San Francisco tech workers have planned to create a downtown commune that will allow people to “live, eat and work” within a 15-minute walk.
City Campus, a nonprofit organization opening May 11, plans to create a one-square-mile ‘campus’ in the Hayes, Alamo and Duboce neighborhoods. The exact location of the City Campus has not yet been established.
According to the non-profit organization websiteThe goals of the new urban space are for people to “find and do their life’s work, meet inspiring collaborators, live near friends, raise children in community, do focused work, and participate in civic and social life.”
The plan was created by four “community builders,” Patricia Mou, Thomas Schulz, Jason Benn and Adi Melamed.
“The synergy of running into people who are working or doing the same thing creates this very positive cycle,” Schulz told San Francisco Chronicle.
City Campus, a nonprofit organization set to open May 11, plans to create a “campus” in the Hayes, Alamo and Duboce neighborhoods. (pictured: a futuristic image of the planned space)
City Campus’ location is in downtown San Francisco, near the famous Painted Ladies houses and on the outskirts of the drug-infested Tenderloin district.
“A campus is a place where you can find work and incredibly meaningful relationships, all within a very walkable area.”
The City Campus location is expected to be in downtown San Francisco, near the famous Painted Ladies houses and on the outskirts of the drug-infested Tenderloin district.
The progressive downtown Tenderloin district, once known for its rich cultural history, trendy restaurants, galleries, museums and nightlife, has deteriorated as homelessness and drug use rise in the city led by the Democrats.
“The city needs help,” Schulz said.
Financially, the group has asked people to donate $750,000 to help create City Campus. The funds will cover investments every six months for two years, plus an overall 20 percent fee.
TO GoFundMe A page called ‘Help us launch the City Campus Fund’ has been created to accept donations. As of Tuesday night, $380 had been raised.
‘The City Campus fund exists to make this vision a reality. “It exists because community spaces are more difficult to start than traditional commercial spaces, given the long time horizons needed to nurture a true community,” the manifesto said.
Some of the places expected to constitute a utopia-like community are community coffee shops, late-night cafes, civic spaces, discussion rooms, community experiences, “pluralistic and secular spiritual spaces”, “multi-use co-working spaces” and ‘ mixed-use daycares’
“It’s finding everything you need and everyone you love within a 15-minute walk.” Ben said.
Patricia Mou, one of the four founders of City Campus, also founded The Commons, a ‘members-only coworking space and social club’
Ali Melamed is another founder involved in City Campus and also the other co-founder of The Commons.
The City Campus project has also set out to solve problems with the city’s “current social infrastructure” and help residents with their “belonging, emotional resonance and safety”, according to the manifesto.
“Many of us lack deep relationships, feel isolated in our interactions, buffered in our self-expression, stagnant in our personal development journey, and lack a heart connection to our physical environment.”
“Fortunately, we have the opportunity to create more connection and vitality for our city.”
Futuristic images of what the campus will look like included many people playing in a large park, plenty of greenery and families enjoying the outdoor space.
Setha Low, an anthropologist and director of the Public Space Research Group at the City University of New York, told the San Francisco Chronicle that a group coming together to build a better community is not something new.
“What seems to be happening is that people really want to ‘stay in San Francisco,’ but they want to get out of society,” Low said.
“They don’t want to have to deal with the complexity, the differences, the poverty, the needs, the care of others that was always part of urban culture.”
‘They want to escape. They want their own currency, their own culture, their own people. And they wanted it to look like Disneyland.’
On the day of the official launch of the utopia-esc community, the founders have planned a ‘City Campus Launch Party’.
People who are interested in living on campus have to get on a listand over the holidays, the group plans to share their “vision” and bring together a group of people who are “the most serious and optimistic people in SF.”
The third community builder involved in the plan is Jason Benn. He is also the founder of Neighborhood and will lead City Campus Real Estate.
Thomas Schulz, the fourth founder of City Campus. He is also the founder of Solaris, an infrastructure construction company.
The Commons, a “members-only co-working space and social club” at 550 and 540 Laguna Street, was founded by Mou and is a “fourth venue dedicated to community meaning-making and self-expression.”
Mou’s organization is one of three ‘community builders’ that have come together to create the City Campus. Melamed is the other co-founder of The Commons.
‘The Commons is a community space that reignites thoughtful dialogue, playful curiosity, and community in the heart of SF. “We are building a multi-use space in Hayes Valley that will include a co-working cafe, community library, event space and meditation studio,” the page said.
Schulz is the founder of Solaris, an infrastructure construction company. He has built houses, private housing directories and artificial intelligence startups.
“I believe that in this century we have the opportunity to live much better than previous generations of humanity,” Schulz said on his website.
The third community builder involved in the plan is Jason Benn. He is also the founder of Neighborhood, a real estate organization established in 2021.
He runs City Campus Real Estate, which donates 10 percent of real estate agents to City Campus, according to the site.
Benn said the difference between other groups coming together to create new communities and City Campus is that others are about “exit,” while others are about “loyalty.”
‘Most of the time I see those projects fail. And in fact, one of the big ideas of our project is that when you try to make a place that everyone wants to live even better, then you don’t have that cold start problem and you have all your favorite people. We have already bought it,” he stated.
Another “utopian city” was proposed in Northern California, known as “California Forever,” in Solano County, which is about 60 miles northeast of San Francisco.
Images shared by the group showed rolling landscapes with families enjoying a picnic among a group of trees, while young people were seen riding bicycles.
Another “utopian city” was proposed in Northern California, known as “California Forever,” in Solano County, which is about 60 miles northeast of San Francisco.
One ad, released in March, promised to create “walkable, middle-class neighborhoods we can afford,” as well as adding a new buffer zone for nearby Travis Air Force Base.
It featured people identified as Solano County locals asking questions such as “where would this city be built?” and ‘what will this mean for Solano County?’
The announcement also promised $400 million in down payment assistance for residents and 15,000 new “good-paying” jobs in manufacturing and technology.
Images shared by the group showed rolling landscapes with families enjoying a picnic among a group of trees, while young people were seen riding bicycles.
