Sage Investment Group plans to close on the sale of the Motel 6 on Belmont Avenue in Centralia on Halloween, with the hope that in the following year, the building will be transformed into “nice, affordable” studio apartments, according to co-owner Emily Hubbard.
The company presented to the city’s housing committee several months ago, but was not required to do so, said Centralia Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston. Due to recent changes in state law, parcels zoned for hotels automatically became zoned for permanent housing, which removes the city’s authority to make decisions on the matter.
The building permit applicants were still “kind enough” to present their plans, she said.
Because of high levels of crime around the motel, Smith Johnston said she’s looking forward to improvements that would make that part of the neighborhood a “safer, more controlled environment.”
Hubbard described the plans for the building, saying there will be a gate around the apartments that residents will be able to open through an app on their phone for themselves or guests.
“It’s not subsidized, it’s not transitional housing,” Hubbard said, adding it’s just supposed to be “a safe place for people to live.”
She said this was an exciting opportunity to increase the city’s housing portfolio, and that their company was one of a few that are eyeing hotels and motels in the Twin Cities for such purposes.
When the building is nearing the end of an approximated six to 10 months of construction work, she said, 40% of the apartments will be pre-leased.
