Xavier campus expands via real estate acquisitions

The purchase of two buildings on either side of the Washington Avenue canal in the past few months has allowed the University to quietly expand its properties in and around the general campus area.
The biggest acquisition was the old Printworks Building bounded north-to-south by Howard Avenue and Dixon Street. The large warehouse-style building, which encompasses an entire city block, has housed several commercial businesses in the past in addition to the namesake printing company, but has been largely vacant since Hurricane Katrina.
A feasibility study is being conducted to determine the best use of the building, including if it would be better to renovate or demolish the building.
A smaller property, a free-standing, one-story brick building located at 7800 Washington Avenue directly across the canal from the Administration Building, has also been  purchased. This property, which housed a machine shop prior to Hurricane Katrina, received a new roof and windows following the storm from its previous owners, but the building remained unoccupied following the storm.
The future of the Washington property is no less tentative, with the possibilities ranging from a student exercise and workout facility to a base for community outreach programs.