Oceanview, San Francisco : A History and Bright Solar Future

On Saturday, September 6th, the small Oceanview neighborhood of San Francisco will play host to over 130 very special visitors. From individual fundraisers and corporate sponsors, to job trainees, community leaders and low-income families, we will all come together for GRID Alternatives' 9th Annual Bay Area Solarthon to bring solar to 8 low-income families.
 

The foggy, ethnically diverse and family-friendly Oceanview neighborhood occupies the very south of San Francisco, right on the cusp of Daly City, wedged just between Highway 1 and Interstate 280. With proximity to Bart, San Francisco's City College, and San Francisco State, this little neighborhood is a hidden gem. It’s also the soon-to-be-home for 28 first-time homeowners, moving into affordable homes currently under construction through Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco

In a city famous for its impossibly expensive housing market, these 28 homes in Oceanview’s Habitat Terrace development represent a huge opportunity for families in need: not only will these homes be affordable and attainable for their low-income residents, they will each come with a solar system installed by GRID Alternatives. Solar will help these homeowners remain in their homes by providing needed long-term energy savings through clean, local energy – an estimated $17,000 in solar savings per family over the systems’ lifespan!

GRID is so excited to host our Solarthon on this new Habitat development, bringing the community together to install solar on the first 8 homes constructed in Oceanview's Habitat Terrace.

Although this neighborhood now stands out as a welcoming place for all, it wasn’t always this way. The 80's and 90's saw hard times in Oceanview, with rampant gun violence and gang activity. Minnie and Lovie Ward –community activists from the neighborhood - tirelessly campaigned to clean up the parks, better the schools, build a new library, and organize police patrols. Through their work, and that of the community they rallied, emerged the Oceanview we see now.

In the heart of the neighborhood, as a testament to their tireless advocacy, now stands Minnie & Lovie Ward Park and Recreation Center, which will also serves as the main event site for our Solarthon. GRID is proud to continue the Ward’s legacy of opportunity and community improvement in Oceanview in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Together, we are working towards a successful transition to clean, renewable energy that includes everyone. 

Tags