The 4-story historic Dempster building at 447 Minna has been redone and repurposed, revitalized from its heyday as a Hearst-era print shop, the charming brick facades and the “LETS GO GIANTS” block letters remain, but the interior of the building is reborn as an affordable, state-of-the-art facility for working artists to paint, play, perform, and exhibit in.

Looking for answers to the affordable housing crisis we spoke to an expert on preserving safe, legal, and permanent spaces for artists. C.A.S.T is the nonprofit that preserved SF Luggage Store Gallery and got the creative incubator known as CounterPulse a permanent spot.