We bought the building!
After two years or organizing, we did it.
It’s official. We bought the building. Baldwin House is officially the steward of 2570-2572 Sherman Ave NW in Washington DC. Time to celebrate!!!
Mutual aid can and will create long-lasting institutions and we are the evidence!
In June 2021, we launched an experiment: could neighbors replace investors and developers to create a housing cooperative and mutual aid hub?
As a mighty group of about a dozen people combining our time, labor, skills, willingness to learn, and love for our community, we organized to make a counter-offer on the building. The original offer would have kicked residents out on Christmas Eve with only a few weeks notice. Instead, two years later, the building is in control of a group of talented co-op members supported by the broader Baldwin House community.
We want to show that a community can come together to secure land and create community spaces in service of and governed by the people. But we did much more to make this a reality. We acted…
As decision-makers: This building will forever be in community control. Residents will have stable monthly costs and access to a community gathering space inside our mutual aid hub.
As an alternative to developers: Neighbors came together to back tenants to buy this building. Our all-volunteer team mobilized over two years to compete with a market rate offer to buy the building, building the necessary infrastructure to purchase a building in this system.
As an alternative to investors: Over 500 donors contributed over $600k in donations, and 15 people loaned money through our Community Fund.
What’s next?
Save the date: Juneteenth celebration at Baldwin House! Juneteenth marks the second anniversary of the fortuitous car ride when future co-op member Natacia Knapper and Baldwin House organizer, Gabrielle Newell, surfaced the idea of buying the building where Natacia lives. Now, two years later, we’re welcoming in Juneteenth at Baldwin House – RSVP here.
The money-moving continues. The less debt the co-op carries, the more affordable it is for co-op members, and the more energy the broader Baldwin House community has to work toward the creation of future co-ops. We’ll soon launch an effort to repay a big portion of the debt. We’re seeking partners in this effort!
We’re creating a future where we can self-determine our needs and values. Where we can paint murals, turn a parking lot into a vegetable garden, welcome kiddos for free childcare, support neighbors to defend themselves from eviction, serve free community feasts, and see coop members live with a newfound feeling of shared power and collective care.
We can’t wait to organize with other communities trying to buy their buildings in Ward 1 and beyond and advocate together for the policy changes we need to make this process more accessible to our communities.
In solidarity,
Natacia K., Boe L., Jen J., Abi X., Emily P., Mandy L, Gabrielle N., Vick B., Dani M., Michelle C., Leah W., Alex S., Allison P., Meghan M., Ben W., Kofi B., Hangda Z., Zuleima U., Shayna, Veronica M., Abby M., Chelsea, D D., Lauren F., Samantha P., Will Y, Alana C., CAM, and the other Baldwin House organizers