Houston Christian University is moving ahead with plans to turn University Place, the 200,000‑square‑foot former Memorial Hermann senior‑living complex next to its Southwest Houston campus, into on‑campus student housing. The overhaul is expected to add about 350 beds and ease the squeeze on a campus where residence halls are running close to capacity. Neighbors and families have been tracking the timeline ever since Memorial Hermann said last year that the facility would wind down operations.
As reported by the Houston Business Journal, HCU plans to start conversion work at University Place soon, and the outlet notes that some students could be able to move into parts of the building this fall. That reporting follows HCU’s earlier decision to exercise a repurchase option on the property as Memorial Hermann prepared to close the complex and relocate remaining residents.
Where It Sits And Who It Affects
University Place, at 7480 Beechnut St., sits between Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital and HCU’s campus, and for decades has housed a mix of independent and assisted living, along with a nursing center. Memorial Hermann announced the closure last year, saying it would wind down nursing operations and assist residents with relocation, and it also filed required notices tied to layoffs at the Beechnut facility as it moves toward a full shutdown, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Why HCU Says It Needs The Space
The university describes University Place as a five‑story, 186‑unit complex totaling about 200,000 square feet that will bring roughly 350 beds into the campus housing pool. HCU says its current housing stock is about 1,052 beds and typically operates at about 98 percent occupancy, which leaves little slack for growth. “The opportunity to re‑purchase University Place comes at a very opportune time for HCU,” President Robert Sloan said in the university’s announcement, which also outlines planned upgrades and a target timeline. Houston Christian University previously said it expects a fuller reopening in fall 2027.
Timeline And Next Steps
Under the right‑of‑repurchase agreement, HCU’s acquisition is scheduled to take effect in or about July 2026, and Memorial Hermann has said it will keep working to relocate residents as the site is shut down. Both local reporting and university statements describe a phased approach to the conversion, with crews set to refresh interiors, update common areas and make targeted repairs before opening units to students. The Houston Chronicle has covered the purchase timeline, while the Houston Business Journal reported on the plan to begin work and the possibility of partial move‑ins as early as this fall.
What To Watch Next
Students, staff and nearby residents will be looking for a detailed rollout plan as the phased work starts, including schedules for repairs, safety inspections and leasing rules. University officials have framed the project as a strategic extension of existing campus housing rather than a brand‑new build, and they say they expect to release move‑in information and unit assignments as individual sections of the complex are cleared and readied for students.
