Mid-Market Creative Community
NCCLF, the manager of OrgSpaces, is actively involved in Arts and Economic Development in San Francisco. We’ve found that most art organizations are great at what they do but few arts organizations understand the underlying business model needed to manage their real estate. NCCLF is an active also an active participant in Mid-Market Pro-bono Technical Assistance (pdf) program. As practitioners involved in the Mid-Market Arts and Cultural District there are many lessons from the field (pdf) that inform our practice on a daily basis.
Arts & Cultural District Strategies by Deborah Frieden
The Cultural District Strategies Report (pdf) provides an analysis of best practices from various North American Cities that supported the development of an arts district which provided benefits to an existing under served community. This analysis will provide a framework for the creation the Central Market Arts Community as part of the revitalization of San Francisco’s Central Market District. Cultural Planner, Deborah Frieden conducted study on behalf of the San Francisco Office of Economic & Workforce Development.
Film Makers get Affordable Office Space
The San Francisco Film Commission was interested in moving into the Mid-Market Arts and Cultural District. OrgSpaces helped them find a new home to launch an independent filmmakers ‘incubator‘ space.
Luggage Store Offers Hope and Hospitality to the Homeless
Darryl Smith was nine years old the first time his father drove him through the Tenderloin, but even then he knew someday it would be his home. He was fascinated by the mixture of cultures, and the sights and sounds; he felt a vibrancy and energy he had never experienced before. After attending both San Francisco City College and The Art Institute of San Francisco in the 1970s, Darryl turned his focus toward art and its transformational possibilities within communities. He devised a plan that would provide a space for local artists to gather and show their work, and in the process rehabilitate economically challenged neighborhoods. “The Tenderloin had been neglected for so long, there was nothing there for the community except bars, including the notorious 509 Club, which became our first art and community center in 1987,” says Darryl. The bar became the 509 Cultural Center, a nonprofit arts and community space.
Two years later, that building was damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake, and the Center was forced to move. Laurie Lazer, Darryl’s partner, spotted the “for rent” sign at 1007 Market Street, and eventually this location – a former luggage store – became known as the Luggage Store Gallery. In 1999 Darryl and Laurie bought the building in partnership with other interested community investors. Although it offered three times the amount of space – including a downstairs rental unit – it needed a great deal of renovation.
In 2007, the Luggage Store lost their long-time tenant, and was using up reserves to stay afloat. At this time NCCLF was retained by the San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Grants for the Arts to provide financial advice and assistance to arts organizations in the Mid-Market area. “Community arts organizations are incredibly important as a vehicle to bridge the barriers of race and class in low-income areas,” says Joshua Simon, Director of Consulting and Grants at NCCLF. “We saw the importance of the Luggage Store in the Tenderloin and knew we had to help.”
First, it was imperative to locate a new tenant for the downstairs unit. Working with the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, San Francisco Grants for the Arts and Asian Neighborhood Design, NCCLF secured funding to make the rental space ADA compliant. NCCLF’s Real Estate Consultant Leiasa Beckham oversaw the construction of the project as well as the management of the funding streams. The work was completed on time and on budget, and Hospitality House moved into this space.
NCCLF continues to work as an advisor to the Luggage Store. “NCCLF has helped me in both the short and long term strategy for our space,” says Darryl. “Their commitment to the Luggage Store has rekindled my belief that we can achieve our vision of a holistic, sustainable artist and cultural center for the community, and be a model for the entire city.”
