Nonprofit City Campus unveils co-living project for SF neighborhoods

A group backed by San Francisco tech workers wants to turn a square mile of the Lower Haight, Hayes Valley and Alamo Square into a neighborhood co-living “campus.”

The nonprofit City Campus, based in Ohio, has scheduled a May 11 launch that aims to revitalize the area by creating a multigenerational community hub, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The vision of the group includes communal living, co-working spaces, childcare facilities and more, all within a 15-minute walk. It follows the model of The Commons, a members-only coworking space and social club at 550 and 530 Laguna Street. Similar attempts have gained traction worldwide during the pandemic, though some have raised concerns from neighbors.

The Bay Area project launch started with a mysterious flier found taped to a utility pole near Alamo Square Park.

The flier, featuring an image of people enjoying a sunny day in a park, asks: “Where are all the grandparents?” 

This enigmatic message directs inquiries to a QR code, leading to information about the nascent project by a group of tech workers aiming to rejuvenate neighborhoods with a co-living “campus” west of Downtown.

The invitation says residents can “meet inspiring collaborators; live, eat and work near friends; find and build your life’s work; raise kids ‘with a village’; explore your intellectual and creative curiosities; engage in civic life” and more through the project.

The campus would be created, in part, by gathering residents in adjacent rental properties and individually owned homes — then knocking down walls and fences and conjoining backyards, according to the Chronicle.

City Campus plans to finance the project through donations, investing in communal spaces and services. However, the vision faces significant challenges in navigating San Francisco’s expensive real estate market and red tape.

The project’s founders, including tech industry veterans Jason Benn and Thomas Schulz, envision City Campus as a blend of idealistic vision and pragmatic business model.

City Campus wants to initially raise $750,000 to fund “a new major space, experience or service” in the Hayes Valley area every six months for two years. 

The project would also be funded by a related real estate firm, City Campus Real Estate, a two-person company consisting of Benn and the unidentified founder of a proptech firm. City Campus Real Estate is not registered as doing business in California, according to state business records.

Benn said the team plans to partner with a Realtor to facilitate future sales. 

The founders emphasize community-building and collaboration with local authorities, differentiating themselves from more radical concepts like the Network State.

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Critics, however, question the inclusivity and democratic nature of such projects, and have raised concerns about their impact on existing neighborhoods and social dynamics.

Despite these reservations, City Campus has garnered interest and support, with donations trickling in for its initial stages.

The project’s ultimate aim is to create vibrant, walkable communities where residents can live, work and socialize within close proximity. 

— Dana Bartholomew