SFCLT Spotlight: Elizabeth Dekker and the Creative Heart of Art Haus SF
Meet SFCLT tenant Elizabeth Dekker (@dekkerart), a gifted artist and the visionary behind Art Haus SF—recently named one of the Best Art Galleries in the Bay Area by SFGate!
Elizabeth’s creative journey bridges the worlds of art and architecture, blending structure and imagination to create spaces that inspire connection. Her gallery, Art Haus SF, is more than just an exhibition venue—it’s a community hub. Through painting and drawing classes, creative workshops, and collaborative projects, she invites people from all walks of life to explore their own creativity.
Elizabeth’s ability to create in San Francisco is made possible in part through our work at SFCLT, where we provide permanently affordable housing for residents who might otherwise be priced out of the city. Her building, located at 3975 24th Street in Noe Valley, has its own story of community action and resilience.
3975 24th Street sits mid-block, across from Whole Foods Market, in one of San Francisco’s most desirable neighborhoods. For years, the building’s tenants had a good relationship with their longtime owner. But after the owner passed away, the situation changed. The new owner began making cosmetic repairs and hinting at plans for a Tenancy-in-Common (TIC) conversion—a common way to sell rent-controlled buildings at market rate and displace existing tenants.
Data from Impact Realty shows that District 8, which includes Noe Valley, has one of the highest risks of TIC conversions in the city. Recognizing those signs, the residents of 3975 24th Street acted quickly. They reached out to SFCLT, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), and their District Supervisor to explore purchasing the property through the Small Sites Program.
Their proactive organizing paid off. In partnership with SFCLT, the residents successfully secured the acquisition of their building in January 2024—protecting their homes from speculative market forces and ensuring Elizabeth’s art space could continue to be a community hub. “It is a huge, huge relief,” Elizabeth said. “I’m able to do what I can because I don’t have to live under the fear that I will face huge rent increases year after year.”
This success story captures what SFCLT is all about: community members taking ownership of their future. Through collective action, the tenants of 3975 24th Street turned a moment of uncertainty into an example of what’s possible when neighbors organize, city programs respond, and community land trusts provide the structure for lasting stability.
For Elizabeth, it means she can continue to live and create in the city she loves, sharing her art with the community and nurturing creativity in others. “There’s a huge sense of community here in Noe Valley,” she said. “Shop owners will come to my community art night, and we are all supportive of each other. It’s just home for me.”
At SFCLT, we’re honored to support artists like Elizabeth—people who embody the spirit of creativity, collaboration, and care that defines San Francisco. Affordable housing makes room for artists, educators, and essential community members to thrive. In turn, they make the city vibrant, inclusive, and alive with possibility.
Members of our team were thrilled to attend an Art Haus evening art-making event earlier this year, where we explored our creative side and designed encaustic, mixed media art.
Here’s to Elizabeth Dekker, Art Haus SF, and the powerful network of residents who remind us that when we protect homes, we protect culture, creativity, and community itself.
Learn more:
SFGate: Best Art Galleries in the Bay Area
Photo credit: Noe Valley Voice