SUNDRE – The first few tenants moved into the new Sunnyside Place rental units over the last weekend of February only a few weeks after initially anticipated.
Formerly known as the Parkwood Motor Inn, the building has following extensive renovations been converted into a 24-unit rental complex in the heart of Sundre’s downtown immediately south of the Highway 27-Main Avenue corridor between 2nd and 3rd Streets.
“It’s exciting to be able to hand over keys to the first set of tenants,” developer Andrea Warkentin told the Albertan.
Among the new tenants were Janice Benusic, 75, who since the 1990s had previously lived on a Cremona-area ranch working in livestock management.
With connections to Sundre, Benusic decided to move into town where she will be much closer to numerous amenities including the Sundre West Country Centre that she frequents to play carpet bowling and floor curling.
“I can walk just about anywhere,” she said.
In good health, Benusic still drives when she needs to but said, “I don’t mind walking.”
The complex has bachelor suites as well as one- and two-bedroom units. Benusic opted for the latter and she plans to set up her sewing machine in the second bedroom that will also double as space for storage.
“It’s a little bit steep for me,” she said when asked about the rental rates.
However, she doubted that she would have been able to find any other more affordable options, and said the space accommodates her needs even if she’ll have to downsize a bit.
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The rooms naturally vary in size, with the smallest bachelor unit offering approximately 250 square feet up to the largest two-bedroom boasting 1,200-plus square feet.
While there is a flat monthly fee for water, other utilities are not included and the going rate for one of the 12 bachelor suites is $950 a month with a limit of one person per room, while the seven one-bedroom units will start at $1,200 and the five two-bedroom suites at least $1,375 per month.
Although the first units were originally expected to be available at the beginning of February, there was a minor delay on account of the recent cold weather as well as availability of tradesmen.
“We anticipate the completion of the entire project will be by the end of March now,” said Warkentin, who is also a licensed commercial and residential realtor from Red Deer who partnered up on the project with Brenda Bastell, an Edmonton-based colleague.
As of the time when she spoke with the Albertan on Feb. 25, three tenants – all seniors – had rented a bachelor suite, one one-bedroom and one two-bedroom unit.
“All four accessible units are still available,” she said.
Some of the outstanding finishing touches on the units that aren’t yet available include electrical as well as interior trimming and cabinet work, she said.
“That’s basically the three trades we are working with to kind of complete the interior,” she said, adding there also remains another coat of paint to go on the stucco and some work to repair the parking lot.
“We’ll have a bunch more of the units ready mid-March, and then the rest will be done by the end of March.”
Warkentin said they will be looking to fill another nine units by mid-March and the last 12 later in April.
Motorists and pedestrians going by might also have noticed the former name of the motel remains on display, but the sign is slated for replacement.
“We hired a company to do it, a local company, but haven’t seen it done yet,” she said.
A grand opening could be held after all the work is completed later in April, by which time the weather ought to be more accommodating.
“Hopefully by then, the snow is all gone,” she said.
