Project Details
Portola Terrace is a new residential community under construction in the Town of Portola Valley developed by Stanford University (Stanford). Construction activities began in Summer 2026.
Construction Details
Construction Schedule*
- Pre-Construction Phase: March – June 2026
- Install perimeter fencing
- Tree removal
- Site preparation
- Construction: July 2026 – December 2028
- Grading & Utility
- Foundations and Framing
- Roofing and Siding
- Exterior Finishing
- Interior Finishing
- Anticipated Completion: December 2028
*Please note that all construction dates are approximate and subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen conditions.
Portola Terrace offers:
- 27 for sale single-family, 2-story, 3-4-bedroom homes for Stanford faculty
- 12 below-market rate studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom rental apartments for the community
- Construction of approximately 1.2 miles of new trails
- Community picnic and play areas
- Fire-resistant building construction and landscaping materials to improve wildfire resiliency
Project Fact Sheet
Details on purchasing homes and the below market rate rental program will be available as construction moves closer to completion. For more information on affiliate housing, check out the Faculty Staff Housing website.
History
Beginning in 2015, Stanford and the Portola Valley Town Council engaged in a collaborative dialogue about the challenges created by local members commuting long distances to their jobs and talented educational professionals leaving the area because of the limited availability of nearby affordable housing.
To help address the regional housing crisis, Stanford took the lead in developing a housing concept on its own land and worked closely with the Town Council to align the proposal with the needs of both the Town and the university. Portola Terrace is envisioned as a community of homes that respects and preserves the natural beauty of the surrounding area while providing housing for Stanford faculty and local community members. The Portola Valley Town Council unanimously approved the Portola Terrace project on December 5, 2024. An Environmental Impact Report reviewed the project’s potential effects on the surrounding area and identified steps to reduce any impacts that could be significant. As part of the approval process, the Portola Valley Town Council certified the Final Environmental Impact Report for Portola Terrace, concluding that, with the required mitigation measures in place, the project would not result in significant environmental impacts to the community.
Timeline
- 2025 – 2026: Stanford is working with Portola Valley staff to obtain building permits, followed by project construction
- December 5, 2024: Town Council unanimously approved the EIR and a Conditional Use Permit
- October – November 2024: Town Committee and Commission Meetings regarding project
- August 27, 2024: Town releases Final Environmental Impact Report
- March 30, 2022: Public Draft of the Environmental Impact Report released
- August 2021: Conducted site tours for Town Committee members and the general public
- January 2020: Town held a Scoping meeting to get community input on the Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
- Fall 2019 – Spring 2022: Town oversaw the preparation of a draft environmental impact report and review of the project, to culminate in public hearings
- September – October 2019: Town started formal review of the application and began environmental review under CEQA
- September 2019: Stanford submitted formal project application to the Town of Portola Valley, including revisions to the initial design concepts in response to community input
- May & July 2019: Stanford hosted four community open houses to receive initial public input on the proposed housing development
- March 2016 – March 2019: Stanford attended study sessions with Portola Valley Town Council and community workshops organized by the Council