**UC Investments Acquires Notre Dame de Namur University Campus in Belmont Through Sale-Leaseback Deal**
Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU), located in Belmont, California, has finalized the sale of its 97-acre campus to University of California (UC) Investments. While financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, the deal includes a leaseback arrangement that will allow the university to continue operations on-site for up to five more years.
The agreement allows NDNU to maintain in-person instruction temporarily as it prepares for a long-term relocation and development strategy. The transaction also includes plans for UC Investments to renovate key historic structures on the campus, namely the Ralston Mansion and the Carriage House—both recognized as National and California Registered Historic Landmarks.
A significant component of the sale is Water Dog Lake, a 50.5-acre open-space preserve that includes hiking trails and a stocked fishing lake. Under the terms of the deal, Water Dog Lake will remain leased to the city of Belmont, preserving public access to the area’s largest park.
Notre Dame de Namur University, established in 1851 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is California’s third-oldest higher education institution. The university’s future at the Belmont location had been uncertain following Stanford University’s decision to end its development partnership for the site earlier this year. This new agreement with UC Investments offers a clearer path forward for both the university and the preservation of the historic campus.
