The fanfare, pomp and circumstance planned to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Southeast community center were muted by the pandemic. However, construction did begin at 1550 Evans this past March on a new home for a center that will celebrate the history of Southeast activism and provide a neighborhood hub for future generations. Construction is now underway! The new center is slated to open early 2022.  Getting here has been a community driven partnership and a labor of love.

To Remodel or Re-build?

The current Southeast Community Center at 1800 Oakdale has been a community asset for more than 40 years, providing access to critically needed services and programs to the community.  The Center at 1800 Oakdale was won by Bayview/Hunter’s Point as part of a mitigation agreement with the City of San Francisco. Recently, it became evident that the current center needed significant upgrades to meet its full promise. The SFPUC turned to the community for direction on whether to remodel the existing center or build a newer state-of-the-art community center. Through an extensive, nearly yearlong community engagement process during which the SFPUC connected with more than 29,000 residents, it was clear that a new center was the preferred option for an overwhelming majority of participants. 

Rebuilt Better

The new center located at 1550 Evans is a 45,000 sq. ft., LEED certified, three-story building surrounded by a green space park setting.  Accessible by MUNI bus and the T-line and less than a mile away from the existing SECF, the new center will include a large, state-of-the-art special events spaces including an outdoor amphitheater and multi-purpose space for meetings, events, and recreation such as dance classes, social gatherings, low-cost child care services, and an interactive and engaging children’s playground. The new center will also provide a wide range of social services supporting workforce development and education for Southeast residents of all ages.

Re-imagined Together

Working closely with the all women Southeast Community Facility Commission, the SFPUC remains committed to working with Southeast communities to ensure that residents are meaningfully engaged, have input on key decisions, and that local workers have employment opportunities during the construction of the new center. The result will be a new facility envisioned by the community, built by the community, and for the community.

In partnership with local Community Based Organizations, the SFPUC is currently conducting a major survey effort to learn about community priorities for the center and for the naming of the new building. You may take the survey here: https://sfpuc.typeform.com/to/y21Jer. 

We look forward to serving the community from our new home and supporting a healthy and vibrant Bayview in 2022 when the new center opens its doors.