By Elisabetta Silvestro
The nonprofit cancer support and resource center Circulo de Vida—which had been at risk of being evicted from its current location in the Mission District to make way for an expanding tech company—has been granted stay.
Circulo de Vida and tech startup DoubleDutch reached a resolution on Feb. 26 that would allow the nonprofit to remain in the building at 2601 Mission St., the two organizations announced today at a press conference held at Circulo’s office.
District 9 Supervisor David Campos, who helped mediate the decision, led the conference where Circulo’s Executive Director Carmen Ortiz and DoubleDucth CEO Lawrence Coburn came to the resolution.
“You have no idea how relieved we are here at Circulo,” Ortiz said, acknowledging that it would have cost the nonprofit about $10,000 to $15,000 to find another workspace.
Circulo de Vida announced on Feb. 9 that its lease wouldn’t be renewed by landlord Vera Cort, provoking strong community opposition. Since Circulo’s announcement, both Cort and DoubleDutch were flooded with concerned and often angry emails.
“What happened with Circulo is what happens throughout the city,” Campos said. “Many places like Circulo are being pushed out.”
Campos went on to blame real estate owners who exploit the market to make as much money as they can.
“Then you have places as DoubleDutch,” Campos said. “They took it upon themselves [to solve the situation].”
Coburn approached Ortiz almost immediately upon learning of Circulo’s dilemma, first proposing to help them fundraise. Circulo’s office is currently located on the 7th floor; Coburn offered Circulo two rooms and a waiting room on the 4th floor.
The space however, was too small. Circulo would have had to give up two of their programs. That’s when Campos intervened as a mediator.
“We try to do the right thing,” Coburn said. “We are also growing fast, [and] have responsibility toward our investors, our employees.”
Coburn’s most recent offer was four rooms and a waiting room on the fifth floor. That space is in need of some work, but DoubleDutch is going to pay for repairs since Circulo de Vida is now under DoubleDutch’s lease. The deal also offered cheaper rent. Ortiz accepted the offer.
Aside from the difficulty of finding a new location for a small nonprofit in today’s market, Ortiz said the current site is strategic, as the majority of their clients have low incomes and use public transportation. Their clients have also grown attached to the location, which has been there for 11 years.
Circulo client and cancer survivor Guadalupe Dumas also spoke at the press conference.
Upon being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, Dumas learned about Circulo de Vida that same year. Dumas said she and her family received support from the group from the first day at the hospital, and that she met about other 50 families fighting against cancer while at Circulo.
Ortiz said she doesn’t have a problem with tech companies, but that there needs to be a balance between them and those who already live in the neighborhood.
“Can you imagine what would happen if other companies would follow the example of DoubleDutch?” Campos said, hoping that this solution could set a new model on how to address the real estate problem. “[DoubleDutch] set an example. I am very proud to be a part of this.”