University System of Maryland at Hagerstown Closes 59 W. Washington Street Location

The University System of Maryland at Hagerstown (USMH) is undertaking a strategic realignment of its operations, which includes ending its lease agreement for the 59 West Washington Street location, home to its Hospitality Center. This decision, according to USMH, is intended to enhance student and community support, optimize institutional resources, and ensure long-term financial sustainability in response to evolving educational and workforce demands. The university system is also concluding its licensing agreement with Leiters’ Fine Catering, a move necessitated by the termination of the overarching lease. Fortunately, this closure is only part of USMH’s presence in Hagerstown, and the University will continue to have a robust presence in downtown.

The lease for the 59 West Washington Street property represented a significant portion of USMH’s annual operating budget, accounting for approximately 20%. Since the beginning of 2024, the facility has seen minimal use, with no students enrolled in the Hospitality program and only infrequent utilization for USMH-related activities. Following a thorough assessment, USMH leadership concluded that continuing to maintain the leased space was no longer a sound financial decision.

“This decision was not made lightly,” said Dr. Jacob Ashby, Executive Director of USMH. “USMH remains deeply committed to Downtown Hagerstown and to being a strong community partner. As a public higher education center, we have a responsibility to steward state tax dollars responsibly so we can continue to serve students effectively and respond to evolving needs.”

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By consolidating its operations into existing and actively used facilities, USMH anticipates gaining increased financial flexibility. This will enable the institution to address rising operational expenses, fund unmet needs, and explore the development of new academic and workforce-focused programs that can be delivered within its current infrastructure. This strategic shift is designed to allow USMH to remain adaptable while continuing its mission of providing accessible and affordable higher education opportunities in the region. The institution has expressed a continued commitment to downtown Hagerstown and to maintaining its role as a strong community partner. USMH values its relationships with local organizations and businesses, recognizing their contributions to the vitality of downtown Hagerstown, and looks forward to ongoing collaborations that align with shared objectives.

“Our commitment to downtown Hagerstown and the broader region is as strong as ever and I know the financial flexibility gained by this path forward will allow us to expand the impact USMH has on our students and the community,” said Dr. Ashby.

While the lease of 59 West Washington Street may be coming to an end, University System of Maryland’s presence in downtown Hagerstown isn’t going away anytime soon.

“This will not impact operations in our main building at 32 West Washington Street,” said Michelle Walls, USMH Outreach Coordinator, in a statement to Radio Free Hub City. “Instead, we anticipate it will offer increased financial flexibility, helping us further strengthen our mission of providing affordable and accessible higher education in downtown Hagerstown.”

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from University System of Maryland at Hagerstown

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