Breaking: Vanguard University has moved to sell its off‑campus student housing site in Eastside Costa Mesa, signaling a major shift in how the campus houses and supports students. I confirmed today that the university has hired JLL and Morgan Skenderian Investment Real Estate Group to market the 1.78‑acre Vanguard Centre at 115 Santa Isabel Avenue for redevelopment. The plan is simple. Consolidate housing onto the main campus, strengthen community life, and streamline operations that have grown fast in the last two years.
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What Vanguard is doing
Vanguard Centre currently serves students in apartments near Newport Boulevard, Santa Isabel Avenue, and Wilson Street. The parcel is unusual in this neighborhood. It has multiple access points and sits close to shops, services, and transit. University leaders told me the goal is to focus residential life at the core of campus. That brings housing, dining, classes, athletics, and student services closer together. It also simplifies staffing, security, and maintenance.
This move follows a run of growth. Vanguard reached full NCAA Division II membership this summer. The Freed Center for Leadership and Service opened last year. Fall 2025 brought record enrollment and an eight‑year reaccreditation. When a school scales that quickly, housing strategy must catch up. That is the story here.
Why this matters for students and jobs
If you are a Vanguard student, expect more beds, services, and activity shifting onto the main campus. That could mean shorter commutes, more time with faculty, and a tighter student culture. It also means new campus jobs and internships. Housing consolidation needs resident assistants, facilities techs, front desk staff, student life coordinators, and peer mentors. Athletics growth is creating roles in event operations and sports media.
For job seekers beyond campus, the listing triggers a real pipeline. Redevelopment draws planners, architects, civil engineers, general contractors, property managers, and project accountants. It also creates work for permit expediters, traffic consultants, and community outreach teams. Entry‑level analysts and interns will have a chance to support underwriting, site studies, and construction schedules.
Use this pivot to earn a standout resume line. Volunteer as an RA, join facilities walk‑throughs, or assist with housing move‑ins to learn operations.
The redevelopment play in Eastside Costa Mesa
The Vanguard Centre parcel will attract strong interest. Parcels of this size with frontage to Newport Boulevard do not come up often. Developers will study zoning, height limits, parking ratios, and traffic. Neighbors will ask about noise, design, and affordability. Expect a public process. Expect questions on how new uses fit the street grid near Wilson and Santa Isabel.
Short term, students in the current complex should watch for clear timelines. Universities typically phase moves to avoid mid‑term disruptions. Housing offices will coordinate transitions, often with bridge options for those with existing leases.
Before you sign a new off‑campus lease, check with housing staff about timing. Avoid overlap that costs you extra rent.
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Career and learning playbook
This is a live case study in campus planning and urban redevelopment. Treat it like a class you can join.
- Target skills now: Excel modeling, basic GIS, introductory CAD, construction scheduling, and clear writing for public meetings.
Pair those skills with direct action. Ask your department about a capstone tied to the housing consolidation. Offer to collect data on student commute times. Shadow facilities staff during a building turnover. Attend city hearings to learn how conditions get attached to projects. If you study business, model a pro forma with simple rent, cost, and yield assumptions. If you study communication, draft a FAQ for residents.
Network with both listing teams. Attend info sessions, introduce yourself, and ask about analyst or intern tracks for spring and summer.
Where the job market is moving
Costa Mesa and greater Orange County continue to hire in healthcare, education services, construction, and professional services. Redevelopment cycles feed all four. Universities are also investing in student experience roles as they compete for enrollment. That means steady entry points in residence life, academic advising, events, and facilities. Students with mix‑and‑match skills, technical and people focused, rise fast in these settings.
If you want to work in real estate, start modest. Build a sample deal model. Learn the zoning code basics. Practice a five‑minute pitch on a site plan. If you want campus roles, earn crisis response training, get your CPR card, and complete bias response modules. These are respected signals on a student affairs resume.
What happens next
I expect a marketing period through winter, tours for qualified buyers, and offers after diligence. Parallel to that, the university will map bed counts on the main campus and update housing assignments. Watch for announcements on construction timing and student move schedules.
- Stay in touch with the housing office for dates and options.
- Ask career services about roles tied to consolidation.
- Track city agendas for any hearings on the parcel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will current students lose housing mid‑semester?
A: Housing changes are usually phased. The plan is to avoid mid‑term disruption and to give students clear options.
Q: What types of jobs could open on campus?
A: Resident assistants, facilities and maintenance assistants, front desk staff, event operations, and student life coordinators.
Q: How can I prepare for real estate roles tied to this sale?
A: Learn Excel, GIS, and basic zoning terms. Attend city hearings and ask brokers about internship timelines.
Q: What might be built on the Vanguard Centre site?
A: That will depend on zoning, market demand, and city approvals. Expect housing or mixed use to lead the conversation.
Q: Does this change athletics or academics?
A: No, but it supports them. More students on the main campus strengthens community, events, and access to services.
Conclusion: Vanguard is tightening its footprint to match its momentum. The sale of Vanguard Centre is not a retreat. It is a reset that favors a unified campus, clearer operations, and fresh jobs on both sides of the street. Students who lean in now will learn fast, work early, and graduate job ready.
