The former Holy Names University campus in Oakland, California, is slated for redevelopment into 165 single-family homes. BH Properties, which acquired the 60-acre property in 2023 for $65 million, plans to submit an application. The project aims to retain the existing theater, chapel, and belltower, offering a blend of new construction and historic preservation.

This conversion reflects a shift in land use, driven by the university's closure due to declining enrollment and financial challenges. The project offers a rare opportunity to build single-family homes in Oakland. The plan includes preserving open spaces and incorporating hiking trails, catering to families and empty nesters and potentially boosting the local housing market.

Community engagement will follow the application submission, involving city officials and neighbors. This project comes as another Oakland education-to-housing project is stalled. If approved, the Holy Names development could become the city's second-largest single-family home project, signaling growth in the housing sector.

Real estate developers are increasingly eyeing shuttered campuses as viable sites for residential development, particularly in high-demand areas. The success of this project could set a precedent for similar conversions, addressing housing shortages while repurposing existing infrastructure. The project represents a chance to add much needed housing to the area.