City Campus Plans SF Co-Living Hub, Seeks $750K for Spaces

Key Takeaway

• City Campus, backed by SF tech workers, plans a co-living "campus" in Lower Haight, Hayes Valley, and Alamo Square to foster a multigenerational community hub.
• The project seeks $750,000 for new communal spaces/services every six months for two years, facing challenges in SF's real estate market.
• Critics question the inclusivity and impact on existing neighborhoods, despite the project's aim to create vibrant, walkable communities.

A Bold Vision for San Francisco's Neighborhoods

In an ambitious move that could redefine urban living, a group of San Francisco tech workers, backed by the nonprofit City Campus based in Ohio, is proposing to transform a square mile encompassing the Lower Haight, Hayes Valley, and Alamo Square into a co-living "campus." This initiative, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, seeks to revitalize the area by fostering a multigenerational community hub complete with communal living spaces, co-working areas, childcare facilities, and more, all within a 15-minute walk radius. The concept, inspired by The Commons—a members-only coworking space and social club—aims to address the evolving needs of urban dwellers post-pandemic, despite potential concerns from local residents about the changes such a project might bring.

The Co-Living Campus Concept

The City Campus project is set to launch on May 11, with plans to knit together adjacent rental properties and individually owned homes by removing barriers and creating shared spaces. This vision is not only about altering the physical landscape but also about building a community where people can "live, eat and work near friends," as highlighted in a mysterious flier that sparked initial public interest. The project's financing strategy involves raising funds through donations and investments in communal spaces and services, aiming to introduce "a new major space, experience or service" in the Hayes Valley area every six months over two years. However, the ambitious project faces significant hurdles, including San Francisco's notorious real estate prices and bureaucratic challenges.

Challenges and Criticisms

While the vision of City Campus is grand, it navigates a complex landscape of San Francisco’s real estate market and regulatory environment. Critics of the project raise concerns about its inclusivity and the potential disruption to existing neighborhood dynamics. The project's founders, tech industry veterans Jason Benn and Thomas Schulz, along with City Campus Real Estate, aim to work closely with local authorities and the community to mitigate these concerns. Yet, the project's success hinges on its ability to balance its idealistic goals with the pragmatic realities of urban development, raising questions about the feasibility of such a transformative vision in one of the country's most expensive cities.

A New Model for Urban Living?

The City Campus initiative represents a bold reimagining of urban living, proposing a model where community and convenience converge. By creating spaces that encourage interaction and collaboration, the project aims to address some of the modern urban dweller's most pressing needs, including affordable housing, work-life balance, and social connectivity. However, as donations begin to support the project's initial stages, the broader implications of such a model on San Francisco's urban fabric and its residents remain to be seen. Will this vision of a co-living campus inspire a new trend in urban redevelopment, or will it encounter resistance from those who fear the loss of neighborhood identity and autonomy?

Management Quotes

• Jason Benn and Thomas Schulz, Tech Industry Veterans and Founders of City Campus:

  "City Campus plans to finance the project through donations, investing in communal spaces and services." "The team plans to partner with a Realtor to facilitate future sales."