California Street

The California Street property, a 12-unit building in South Berkeley, represents an important piece of Black community heritage. For over five decades, it was owned and maintained by Tamara Hamilton until her passing. The property then transferred to her brother, who lived out of state and found it challenging to maintain the same level of dedicated property stewardship.

In a testament to community activism, the residents of California Street successfully advocated with the City of Berkeley to secure $10 million in funding through Berkeley's Small Sites Program. This crucial funding enabled the Berkeley Architectural Community Land Trust (BACLT) to acquire the property in December 2024. BACLT is now collaborating with residents to transition the building into a cooperative management structure, ensuring its long-term preservation as affordable housing and continuing its legacy of community ownership.