Editor’s note: The article below has been clarified to reflect that Councilmember Marcia Martin said she believed Vivo Living could provide important housing for entry-level workers.
Standing inside the lobby of Vivo Living on Tuesday, Dan Norville greeted the more than 20 people who streamed into the former Best Western to get a sneak peek at the hotel turned attainable housing.
Norville, CEO of California-based Vivo Living, helped show people around during an open house. He pointed out the game room pool table, lobby lounge space and outdoor courtyard with a pool. He led people up a flight of stairs to show off the second-floor gym and soon-to-be movie theater.
Those who attended the open house included city leaders and Longmont city staff.
Vivo Living specializes in revitalizing hotels into affordably priced housing. The company has been working to transform the former Best Western at 1900 Ken Pratt Blvd. into apartments.
There’s still some work to be done before tenants will be able to rent the units as apartments.
Leslie Moody, who provides community outreach for the company, said the space is continuing to operate as an extended-stay hotel. Some renovations still need to be completed, but the project is progressing like it should, Moody said. If all approvals are granted from the city, including a certificate of occupancy, the anticipation is still that tenants could start leasing apartments at the property in 60 days.
“I’m excited that people have such interest, and I think they’re going to be pleased with what they see,” Moody said via phone Tuesday before the tour. “We’re looking to build further support for the property.”
The bed in a furnished studio apartment is seen at Vivo Living in Longmont on Tuesday. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)Those who attended the open house got the chance to see two of the renovated rooms. Vivo Living has 189 studios and 21 one-bedroom units. Tenants will have the option of choosing a pre-furnished or unfurnished unit. Each living space has a kitchenette, with a 2-burner induction cooktop and a 10.1-cubic-foot refrigerator.
Vivo Living bought the property in the spring of 2021 and began renovations in the fall. The former Best Western closed in October.
Rent for the available units runs from $925 for a “petite studio” to $1,500 for a one-bedroom. Due to a marketing glitch, Norville said, the correct prices were not reflected on Vivo’s website in December.
Twenty-six of the 210 units available will be affordable housing. Longmont’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance requires 12% of units in a new residential development to be affordable to low- and moderate-income buyers. Longmont officials will set the rental cost on these units.
After looking around the renovated living space, Councilmember Marcia Martin said she believes Vivo Living could Martin said she believes VIVO Living could provide important housing for entry-level workers. Though she wished more of the units were affordable housing, Martin said any development will help to fill Longmont’s housing need.
“I think we are done with the dream of single-family houses with yards,” Martin said. “This is a little bit like a walkable urban neighborhood. There’s a gym. There’s a picnic area. There are places to barbecue.”
Vivo Living is working with the city to complete the final steps in the project. This week, they will be meeting with city officials to discuss improvements to the site plan and answer staff questions.
Longmont Senior Planner Jennifer Hewett-Apperson wrote in an email that the project has been through one review by the Development Review Team.
In addition to resubmitting the site plan, Hewett-Apperson said the City Council on March 8 will consider approval of the Voluntary Alternative Agreement, which outlines how the project will meet Longmont’s inclusionary housing requirements.
To learn more about the project, including information on leasing, people can visit Vivo Living’s website, vivolivinglongmont.com.
A community room, available to residents is seen at Vivo Living in Longmont on Tuesday. Other amenities include a fitness center, game room, movie theater and pool. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)