Stanford
Belmont -Belmont

FAQs

  1. Has Stanford already purchased the NDNU campus property? 
    • No. At this time, Stanford has entered into an option to purchase agreement with NDNU that gives Stanford the exclusive right, through June 2025, to purchase the Belmont campus.
  2. What steps has Stanford taken towards purchasing the NDNU campus property?
    • Stanford submitted a Conceptual Development Plan (CDP) application to the City of Belmont that will allow for the revitalization of the campus with a focus on academic and community-serving purposes. The CDP will also establish the amount of square footage that can be added. This formal document was submitted to the City of Belmont for environmental analysis and City Council approval.
  3. How does Stanford plan to use the NDNU campus property?
    • Stanford is exploring the possibility of purchasing the Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) campus with the goal of continuing an academic use. Stanford is currently developing a long-term plan for a Belmont campus, in consultation with a variety of stakeholders, that meets the future academic needs of Stanford and identifies opportunities for the community to engage with the campus in new ways.
  4. How will Stanford contribute to the Belmont community?
    • As part of the Conceptual Development Plan (CDP) application, Stanford has committed to:
      • Continued use of the Belmont campus for academic purposes, furthering the tradition of higher education in the city.
      • A campus design that welcomes community access to recreation and walking paths.
      • A commitment to continue Stanford’s strong record in sustainable development and campus management – including sustainable buildings, operations, and transportation programs.
      • Continuing the residential nature of the campus by providing a minimum of 50 housing units for Stanford affiliates, and up to 200, depending on programmatic needs.
    • Furthermore, Stanford submitted an additional community benefits proposal package to the City. These items are currently being discussed with the City and includes offers to:
      • Invest in the restoration and preservation of Ralston Mansion and ensure it meets current seismic and safety standards.
      • Keep Koret Field available for use and/or rental by the community. 
      • Fund the City’s improvements to the Ralston Avenue/campus entrance intersection to ease existing congestion and improve traffic flow. In addition, Stanford will commit to enhancing bicycle access to the train station along the Ralston corridor.
      • Stanford will initiate a community process to identify and support mission-aligned initiatives and programs that champion and invest in innovative education, with an emphasis on Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade and the educational ecosystem.
  5. Will a Stanford Belmont campus impact local traffic?  
    • We understand that traffic impacts are of great interest to the community. A full environmental impact report (EIR) is being prepared by the City and will include traffic impact studies. The community will have an opportunity to review and provide comments on both the draft and final versions of the EIR. Furthermore, Stanford has identified Ralston corridor transportation improvements as a priority for our community benefits package.
  6. What improvements will you make along Ralston corridor? 
    • In consultation with the City, Stanford will fund improvements to the Ralston Avenue/campus entrance intersection to ease existing congestion. In addition, Stanford will commit to enhancing bicycle access to the train station along the Ralston corridor. 
  7. What are NDNU’s plans for its current students and staff? 
    • Stanford University and NDNU are remaining separate academic institutions. For more information regarding the future of NDNU, please visit their website at ndnu.edu.
  8. Will Stanford build housing on the campus? 
    • The university is anticipating providing 50-200 units of housing, some of which are already part of the existing campus facilities.
  9. What buildings are included in the option to purchase agreement? 
    • The option to purchase agreement is for the main university campus that includes the three historic buildings: Taube Hall, Ralston Hall, and the Carriage House, as well as the Koret Field parcel along Ralston Avenue. The agreement does not include the Notre Dame High School Belmont, Notre Dame Elementary School, Notre Dame Preschool, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Province Center, or Water Dog Park.
  10. Are there plans to develop Water Dog Park? 
    • No. Water Dog Park is owned by the Sisters of NDNU and currently under a long-term land use agreement with the City of Belmont. This property is not part of the Stanford-NDNU option to purchase agreement.
  11. What are the future plans for the chapel/walking paths/open space? 
    • Stanford is currently developing a plan for how the university might gradually transition the NDNU campus and existing buildings over time as the need for new buildings is determined. This plan will retain the three historic buildings. Stanford is pursuing a campus design that welcomes community access to recreation and walking paths.
  12. Will the Sisters of NDNU be a part of the new campus?
    • The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Province Center is not part of the option to purchase agreement. Stanford and NDNU are remaining separate institutions. The agreement between NDNU and Stanford provides NDNU with an option to rent back space from Stanford, should Stanford decide to purchase the campus. For more information regarding the future of NDNU, please visit their website at ndnu.edu.
  13. What are Stanford’s plans for sustainability at the potential Belmont campus?
    • Stanford’s commitment to sustainability is a core university value that will be incorporated into planning for the potential Belmont campus. This includes programs like Sustainable Stanford, a university-wide effort to reduce our environmental impact, preserve resources, and lead sustainability by example across its three pillars – environment, economy, and equity. To learn more, visit sustainable.stanford.edu.
  14. How can I stay involved? 
    • To stay involved in these planning efforts, we encourage you to explore more of our virtual engagement portal to sign up for our email list, complete a survey, and check back for periodic updates as they become available. Additional questions or comments should be sent to belmontcampus@stanford.edu.