North Campus Property
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STATEMENT ON ACQUISITION OF NORTH CAMPUS PROPERTY
For Immediate Release
November 17, 2024
Contact: Laura Muna-Landa
Assistant Vice President for Communications & Community Relations
The Claremont Colleges Services
Laura.Muna-Landa@Claremont.edu
909-607-3778
Statement on Acquisition of North Campus Property
The Claremont Colleges (TCC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the North Campus property. The sale of the property closed on Fri., Nov. 15, 2024. The North Campus property, previously owned by the Claremont School of Theology (CST), is now under the ownership of TCC.
TCC’s immediate priority is to conduct a thorough assessment of the property, identifying and addressing all existing health and safety issues to ensure that the property meets the proper standards for the well-being of all members of our community. We understand that many portions of CST’s former campus have not been recently occupied or maintained, and an assessment of occupiable space is required. A comprehensive strategic planning effort will follow, guiding the future development and use of the North Campus property.
Yesterday, we discovered that Youth Theatre Works, a local nonprofit, has been using Mudd Theater for rehearsals for an upcoming production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Although we were never informed of their occupancy, we immediately started working toward a solution that would support their production once we learned of it.
TCC envisions several potential uses for the property, all consistent with its higher education mission, which aligns with Ellen Browning Scripps’ provision when it donated the land almost 70 years ago.
The careful planning and development of this property are expected to bring substantial benefits to the TCC community, contributing to the collective institutional mission of delivering high-quality education. Further details on the specific plans for the property will be shared as the planning and evaluation phases progress.
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Frequently Asked Questions – North Campus Property
December 5, 2024
- What is the status of ownership of the North Campus Property (former Claremont School of Theology (CST) Property?
The Claremont Colleges (TCC) announced the acquisition of the North Campus property. The sale of the property closed on Friday, November 15, 2024. The North Campus property, previously owned by the CST, is now under the ownership of TCC. This acquisition concluded over eight years of litigation.
- What are the immediate plans for the North Campus Property?
TCC’s immediate priority is to conduct a thorough assessment of the property, identifying and addressing all existing health and safety issues to ensure that the property meets the proper standards for the well-being of all members of our community. We understand that many portions of CST’s former campus have not been recently occupied or maintained, and an assessment of occupiable space is required. A comprehensive strategic planning effort has begun and will guide the future development and use of the North Campus property.
- Does TCC have specific plans for the use of the property?
TCC has begun a visioning process to consider several potential uses consistent with the higher education mission of TCC, but at this time, no decisions for uses have been made.
- What is the history of the North Campus property?
In 1924, Ellen Browning Scripps purchased 250 acres north of Foothill Boulevard from Indian Hill Boulevard to Mills Avenues, along with much of the area to the south, to develop the Group Plan known as The Claremont Colleges. Ms. Scripps’s “great gift for future colleges was expendable only for campus purposes…” The Claremont Colleges remain committed to ensuring that all development plans are consistent with its higher education mission, which aligns with Ellen Browning Scripps’ provision.
- What was the history of the litigation between the Claremont School of Theology (CST) and The Claremont Colleges (TCC)?
The history of litigation between the Claremont School of Theology (CST) and The Claremont Colleges (TCC) centers on the original 1957 agreement in which CST purchased land from TCC with TCC retaining a right of first offer to repurchase the property under a specified pricing formula. In 2016, CST initiated legal action against TCC, seeking to void this right after receiving multiple purchase offers from TCC. The courts upheld the enforceability of the 1957 agreement, affirming TCC’s legal right to repurchase the property and prohibiting CST from transferring it to third parties.