The chancellor’s house has been sold.

The official residence, known as Kuiper House, was donated to the university about 37 years ago. But Chancellor Thomas Keon said it no longer made financial sense to continue operating and maintaining the four-bedroom, 7,000 square foot home.

The home, at 7035 Knickerbocker Parkway, just minutes from the Hammond campus, along with a lot next door, sold for $635,000 earlier this month.. 

“We are at the height of property values in Hammond,” said Keon. “When you put together the cost savings with the optimum price we could get for the property, it seemed to make sense.”

The chancellor, who lived in the home for several years, now lives in downtown Chicago.

Keon said he figured it was better to sell the house during his term as chancellor, rather than have PNW sell it on his departure from the university. 

“I thought it would be inappropriate for me to make that decision,” said Keon. 

The decision to sell the Kuiper House was part of PNW’s Facilities Renewal Plan, which aims to update existing spaces and divest buildings that are underused and costly to maintain. Other places whose future is up for debate are the Schneider Avenue Building and the Community Services Building, both located on the Hammond Campus. 

The Facilities Renewal plan includes changes on both Hammond and Westville campuses to improve the surroundings for students. 

More updates on the Facilities Renewal Plan can be found on PNW’s website.