The former Peachtree-Pine homeless shelter. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Emory University recently announced its purchase of the former Peachtree-Pine homeless shelter. When it was operational, the property was the cause of much contention between the property owners, the city and local business leaders.

The university purchased the 28,500-square-foot facility, which has been vacant for over a year, for $6.2 million, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The deal was finalized Dec. 21.

While exact plans for the property are not yet solidified, Robin Morey, Emory’s vice president for planning, said the property will be used by the university to establish an increased academic presence in Atlanta. Because of the site’s close proximity to the Emory University Hospital Midtown facility, it is anticipated that the space may be used to support the university’s healthcare services.

“This investment will make Emory’s resources more accessible to the greater Atlanta community,” Morey said in a statement. “It also will support our academic mission across the arts, the sciences and the humanities.”