River Roost Apartments next door to Applebee’s in the 800 block of Camino del Rio in Durango is approaching completion with 47 units available for lease and more expected to be finished by early spring.
The project is located at the former site of Downtown Durango Inn that closed in 2020. The inn’s 140 hotel rooms and hotel manager’s apartment space are being converted into 141 studio apartment units in collaboration with Rotelle Development Co., the development company, and Guardsman Capital, according to a news release from Rotelle.
Scott Shine, community development director for the city, said in February that the River Roost Apartments won’t have rental restrictions.
Peter Rotelle, owner and CEO of Rotelle Development Co., said lease rates for the 47 available rental units are priced at $1,500 and he does not foresee units still under development to break away from that rate. The studio apartments come in two sizes: 267 square feet and 314 square feet.
The apartment complex was designed to cater to people with outdoor lifestyles and “boasts a host of chic, modern amenities which promote and complement Durango’s dynamic recreational lifestyle,” the release says.
Rotelle said the apartments are “hip” and carry good vibes.
“We’re trying to really bring together everybody that enjoys the outdoors and provide a really cool hangout spot and awesome rooms that are full-service in a smaller space with functional, multipurpose furniture that you can fit it out with,” he said.
A person who rents a studio apartment at River Roost Apartments is really renting the whole campus, he said.
A number of amenities are included in the apartments, including built-in modular furniture; a 3,000 square-foot community lounge called “The Roost” with shuffleboard, foosball and a pool table; smart home features; outdoor gear storage; pet washing facilities; and a hammock park, according to Rotelle Development Co.
Additional amenities include a fitness center, outdoor fire pits and grills, laundry facilities, a ski tuning room, bike washing facilities, and a coworking space named “The Henhouse,” the release says.
“We’re in the process of putting together what’s called a gear lab up front,” Rotelle said. “So we’ll have loaner backpacks and trekking poles. So if you have visitors come in from out of town and you want to do a hike or some outdoor activities, we’ll have gear that you guys can just check out and borrow from the leasing office.”
He said the location of the apartments is “killer.” The Animas River Trail and the Animas River go right by the site on Camino del Rio and the location is about three-fourths of a mile from the Horse Gulch trailhead, a “nice little warm up” for mountain biking.
“You couldn’t ask for a more ideal location,” he said.
The project repurposes the Downtown Durango Inn, an old, tired eyesore, revitalized it and turned it into a gem, he said.
All-new plumbing and all-new electrical work was done throughout the building, and Rotelle Development Co. worked with three Durango artists to create murals and art featured at the apartment complex, he said. And, the project is addressing the shortage of affordable housing in town.
“We’re filling a void there,” he said. “There’s a housing shortage and we came in and repurposed an old building to fulfill the needs of that. So it really was a win for the town, the residents, the local business owners, and employees and staff.”
cburney@durangoherald.com
