Solidarity Economy Headquarters
In the aftermath of the pandemic, average costs of living skyrocketed in Boston, facilitating an even faster process of displacement and gentrification in vulnerable neighborhoods like East Boston. Average rents remain some of the highest in the country and vacancies some of the lowest. Many of the cooperatives within the CCDS ecosystem that require physical space to operate have been unable to find commercial facilities whose rents are feasible for their small businesses, blocking them from being able to open up shop in their own neighborhoods.
Seeing year-over-year rent increases with no relief in sight, CCDS is taking the next step in developing a resilient cooperative economy in East Boston: the creation of a Solidarity HQ. This mixed use space would allow for cheaper rents for cooperatives who need physical space, such as daycare space for childcare coops and commercial kitchens for catering coops, while establishing a community owned and governed asset in the neighborhood. Value would not be siphoned out through rent payments to a landlord but reinvested into the community that generated it. Such a space could serve as a center for the community to gather and plan its future, much like the neighborhood church did for the original founders of CCDS in 2015.
More information can be found in our Funder Brief.
Spatial Analysis
A Permanent Home in East Boston
Foster Community: The headquarters serves as a hub, significantly reducing the effort required to bring people together. Helps to strengthen the sense of community among the coops and the broader East Boston community.
Enhances Cooperative Synergy: By situating cooperatives in close proximity, it naturally increases cooperation and collaboration, leading to more robust and resilient businesses and community.
Centralizes Educational Efforts: The headquarters provides a centralized location for training and educational programs, making it easier to offer comprehensive support and development opportunities for cooperative members and the community.
Establishes a Community Resource: Acting as an open door for the community, the headquarters sets a precedent by being a welcoming space where individuals can seek guidance, ask questions, and explore the benefits of the solidarity economy and cooperative movement.
CCDS has recognizes the need for some basic functions at the Solidarity Economy HQ, such as office space for CCDS employees and dedicated work space for coops that need it (“Coop Incubation Space”). Some cooperatives, like childcare and catering cooperatives, cannot reach full functionality without physical space. Due to the high price of real estate in our area, we anticipate coops sharing a multi-use space throughout the day. Long term, however, we hope to expand so coops can have their own dedicated space.
While the project is in its early stages, CCDS has partnered with the pre-development consultant CoEverything to create projections and analyses for the Solidarity HQ. Currently, CCDS is engaged in a site search and has limited its scope to East Boston neighborhoods. We invite supporters of the vision to work with us!
