A former university campus in East Oakland may soon be transformed into a residential development. BH Properties, based in Los Angeles, has submitted an application to build 165 single-family homes on the 60-acre site that once housed Holy Names University, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The firm acquired the property for $65 million in June 2023 after the university closed its doors in May of that year due to a $49 million loan default and impending foreclosure.
After purchasing the campus, BH Properties attempted to attract another educational institution but was unsuccessful. Several Bay Area schools—including Mills College, California College of the Arts, and the San Francisco Art Institute—have also closed recently because of financial challenges following the pandemic.
If city officials approve the plan, this would become Oakland’s second-largest single-family home project. The largest is a redevelopment at Oak Knolls Naval Medical Center, which has faced three decades of delays. Another similar project—the conversion of California College of the Arts’ Rockridge campus into 448 housing units—has stalled due to financial difficulties.
BH Properties intends to preserve about half of the property as open space. The company will keep landmarks such as the bell tower and chapel, repurposing them as a library and communal area. Additionally, “the 400-seat performing arts theater is planned to serve as a cultural hub open to the public with performances, talks and classes overseen by a nonprofit.”
The proposal calls for converting much of the existing campus into a compact residential village around McClean Chapel and the university quad. This section would include approximately 125 homes ranging from 1,800 to 2,500 square feet each. Another group of about 40 larger homes—between 2,500 and 3,000 square feet—would be built on hillside lots.
BH Properties plans to begin community engagement efforts with local residents and city officials before finalizing its proposal. Tidewater Capital is advising on development for this project.
