Real estate firms give free San Jose space to kids-oriented nonprofit

SAN JOSE — Two Bay Area real estate firms have teamed up to give free office space in San Jose to a nonprofit that provides home healthcare for children with severe medical conditions.

Republic Urban Properties and Essex Property Trust have given away an office space to Coastal Kids Home Care, a nonprofit that specializes in pediatric health care services.

Getting free office space about two blocks off West San Carlos Street near downtown San Jose was a dream come true for Coastal Kids and its nurses and pediatrics professionals, according to Margy Mayfield, co-founder of Coastal Kids.

“It’s a beautiful oasis for my staff to have a place to drop in, sit, and take phone calls,” Mayfield said. “They are loving this location.”

The free office is on the ground floor of Silver, a 268-unit apartment complex at 333 Sunol Street in San Jose that is a joint venture of Republic Urban and Essex Property Trust.

The two real estate firms thought it would be a great idea to provide the free space to a nonprofit or other organization seeking a place to operate.

“The leasing office was not being used,” said Michael Van Every, president and managing partner of Republic Urban Properties. “We thought this would be an innovative way to activate the space and to help children.”

Essex has shifted to a business model of not staffing its leasing offices with in-person services.

“With our new business model, we don’t have to have somebody on site on each property,” said Anne Morrison, general counsel for Essex. “This allows us to put that vacant space to good use and provide it to a nonprofit.”

Salinas-based Coastal Kids Home Care serves about 650 children in Monterey County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County and San Benito County.

Founded in 2005, the nonprofit provides home care and pediatrics services to children with serious or life-limiting illnesses.

“It’s great what this organization does for children,” Van Every said. “We are trying to be as community-conscious as we can. Now they can have an office with a professional setting that they can rely on.”

Renting an office space this size would normally cost about $100,000 a year given typical market conditions.

“This is right in line with our values at Essex,” Morrison said.

With the Coastal Kids main offices in Salinas, the San Jose site can be a big help for nurses who might have to travel considerable distances during a typical day.

“This San Jose location gives our nurses and providers much-needed space to make it more convenient to serve their clients,” Mayfield said. “It’s a really lovely spot and we are figuring out all the ways we can use this.”

Coastal Kids began using the free office space earlier this year, according to Mayfield, who is executive director of the nonprofit.

“Prior to this, our people were pulling over by the side of the road to make phone calls,” Mayfield said. “Having what we need on the road is always a challenge for our nurses. Many of our clients are in Santa Clara County.”

The donated space is well-stocked with what a small office requires, according to Mayfield.

“This location already has office supplies, equipment and even private offices for meetings,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield recalled how she was talking with Van Every about how convenient it would be for Coastal Kids to have access to an office in addition to the Salinas headquarters.

Van Every suggested giving the 333 Sunol ground-floor office to Coastal Kids for free.

“I was shocked, absolutely shocked,” Mayfield said. “I literally said it would be great to just have a place with a desk and a chair. Then Republic Urban said they wanted to donate this entire office to us. We couldn’t believe it. Who does that anymore?”