CUNY Purchased Historic Bronx Post Office Building
The city acquired the 175,000-square-foot site to expand health and STEM education programs.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Commercial
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The City University of New York (CUNY) finalized the $200.9 million purchase of the former Bronx General Post Office. This acquisition at 558 Grand Concourse Avenue will allow Hostos Community College to grow its healthcare training facilities.
Why it matters
The purchase allows for significant expansion of nursing, radiology, and dental hygiene programs at Hostos Community College. University leadership expects the facility to eventually double the number of graduates in these critical health and STEM fields.
CUNY secured the 175,000-square-foot commercial condominium for $200.9 million, following an earlier 35-year lease agreement. The site, which ceased postal operations in 2012, is now slated for $70 million in renovations supported by $12.3 million in city funding.
The players
City University of New York
A public university system serving New York City students that is expanding its academic footprint.
Hostos Community College
A Bronx-based institution that is growing its nursing, radiology, and dental hygiene program capacity.
Maddd Equities
A real estate firm that previously acquired the building and is overseeing the renovation work.
The details
CUNY exercised a purchase option embedded in its original 35-year lease signed in September 2025. The deal, which went under contract in March 2026, transitions the landmarked property into an academic asset. Developers are responsible for the $70 million renovation project to ready the interior for laboratory and classroom use, while the city provided an additional $12.3 million in support to facilitate the transition.
Timeline
* 1937: The Bronx General Post Office property was originally built.
* 2012: The site officially ceased all operations as a post office.
* March 2026: The purchase agreement for the building went under contract.
* September 10, 2026: The property acquisition officially closed.
The Home Front
The acquisition reflects a growing trend of adaptive reuse for large-scale institutional projects in New York City. By repurposing the historically landmarked post office, the project maintains community character while addressing local demand for professional educational space.
Residents in the Concourse Village area should anticipate ongoing construction activity as the $70 million renovation project begins. Local families with students interested in healthcare careers can monitor upcoming enrollment information as the college expands its program capacity.
The takeaway
This transaction signals a permanent change for a prominent local landmark as it shifts from a former federal facility to a major academic hub. Residents can track the progress of the $70 million site upgrades as the college moves toward its goal of doubling its STEM graduate output.
Further reading
For more on local market shifts, read the latest updates in New York City Commercial.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bisnow.
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