1204 & 1206 Buchanan Street
Professional Offices
2020

Question—

Informed by area development in the previous years, and taking what we have learned since 2014, how do we create a practical application to show how equitable development should and could be done? 

Goal—

Set an area standard for a practical application of what social impact and meaningful development could look like on Buchanan Street and beyond.

Our Approach—

• Starts prior to acquisition of the property, with informing the sellers of our intentions and options with their property that encourage them to build wealth. We partner with minority property owners who are about to make a huge gain by giving them what their property is worth, sharing with them what the intended goal of the property is and inviting them to invest in the project.  We share wealth building knowledge and connections with existing residents, connect them with 3rd party financial advisors who are able to help them navigate through the disposition of their asset.  

• Build networks: closing inequities ie. connecting with a financial advisor 

• Strategizing on renovation/ reviving the building

• Strategic Inclusivity: Assemble a cohesive and diverse group of partners together for investment in the project. Find like-minded investors and share the wealth - the majority of owners in this project are women or minority owned.

• Tenants: bring in tenants that have interest in improving the neighborhood and the ability to subsidize a community tenant space. Then bring in the community tenant and underwrite the entire project to accommodate an organization that provides a direct community benefit. 

Impacted Groups—

Longtime and minority property owners, local minority and women owned businesses, local residents, local social impact and grassroots organizations.

Partner Highlight—

Gideon’s Army, Centric Architecture, Don Hardin Group, The Mathews Company, & Elephant Gallery