DAUM Commercial Real Estate Services has completed the sale of a former university campus in the Los Angeles County city of Lancaster, with the vacant property set for a new life as a community-serving facility. The 87,598-square-foot asset, which sits on approximately 6.4 acres, traded for $14.4 million. The transaction involves a significant reuse of an education-oriented property at a time when many specialized facilities are being evaluated for alternative purposes.
Vice president Dennis Marciniak of DAUM Commercial Real Estate Services represented the seller, University of Antelope Valley, LLC, in the disposition. Marciniak has a long history with the property, having also advised the university when it originally purchased the site. That continuity of representation reflects an ongoing relationship between the brokerage professional and the institution throughout the asset’s evolution.
The buyer, 44049 Sierra Hwy Propco, LLC, acquired the campus with the intention of repositioning it as a regional hub for community and social services. The plan calls for working in partnership with Los Angeles County to activate the site for mission-driven uses, leveraging the existing building layout and infrastructure. While specific program details were not disclosed, the buyer’s strategy centers on adapting the campus to support a broad range of service-oriented functions.
The property has undergone several distinct use transitions over its life cycle. It was originally constructed and operated as a hotel before being converted into the campus of the University of Antelope Valley, a private university. That institution occupied the site until it shut down operations in 2024, leaving the campus vacant and available for a new owner and new use. The building’s history as both hospitality and higher education space has contributed to its flexible floor plan and existing systems.
Marciniak noted that his familiarity with the asset dated back to the university’s initial acquisition, which allowed him to understand both the physical characteristics and the long-term potential of the property. He pointed to the campus’s adaptable layout, existing infrastructure, and zoning framework as features that made it suitable for another mission-driven user. Those attributes, combined with the vacant status of the complex, created an opportunity for a buyer focused on community and social service delivery.
The sale underscores how specialized properties, including former education facilities, are being evaluated for alternative uses that can respond to local needs. By transitioning a closed university campus into a planned regional hub for community services, the buyer and Los Angeles County are positioning the site for a new chapter of occupancy and utilization. The transaction converts a non-operational education asset into a planned community-focused resource while retaining and repurposing the existing improvements.
