About Freedom West Corporation: Preserving a Community & Building a Model for Equitable Development

The History & Future of Freedom West Homes

Preserving the Past

Freedom West Homes is a nonprofit limited equity housing cooperative formed in the late 1960’s in response to government sponsored “Urban Renewal” which displaced over 20,000 predominately African American Fillmore District residents and closed over 800 businesses. Reverend J. Austell Hall of the Bethel AME Church lead the creation of the Co-Op as a way to mitigate the losses of urban renewal and maintain some sort of ownership for the local community.

Preparing for a Sustainable Future

The Freedom West 2.0 Revitalization Project aims to rebuild and revitalize, in a modern sustainable format, the Freedom West Homes Cooperative in the Fillmore District of San Francisco, which after 40 years of deferred maintenance has fallen into disrepair and is at the end of its useful life.

We Stand For…

Empowering Residents: Residents shape their future
We ensure community voices are heard and influence every step of the development process.
Building Opportunity: Everyone thrives
We create affordable housing, create local jobs, and support local businesses to build a strong, inclusive economy.
Shared Success: Prosperity for all
We prioritize resident ownership and multi-generational wealth transfer while ensuring everyone benefits from the project’s economic success.
Vibrant Living: Thriving communities
We celebrate local character, promote healthy lifestyles, and create welcoming spaces for all.
Sustainable Future: Environmental responsibility
We use innovative sustainable practices and protect green spaces for a healthy and resilient community.
Collaborative Investment: Impactful public/private partnerships
We secure diverse funding and partner with stakeholders who share our commitment to creating a positive societal and economic impact.

The Freedom West 2.0 Mission

Save 1,000 low- moderate-income residents from displacement

Preserve by rebuilding 382 affordable housing co-op units

Add 133 new affordable-housing units to the San Francisco Fillmore District/Western Addition

Build a STEM Innovation Center to help Fillmore district residents access high-paying STEM jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities

Build a Performing Arts Center to spark the Fillmore Renaissance

Generate $2 billion in one-time community economic impact from the project’s construction* and ensure at least 30% women and minority contractor participation

Freedom West Guiding Principles

In 2019, the Freedom West Board, representing 382 shareholders and approximately 1,000 residents, participated in a visioning session facilitated by the Institute of the Future to develop a set of Guiding Principles that serve as our roadmap plan to achieve the community driven Freedom West 2.0 plan to:

Rebuild

All 382 existing units at Freedom West co-op units with brand new units at no additional monthly housing costs to the current residents.

Empower

The nonprofit co-op with a 40+ year economic self-sustainable engine including additional sources of real estate ownership income and profit participation in the market rate portion of the development.

Involve

Freedom West Homes’ input in the design of the replacement units, the overall site plan, and creation of the community benefits.

Freedom West Community Benefits

Community Amenities & Benefits

Retail & Entertainment

Health & Fitness Center

Community Gardens

STEM Community Innovation Center

Over 200K SFT of Open Space

Childcare Center

Boutique Hotel

Performing Arts Center

Better Access to Streets & Transit

Community Economic Impact

By Designing, Building, and Empowering with Equity, this project will bring new hope and a bright future for a community overlooked for far too long. Currently, the Freedom West site is primarily residential, with very low density and too much space being used for above-ground parking. The proposed plan reimagines the use of the space by expanding its use to include commercial, retail and event space. Freedom West 2.0 will create much needed jobs and small business opportunities for residents of the Fillmore community.

Cumulative Construction Job-Years

(10,980 onsite, plus 1,950 offsite)

Total Recurring Job-Years at Full Build-Out

(590 onsite; 240 offsite)

$2.2

Billion in One-Time Economic Output from Construction

($1.7 billion directly;
$500 million indirectly)

$241

Million in Annual Recurring Economic Output at Full Build-Out

($163 million directly; $78 million indirectly)

Cumulative Construction Job-Years

(10,980 onsite, plus 1,950 offsite)

Total Recurring Job-Years at Full Build-Out

(590 onsite; 240 offsite)

$2.2

Billion in One-Time Economic Output from Construction

($1.7 billion directly; $500 million indirectly)

$241

Million in Annual Recurring Economic Output at Full Build-Out

($163 million directly; $78 million indirectly)

The Film

“Reimagining Freedom West”

The Reimagining Freedom West mini documentary film produced and directed by Michelle Flowers-Taylor, and narrated by Danny Glover, has received international awards and recognition. Watch the 2-minute movie trailer below.