Frequently Asked Questions
The State of California transferred jurisdiction of the approximately 300-acre Lanterman property from the Department of Developmental Services to the CSU in July 2015. The university did not pay to acquire Lanterman, but is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and development of the property as it did not come with any state funding.
Following the selection of Edgewood Realty & Greystar (ERG) as master developer in August 2021, the university and ERG began negotiations on how the two entities planned to develop and finance the project. In December 2023, the two parties agreed to pause negotiations as financial market conditions had changed as a result of the pandemic. In July 2024, the university issued an RFP for a financial consultant to explore public financing options to enable the master development. In October 2024, the university selected Kosmont Financial Services to prepare a report on the financial options available to the university. Kosmont’s report is expected to be complete in Spring 2025 and will be made available on this website.
A master developer is responsible for managing the overall process of developing a site from start to finish, including crafting plans for the development with the community, financing the project, preparing the site and constructing infrastructure, and overseeing the project through final buildout. A master developer may also construct the buildings on the project site, or may select other builders to do so.
Five Point decided to withdraw from the project due to significant leadership changes in the company.
Between 2015-2024, maintenance-related costs averaged $2 million per year. Maintenance costs include such activities as security, landscaping, general maintenance, utilities, and repairs. The majority of these costs are offset by income received from rental of the property for office space and filming, which averaged $1.5 million per year between 2015-2024. Additionally, between FY2015-16 and FY2018-19, Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises contributed a total of two million dollars ($500,000 each fiscal year) to initially support daily operations and maintenance costs after the university gained possession of the property from the state.
The size, scope and complexity of the Lanterman project require the assistance of a highly qualified team of professionals representing a variety of disciplines connected to land use and development, such as: engineering, architecture and design, real estate development, city planning, economic analysis, historic preservation, and financing. To ensure decisions are fully informed by the best and most comprehensive information, it is necessary for the university to engage highly qualified consultants to provide detailed studies, analyses, and recommendations
When the State of California transferred jurisdiction of the Lanterman property from the Department of Developmental Services to the CSU in July 2015, it was with the intention that no state funds would be appropriated for the transfer, operation, maintenance, or development of the property. Therefore, revenue is needed to offset the operation and maintenance of the site and some of the costs of pre-development studies and site development. Upon development, any excess revenue would provide resources to support the university’s academic mission.
No. The budget challenges the CSU and CPP are experiencing would be very minimally and temporarily helped by the infusion of one-time funds from the sale of the property, and would not provide long-term, sustainable assistance to cover the university’s recurring funding obligations and operational expenses.
When the university and master developer are ready to begin exploring the desired development goals for the property, Cal Poly Pomona will reach out to campus stakeholders and neighboring communities for input into the planning process. Internal and external community feedback is critical to envisioning and designing a project that will truly invigorate and bring value to the university and larger region.
Determining which, if any, buildings will be torn down would depend upon the report of the pre-development consultant, agreements with the State Historical Preservation Officer and the specific plans for development.
The university is considering a wide range of uses, such as housing, retail, hospitality, business and recreational uses that support our educational mission and values, and benefit the surrounding communities and the region. The Urban Land Institute’s Los Angeles District Council and Orange County/Inland Empire District Council prepared a preliminary study of the Lanterman property and proffered findings and recommendations.
Cal Poly Pomona does not expect the development of Lanterman to significantly impact parking and traffic around the main campus because the site will include its own parking infrastructure. The final project’s impacts on parking and traffic around the campus will be evaluated as required by California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as decisions about the development of the property are made. Any potential negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhood would be mitigated as required by CEQA.
While it is premature to answer such questions at this time, the university desires to have a strong connection between the main campus and the Lanterman property. Related transportation, parking and traffic issues would be addressed during development of the property as the campus complies with CEQA requirements.
Portions of the property may be considered for academic buildings. However, because academic buildings do not usually generate funds sufficient to cover construction costs, it will be necessary to secure the funding for such buildings from the state or through public-private partnerships. State funding for academic buildings in the CSU is very limited at this time. Public-private partnerships will be explored as plans for Lanterman’s development take shape.