April 8, 2026, ADRIAN, Michigan — During individual meetings and a community forum with neighbors, more than 100 community stakeholders provided input, insights, and possible use of buildings and grounds following the academic closure of Siena Heights University.
In early March, members of the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) Consulting Corps spent a week in conversation with local leaders of nonprofit organizations, businesses, educational programs, and arts organizations. In addition to speaking with members of the community, the Consulting Corps team conducted a comprehensive site assessment of the university buildings and grounds.
CRE Consulting Corps’ services were engaged by the Phoenix Committee, a committee of Siena Heights University board and staff, Adrian Dominican Sisters and staff, and community leaders charged with considering proposals for the campus’s future use. Phoenix Committee members were impressed with both the depth and extent of the expertise shared by the CRE Consulting Corps team and their careful listening to members of the Adrian and greater Lenawee County community. The Committee will receive a detailed report of their findings that will help inform their deliberations.
The next steps for the Phoenix Committee are to identify and select experts who will assist with an environmental and structural analysis of campus buildings and to develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit prospective interested parties locally and nationally. Public notice will be given when the RFP is available with dates for submission.
Members the Phoenix Committee continue to be committed to a future that aligns with the values of Siena Heights University and the Adrian Dominican Sisters to benefit the common good of Adrian and Lenawee County communities for generations to come.
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The Phoenix Committee was formed to consider proposals for optimal transformed use of Siena Heights University’s campus, buildings, facilities, and educational programs, following its academic closure in June 2026. The 12-member Phoenix Committee includes representatives of the Siena Heights University Board of Trustees, the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Siena Heights University, and the larger Adrian/Lenawee County community.
CRE is a nonprofit organization of 1,000 worldwide commercial property professionals; its Consulting Corps is a public service program that enlists a small and impartial group of volunteers whose expertise is tailored to the needs of the client.
