packing the vacant campus with a residential development.

St. John’s Staten Island campus was once floated as a site for President Trump’s library.     

The campus opened in 1971, but it has experienced a steady decline in enrollment. Factors contributing to the drop include the closure of feeder Catholic high schools and an overall reduction in college-age students.

Wagner College, in Staten Island, is looking to buy SJU’s extension campus. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the dwindling enrollment.

The island campus, which closed in 2024, had a capacity for 3,000 students. But enrollment dwindled to about 800, nearly two-thirds fewer than in 2000. Virtually all the courses there were offered at SJU’s main Queen campus.

The Post reached out to Wagner College and SJU for comment.