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The Red Victorian is a historic building in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district with a long and varied history. Originally built as a hotel, it became a hub for counterculture in the 1960s and later evolved into a bed and breakfast, community space, and co-living experiment.
History
Early Years (1904-1976)
- Built in 1904 as the Jefferson Hotel to serve tourists visiting Golden Gate Park [4].
- During the Summer of Love in 1967, it became the Jeffrey Haight, a free crash pad for hippies and activists [4].
The Sami Sunchild Era (1977-2013)
- Purchased in 1977 by artist and activist Sami Sunchild, who renamed it the Red Victorian Bed, Breakfast & Art [4].
- Sunchild transformed the hotel into a center for peace activism and psychedelic art, featuring:
- Themed Rooms: 17 rooms with unique decor, such as the “Flower Child” and “Rainbow” rooms, and the “Aquarium Bathroom” [4].
- Peaceful World Center: Hosted Sunday “World Peace Conversations” that became an international network [4].
- Community Spaces: Included the Peace Cafe, Global Village Center bazaar, and Peace Arts gift shop [4].
- Sunchild owned and operated the Red Victorian until her death in 2013 [4].
Post-Sunchild Transition (2014-2022)
- In 2014, District Commons (a non-profit) leased the property and partnered with The Embassy Network for co-living operations [4][5].
- The building was converted into a 20-room co-living space with community events [4].
- The community used the Loomio platform for collaborative decision-making [3].
- In 2020, the Red Victorian closed due to the pandemic, leading to the Fishbowl Collective occupation and subsequent legal disputes [4][5].
- The Peaceful World Foundation sold the property in September 2022 [5].
Building Features
- Address: 1665 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117 [4]
- Structure: 3-story wood-frame building [4]
- Rooms: 17 guest rooms [4]
- Notable Features:
Themed Room Design
Sami Sunchild’s themed rooms were a defining feature:
- Peacock Suite: Included a bathtub as the centerpiece [1].
- Redwood Forest Room: Featured murals of endangered trees [1].
- 1970s Decor: Some rooms preserved a retro aesthetic [1].
Community and Social Experimentation
Co-living Model
- The Red Victorian experimented with a hybrid hospitality model, combining co-living residents with short-term guests [3].
- Digital profiles were used to connect guests [3].
- A “Modern Nomad” booking system was used to manage reservations [3].
Governance and Decision-Making
- The community used the Loomio platform for asynchronous decision-making and maintained decision archives [3].
- It balanced in-person events with digital collaboration tools [3].
Cultural Programming
- The Red Victorian hosted weekly peace dialogues, art exhibitions, community dinners, and guest-led workshops [4][3].
The Red Vic Movie House
- Operated from 1980 to 2011, initially at 1659 Haight St [2].
- A collective-run cinema that featured couches instead of traditional seating [2].
- Known for its annual “Hippie Temptation” screenings documenting 1960s culture [4].
- Relocated to 1725 Haight St in 1990 and closed in 2011 [2][4].
Cultural Impact and Controversies
Banksy Mural
- In 2010, street artist Banksy created the “Haight Street Rat” mural on the building [4].
- A salvaged panel of the mural toured galleries before being reinstated [4].
Pandemic-Era Conflicts
- In 2020-2021, the Fishbowl Collective occupied the space to provide LGBTQ+ housing [5].
- This led to legal disputes over tenancy rights and allegations of a “hostile takeover” [5].
- A settlement was reached in June 2021, requiring the occupants to leave [4].
Current Status
- As of March 2025, the property is vacant following its sale in 2022 [5].
- The facade is covered in graffiti, and renovation permits suggest a potential commercial/residential conversion [4][5].
References
- [1] TripAdvisor Reviews
- [2] San Francisco Theatres Blog
- [3] Loomio Blog
- [4] Wikipedia
- [5] SocketSite