Photos by Catskill Image

When Kendra Sinclair and Jared Vengrin toured a rundown motel, they decided to buy it and make it better than ever. Now, they’re using that can-do spirit to breathe new life into the rest of the neighborhood.

The night Kendra Sinclair’s friends introduced her to her future husband, Jared Vengrin, she checked him out—never guessing they’d someday handle literal checkouts as co-owners of a motel. She was instantly attracted. “I liked his booming voice,” she remembers. After graduating from college in Canada, the couple lived in Austin, then San Francisco. Both times, they renovated their properties. In 2018, a year after getting married, they moved to Brooklyn, chasing their dream of New York living.

But when Covid hit, working in a small condo became a low-key nightmare. Their jobs—Sinclair is in financial tech, Vengrin is an engineering recruiter—meant overlapping calls. Vengrin’s ‘booming voice’ dominated. “I had a signal for ‘Please turn down the volume,’” says Sinclair. Their thoughts turned to Red Hook, where Vengrin had grown up. As frequent visitors, they adored its scenic pastures and mountain views. “We knew it would be amazing to have more space, and we had the time to take on a construction project,” she recalls. Within months, they’d bought a single-bathroom fishing cabin in town. Working alongside plumbers, electricians, and other pros, “we spent about a year renovating it,” says Sinclair. They consolidated the cabin’s tiny bedrooms into three roomy ones, plus added a second bathroom.

Then a new challenge appeared. “Jared had the crazy idea to look at a dilapidated motel for sale,” she says. The property, the Hearthstone Motel, had always intrigued him. “My school bus drove past it,” he explains. Travelers knew it too and had thrown shade online. (One called it “The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Hotel.”) But, Vengrin says, “there was real opportunity.”

This time, the reno took just over a year. As before, they left tasks like plumbing and electrical work to pros, while handling others, like painting, themselves. In January, the newly christened Reclaimed Motel, a boutique property, opened. Each of its eight unique rooms feature a record player and vintage décor. One has an old Metro North timetable sign, for instance, while another is themed around a bank robber who hid out at the motel in the 1970s.

A bedroom at Reclaimed Motel

Now, the couple is working to get more people checked in to Red Hook. Sinclair is on the board of The Daily Catch, a local non-profit newspaper (founded in 2021) and has joined the Chamber of Commerce. “I’m excited about the concentration of local businesses run by women,” says Sinclair. “There’s The Crows Nest, a gorgeous home goods store; The Corner Counter, which is a cheese shop and eatery; and The Red Hook Stationery Company. Verse Work/Shop, a design store, is run by two sisters.” She also wants to help other nonprofits flourish. Thanks to a stint at Meta helping charities promote themselves through Facebook and Instagram, she’s got mad skills. “I hope to organize a social impact summit where I’ll host experts in the nonprofit space at the motel for free, and facilitate educational conversations with our local causes,” adds Sinclair.

Vengrin always encourages pals to attend the fundraising dinners held by Historic Red Hook, the town’s historical society. “I like to bring along friends who maybe aren’t as aware of community events like this,” he says. In June, he partnered with Sinclair to host a booth at the Red Hook Then and Now Festival, which celebrates the town’s past and present and draws both tourists and locals. Their display featured original and current pictures of the motel.

The Reclaimed Motel is a tasteful blend of modern and vintage.

In their spare time, Sinclair and Vengrin enjoy hiking and events at Bard College’s Fisher Center. They also love owning Red Hook’s hottest place to stay. In July, they had a ribbon cutting. “It symbolized opening our doors to the broader community,” says Vengrin. “So many people wanted to tour the motel.” The event also raised funds for a local farm that suffered a barn fire.

As for the ways Red Hook will continue to change, Vengrin hopes for an emphasis on supporting local farmers. Sinclair predicts the economy will rev up even more. “Every time you see something that’s fallen into disrepair or feels like it’s been forgotten, and then new life is brought into it, to me feels like the future of Red Hook,” she says.

Related: Where to Play Pickleball in the Hudson Valley

The post Reclaimed Motel Is All About Boutique Stays in Crimson Hook appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Volwood management has acquired 25 Orinda Way, a Class A office building in Orinda, California, a suburb of San Francisco. Property on Long Market partner sold the asset for $12.8 million with the support of JLL.

