- A 38,546-square-foot educational facility in Lauderdale Lakes sold for $6.5 million, matching the property’s original asking price.
- The buyer, Dickens Sanomi Academy, plans to convert the vacant campus into an expanded educational center for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- The transaction highlights sustained demand for adaptable educational real estate despite regulatory and financing hurdles common to institutional assets.
A former educational campus in Lauderdale Lakes has found a new purpose after selling for $6.5 million, with a nonprofit school focused on students with Autism Spectrum Disorder set to occupy the property. SVN Commercial Partners represented the transaction, which closed at the seller’s full asking price and will return a vacant institutional asset to active community use.
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A Campus Ready for Its Next Chapter
The property at 3020 Northwest 33rd Avenue spans 38,546 square feet across a two-story building on 3.06 acres. Purpose-built for educational use, the facility includes 27 classrooms, 27 offices, and an elevator, making it well suited for another academic operator without requiring a significant repositioning.
The Details
The transaction equates to roughly $168 per square foot. SVN Commercial Partners’ Scott Maesel and Patrick Horrocks marketed the vacant property and represented the deal from listing through closing. The buyer, Dickens Sanomi Academy, acquired the campus to expand educational services for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout Broward County.
The brokerage team also coordinated with the City of Lauderdale Lakes, Fire Inspection Services, and the Broward County Health Department to address permitting and zoning requirements before closing. Financing efforts included collaboration with David Purisch of Horvath & Tremblay to help move the transaction across the finish line.
Institutional Real Estate Remains in Demand
Educational facilities often appeal to a narrower buyer pool than traditional office or retail assets because of specialized layouts and regulatory requirements. Even so, campuses that can transition directly into educational or institutional use continue to attract mission-driven organizations seeking expansion opportunities while avoiding the cost and timeline of new construction.
Why It Matters
This sale demonstrates that well-located institutional properties can still command full pricing when matched with users whose operational needs align with existing building layouts. Rather than undergoing an expensive redevelopment, the campus will remain in educational use, preserving community infrastructure while supporting specialized learning services in Broward County.
What’s Next
Dickens Sanomi Academy is expected to move forward with approvals and occupancy planning before expanding its programs at the Lauderdale Lakes campus. For investors and brokers, the transaction reinforces that vacant educational facilities can retain strong value when marketed to nonprofit operators and institutional users willing to navigate entitlement and financing complexities.
