Mayor Ken Johnston presents a tenant with half off their rent for the month of January, on behalf of Shaz Bharwani (right), co-owner of the Baymont by Wyndham. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

88 NEW RENTAL UNITS

Downtown hotel finishes suite conversion to residential rentals

Dec 12, 2024 | 10:33 AM

Red Deer’s struggling housing market has gained 88 units that flew off the shelves after owners of the Baymont by Wyndham converted a number of their hotel suites into residential rentals.

Conversion of the suites began in 2021 and moved floor-by-floor up the building, with rental applications opening as each floor was completed, and the top floor was finished in July.

The completion of the suites was celebrated on Dec. 11 with a dinner for the current tenants, city officials, and stakeholders of the project. There was also a tenant draw for half-off someone’s January rent as a thank you for putting up with the construction noise.

Shaz Bharwani, co-owner of Red Deer’s Baymont by Wyndham, said the changes were made in response to a “softening hotel market” amidst a need for creative housing solutions in the city.

“We thought Red Deer needed some more housing options. We saw that a lot of the stock was a bit older, so that’s where we thought, we can offer something with our expertise as a hotel with everything included and provide that for tenants, [who] deserve that, really,” he explained.

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Bachelor suite (approx. 335 Sq. ft.) rentals start at $1,195 per month and increase from there depending on whether it is furnished or unfurnished, what type of flooring it has, or if you want to upgrade to a one-bedroom (approx. 720 Sq. ft.).

A converted bachelor suite with a murphy bed to the left and bathroom behind. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)

The rent includes all utilities (water, power, heat), as well as cable and internet, parking, and access to a small gym. There is a coin-operated laundry facility for tenants and extra storage available for an added monthly fee. All units also come with a television installed.

The use of the hotel pool is reserved for hotel guests only, but social rooms are expected for the tenants, yet to be constructed.

The gym, available to tenants as a part of their rent. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)

Bharwani highlighted other benefits to this approach, such as an added layer of security thanks to the lobby desk and efficient maintenance call response times.

“They’ve been flying off the shelf. When people realize the value that we’re giving them, it’s incredible,” he said, adding that there are only about five or six one-bedrooms still available.

There may be more coming down the pipe though, as Bharwani hinted at another residential project his team is planning.

“We have a lot of extra land, so we do have plans of possibly doing another project, 200 rental suites or so. We have some drawings and stuff done, but we don’t know when,” he said.

Mayor Ken Johnston attended the celebratory dinner along with councillors Lawrence Lee and Victor Doerksen.

“It’s always encouraging when you see this kind of investment in the city,” Johnston said.

Bharwani said the city assisted them in separating their utilities through a small grant and was very helpful and communicative during the construction process.

Anyone with questions about the rentals are welcome to contact Shaz Bharwani at 403-689-8786 or shaz@baymont.ca.

The living room in a one-bedroom unit. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)

The bedroom in a one-bedroom unit. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)