Bay Area CRE Offering Relief To Wildfire Evacuees

This story is being updated as we hear about more firms donating to wildfire relief.

While the fires in the North Bay continue to burn, several local and national commercial real estate companies have begun relief efforts to support businesses and residents impacted by the natural disaster. From offering places to work and shelter for displaced residents, here are companies lending a helping hand:

Sequoia Equities

The company is offering reduced rates at its nine Bay Area properties to displaced evacuees. It will provide flexible short-term leases. Its participating communities include Park Ridge in Rohnert Park; Azure in Petaluma; Sandpiper Village and River Oaks in Vacaville; Sterling Heights in Benicia and Regency Plaza, Plum Tree, Valley Ridge and Ridgecrest in Martinez. Sequoia also is raising money toward a local nonprofit organization to help with wildfire relief. Employees also are being given paid time off to volunteer.

Blitz

Blitz will be collecting donations at its office in San Francisco. The architecture and design firm is collecting socks, hairbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, diapers, packaged underwear, feminine hygiene products, hand sanitizer, dental hygiene products and other toiletries. Gift cards to stores like Safeway, Target, Walgreens and Costco also will be accepted. Items can be dropped off at 435 Jackson St. Oct. 16 to Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Albertsons Cos. Foundation

Safeway, Vons, Pavilions and Albertsons stores in California and Northern Nevada are raising money for disaster relief organizations such as the Red Cross. Customers can donate at checkout stands. The Albertsons Cos. Foundation will match donations up to $500K.

Target

Target will donate $150K for community relief efforts. The retailer will provide gift cards, food donations to community partners and cash and in-kind product donations to nonprofit partners. Target, which has 11 stores in the impacted region, has also been quickly restocking highly requested items like water, batteries, flashlights, essentials, respirators and air purifiers.

Local Hotels

Hotels in the region, such as The Country Inn Santa Rosa, Hyatt Regency Sonoma County and Hotel La Rose, are offering rooms for displaced residents, the San Francisco Business Times reports. Many hotels are telling tourists to cancel reservations and stay away to make room for evacuees. Napa hotels, such as Meritage Resort and Spa, also have been offering rooms to evacuees at extreme discounts. Several San Francisco hotels, including Hotel Nikko, Westin St. Francis and Omni San Francisco, also are offering hotels at discounted rates for fire victims. 

Airbnb

Airbnb expanded its disaster relief program Thursday to include hosts in San Francisco, and parts of Marin, Contra Costa, Alameda and Mendocino counties. Rentals are available at no cost to evacuees, emergency relief workers and volunteers through Oct. 30. Over 200 hosts have signed up for the program.

Servcorp

Servcorp is offering free Virtual Office solutions and flexible workspace in San Francisco to those in the affected areas. Servcorp can provide Northern California businesses with an alternative mailing address and phone number that will be answered by a receptionist. Office space also is available at 101 and 555 California St. for displaced businesses. Businesses can email virtual@servcorp.com with name, phone number and business address for additional information.

Knotel

The headquarters office provider is offering office space at its San Francisco location at 972 Mission St. to displaced businesses and workers through Oct. 13.

Is your CRE company helping with wildfire disaster relief? Let us know and we will add you to this list.