Gratz College in Elkins Park announced in late September that it would transfer a building to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia in exchange for the Federation purchasing Gratz’s equity stake in the school’s 28-acre Mandell Campus.
The Ann Newman Building, constructed in 1989, will be taken over by the Federation in July 2025. It is located on the Mandell Campus in Elkins Park, just east of Old York Road. The amount of the equity stake is not publicly available at this time.
A news release on the sale stated that Gratz will begin its search for a new site close to the Old York Road Jewish community while also continuing to enhance its campus in Bala Cynwyd.
“This campus has meant a great deal to Gratz College, and we filled that space with meaning and educational excellence,” Gratz President Zev Eleff said. “We were really grateful to work with the Federation to achieve a common goal, which is to ensure that the Philadelphia Jewish community maximizes its physical space.”
He emphasized that Gratz is in a good financial position and that this decision was made because the school saw a chance to make a deal that benefitted both parties.
In the news release, Michael Balaban, CEO of the Federation, said the organization was proud to partner with Gratz on this swap.
“This partnership plays a crucial role in our broader strategy to sustain and invigorate Jewish life in Elkins Park and along the Old York Road corridor. By engaging closely with all agencies and stakeholders, we aim to ensure that the Mandell Campus continues to serve community interests effectively,” he said.
The Federation wants to work with the Elkins Park Jewish community to develop a plan for the building’s future. The Mandell Campus also houses a division of Perelman Jewish Day School.
Gratz’s enrollment has come from online courses in recent years. Eleff said the school is still functioning in person, but the 60,000-square-foot Newman building provided more space than necessary for the school at this point.
He said Gratz is poised to thrive even without the physical space it has used for more than three decades.
“We’re excited because we are making an impact with our degree programs, our community programs and our growing list of donors,” Eleff said. “We’re glad that the Federation has taken up the responsibility to launch some sort of strategic program to work with the community that we have been a part of for years.”
Eleff added that Gratz is in no way looking to leave Elkins Park.
“We will still have the same routine, the same rhythm and the same frequency of programming for our staff who are used to operating on that side of the Schuylkill River,” he said.
“This is an exciting period of growth for Gratz College, in ways that are significantly different from our work forty years ago,” he added. “We are eager to rightsize our physical plant and identify a new location that will continue to serve our Old York Road community.”