Two years after Birmingham-Southern College shut its doors, the U.S. Coast Guard is purchasing the 192-acre campus on Birmingham’s west side.
When the sale closes, the Coast Guard will make the campus a training center for USCG officers and enlisted personnel, according to former BSC officials.
“Although we will always grieve the closing of our beloved college in 2024, we believe the sale of our campus to the Coast Guard for this purpose — supporting the training, education and ongoing development of the people who serve in our nation’s premier maritime protection force — is a terrific outcome for our city, our state and the neighborhood we called home for more than 100 years,” said the Rev. Keith D. Thompson, chair of the BSC board of trustees.
Thompson called the school’s closure a “long, sad and challenging journey for everyone who loves Birmingham-Southern.”
“The board of trustees is confident that this is the right decision,” he said. “We welcome the Coast Guard to the Hilltop knowing they will bring significant value, vibrancy and security to our community.”
Daniel Coleman, BSC’s 16th and final president, praised the work of U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, who chairs the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell.
“This outcome is truly a remarkable win for Birmingham and for Alabama,” Coleman said.
Details of the sale, including purchase price, were not announced.
