The historic YWCA building at 1515 Webster Street in downtown Oakland, with architectural roots stretching back to 1915, has been purchased for $22.5 million by its current tenant, a charter school known as Envision Academy of Arts & Technology. Colliers, a leading real estate services firm, facilitated the transaction of the 67,420 square foot property, notable for being the first of 17 YWCAs designed by the renowned architect Julia Morgan, per Connect CRE report.

The building's previous owner, the Oakland-based Highbridge Equity Partners, managed by Douglas Abrams and also known for acquiring the 22-story Tribune Tower in 2019, has a portfolio that includes several key properties in Oakland. The sale was inked on August 9th but received public attention through recent reports. The structure has received historic landmark status, recognizing both architectural and social history significance. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and this designation highlights the building's role in social services and the international Christian women's movement, as cited by SF YIMBY.

The iconic structure, showcasing a facade adorned with a blend of brick and terra cotta trims, stands prominently on Webster Street, situated conveniently two blocks from Broadway and in good company, directly across from the recently topped-out 19-floor residential tower at 1510 Webster Street, developed by oWow with an ambitious plan that includes 236 apartments. Envision Academy's adoption of the Julia Morgan-designed building preserves a piece of Oakland's architectural heritage while implicitly promising to continue a legacy of community service and education in the city's heart, as per SF YIMBY.