Purchased in February 2025 by CAST and KALW, the century-old building that anchors Warfield Commons sits in a cultural corridor of San Francisco’s Mid-Market neighborhood.
It is a place that has undergone waves of transformation following the dot-com boom and the payroll tax break in 2011 that attracted tech companies into the area. Following the pandemic, San Francisco’s downtown experienced record commercial vacancies, which presented an unique opportunity for CAST and KALW to acquire prime space during a period of historically low commercial real estate values. The landmark is now taking on new life as the Warfield Commons, a community-centered hub for independent journalism, media, arts, and nonprofit organizations.
Originally constructed between 1909 and 1921, the 48,000-square-foot project consists of nine floors, two of which will be occupied by KALW for a combined 11,000 square feet. As the new home base for one of the oldest public radio stations in the country, KALW will house new broadcast studios for its live on air programming, production and podcast studios, offices, classrooms, and training spaces for formerly incarcerated and other journalism professionals, and newsroom facilities like the People’s Studio, dedicated to amplifying voices from our communities.
CAST has majority ownership of the building and will play a property and asset management role for the long term, while occupying one floor for its offices and supporting independent artists and arts and cultural collectives with meeting and collaboration spaces.
The remaining floors, which averages ~5,000 square feet per floor, will be leased at below-market rates to creative organizations, independent media professionals, artists, and cultural workers, with existing ground floor retail below. A growing network of artists, journalists, and cultural partners is forming, beginning with Psyched! Radio SF, who joined as one of the first tenants in summer 2025.
An engine for economic & civic renewal
The $7.3 million real estate purchase from Group I closed in February 2025 with equity contributions from both CAST and KALW, and acquisition financing from Community Vision Capital & Consultants, a community development financial institution (CDFI), including a capital campaign bridge loan to KALW for which the Kenneth Rainin Foundation provided a guaranty. Improvements will be funded with New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financing, a federal subsidy that helps fund projects with substantial and sustainable community benefits in low-income neighborhoods. The San Francisco Community Investment Fund has committed a tax credit allocation of up to $17 million to the project.
In a moment of transition for the city, Warfield Commons aims to spark new foot traffic, activate street life, incubate local talent, and help power the economic recovery of the Mid-Market corridor that’s already underway. It stands as a tangible example of what’s possible when creative infrastructure is treated as essential community infrastructure, adding to the existing cultural assets that continue to bring joy and vibrancy to this neighborhood.
Visit warfieldcommons.com to learn more about the space’s ongoing progress and community events.
