HAVERHILL - Neighbors of the former Bradford College campus hoped by September to see things they haven't witnessed in years - students walking from one building to another; a parking lot full of teachers' cars.

Those sights will eventually appear, said officials of Zion Bible College. The question is when.

Zion's goal is to start classes at the campus in the fall - but the opening date is far from cast in stone, the school's officials said.

Zion's dean, Patrick Gallagher, said yesterday that he does not have a definite date for when the college will open in Bradford.

"There is an approval process we still have to go through," Gallagher said of reviews that will be done by city building and code officials who will determine how much work must be done to the buildings. They have been vacant and deteriorating since Bradford College closed in 2000 because of financial problems.

William Pillsbury, director of economic development and planning for Haverhill, said city inspectors are working with Zion officials to determine the specific uses for each room and floor in the buildings and what renovations are needed.

"Having city officials on campus helps identify any areas of code upgrades that may or may not be required," Pillsbury said.

Zion officials said neighbors of the campus can expect to see a lot of activity over the next half year as contractors renovate historic campus buildings in preparation for Zion to move here from Rhode Island.

Gallagher said contractors have just been hired to begin renovations to the buildings.

"We expect to see major progress on the campus buildings over the next six or seven months," he said.

Bradford College was 197 years old when closed. The building sat vacant and deteriorating until the campus was purchased last November by David Green, the billionaire businessman and evangelical Christian who founded The Hobby Lobby chain of retail stores. Zion trains ministers, missionaries and teachers for the Assemblies of God denomination, of which Green is a member.

Green plans to make $3 million to $5 million in renovations to the property's main buildings and donate the campus to Zion.

Zion anticipates having about 400 dormitory rooms ready for students when it opens for classes at the 18-acre Haverhill campus.

About 250 students are enrolled at Zion's Rhode Island campus, though the school had as many as 600 students at its peak several years ago. There were about 500 students at Bradford College when it closed.

Gallagher tried to ease some local concerns by saying neighbors of the campus won't have to worry about disturbances and that "alcohol and keg parties" won't happen, but that if they do, the school's response will be "immediate" and that it doesn't tolerate that kind of behavior.

Zion administrators and faculty members, along with 60 Zion students, traveled to Haverhill on Friday to learn a little about the city they'll be teaching and learning in. They also got to meet city officials when the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the city, welcomed Zion to Haverhill with a reception at DiBurro's in Ward Hill.

During Friday's reception, Zion's incoming president, Dr. Charles Crabtree, talked about his school's planned move, saying it was because of "divine intervention" that his college found its new home.

Mayor James Fiorentini talked about the lengthy process of finding a use for the campus that suited its history as well as neighborhood wishes.

Fiorentini said the college could have been converted to residential or retail, which neighbors didn't want, and that the city worked closely with the neighborhood to find an educational use for the campus.

Also in attendance at the event were chamber President James Jajuga, chamber Chairman Jefferson Davis, Haverhill Economic Development Director William Pillsbury, police Chief Alan DeNaro, City Council President Michael Hart, councilors William Ryan and Robert Scatamacchia, and former Mayor Theodore Pelosi Jr.

The chamber treated Zion officials to bags filled with promotional items donated by more than 30 local businesses. The bags included marketing brochures, pens, calculators, whistles, refrigerator magnets and water bottles.

"The Bible college is a nice fit for the neighborhood," Jajuga said. "I think it's perfect for the Bradford campus."