Completed in 1974, the three-story, 28,931-square-foot boutique office building was renovated in 2018 and now features an upgraded HVAC system and lighting. 25 Orinda Way was 91 percent leased at the time of sale.

The property is located in the Layafette Orinda submarket, 9 miles outside of Oakland and approximately 17 miles from downtown San Francisco. The property is near Route 24 and the Orinda subway station for easy access to the Bay Area.

Senior Director Erik Hanson, Senior Managing Director Rob Hielscher, Senior Director David Dokko, Managing Director Adam Lasoff, Associate Mike Matera and Analyst Caroline Reynolds led the JLL Capital Markets team working on behalf of the seller. Knute Bucklew, Head of Agency Leasing at JLL, provided leasing advice.

According to a recent report from CommercialEdge, office sales in San Francisco totaled $308 million in the first two months of 2023. The vacancy rate was 19.2 percent as of February, up 230 basis points over the year.

The post San Francisco Boutique Workplace Asset Modifications Arms appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

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Last updated 4 weeks ago

In contrast to larger, more generic hotels, boutique hotels are generally defined as hotels that offer a more personalized stay, a smaller number of rooms, and/or often have trendy or unique decor and amenities. Staying at such a hotel is a great way to add some unique, memorable flavor to your trip. Here are 7 such hotels in San Francisco!

The Orchard Hotel

This boutique hotel is located near Union Square and is a great choice for those looking to explore downtown San Francisco. Featuring elegant, classic decor, guests can also look forward to various amenities. Such amenities include an on-site restaurant Daffodil Restaurant and Bar.

Check Prices At The Orchard Hotel

Image: The Orchard Hotel

Cornell Hotel de France

This charming hotel is family-owned and operated, and is a great choice for those looking for a stay that will feel less corporate and more like a home away from home. Many popular areas to visit in San Francisco are within walking distance from the hotel, including Chinatown and Union Square. The hotel was originally built in 1910, although it has since been updated to offer plenty of modern amenities such as Wifi. While it doesn’t offer as many amenities such as on-site dining as some larger hotels do, it more than makes up for it in the quality of your stay, the attentive staff, and a great location.

Check Prices At The Cornell Hotel De France

Image: Cornell Hotel De France

Hotel Drisco

Located in the Pacific Heights area, Hotel Drisco sits just outside of Presidio National Park. While it is a little further from the heart of the city than some other options, it more than makes up for it by offering free car service to locations such as Union Square during the week, as well as a variety of on-site amenities. You can look forward to a free breakfast, fitness center, and complimentary evening wine receptions.

Check Prices At Hotel Drisco

Image: Hotel Drisco

Monte Cristo Bed and Breakfast

This beautiful bead and breakfast is perfect for those looking for a quieter home base to retire to after exploring the city. Located in a more residential area in Pacific Heights, Monte Cristo Bed and Breakfast is within walking distance to several restaurants as well as local shops, but a bit further from the bustling and busier heart of the city. The hotel offers guests amenities such as free Wifi and complimentary breakfast.

Check Prices At The Monte Cristo Bed And Breakfast

Image: Monte Cristo Bed and Breakfast

The St Regis

Here’s a great option for those looking for an all-around luxurious stay in the heart of San Francisco. The St. Regis offers both a convenient location as well as countless amenities. You’ll be only a few minutes walk away from spots such as Union Square. Guests may look forward to on-site dining, an in-room mini bar, and a spa. The hotel is also pet-friendly, for those traveling with animals.

Check Prices At The St Regis

Image: The St Regis

The Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square

This apartment-style hotel is perfect for those wanting all the amenities of their own home as well as all of the best amenities of a luxurious hotel. Rooms include full kitchens, as well as a washer and dryer, making this a great option for those looking for both an all around convenient short stay as well as a longer stay. Guests can also look forward to amenities such as room service from several local restaurants, fitness centers, and free private parking.

Check Prices At The Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square

Image: The Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square

White Swan Inn

Located in Union Square, White Swan Inn is the perfect choice for those looking to stay in the heart of the city. The inn offers some of the more usual amenities such as free wifi and concierge services, as well as unique offers such as an on-site library and breakfast baskets each morning.

Check Prices At White Swan Inn

Image: White Swan Inn

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The post Prime 7 Boutique Inns In San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.