A ROOM IN HISTORY
After two years, work finally set to begin on unique, historic downtown Alma hotel
Work is set to begin on a new downtown Alma hotel.
The nine-bedroom 3One3 Boutique Hotel will occupy the lower level of an historic downtown building with eight second floor loft apartments above.
Two years after purchasing a historic downtown Alma building, developer Ryan Smith, owner of Gemini Capital Management in Breckenridge, is set to begin work on a $2.5 million reconstruction project.
Smith bought the 118-yearold structure at 313 N. State St. in February 2019. It was originally home to the Odd Fellows Temple but has housed numerous businesses over the years.
“We are extremely excited to begin construction next month and we are looking forward to reactivating this wonderful historic building,” Smith said.
“We decided to take on this project because it fits with our goal of restoring and building amazing spaces in our local community. We want to be the leaders and the lead developer within the community when it comes to projects like this.
“We want to prove that we can have amazing spaces to live and work right here in Gratiot County. We feel there will be a strong demand for the hotel as there are very few lodging options in Gratiot County and we hope to bring a new modern product to the market.”
Gemini Capital Management has a number of housing and retail projects underway in similar historic structures in Alma, Ithaca, St. Louis and Breckenridge.
It’s also in the midst of planning a large development at the vacant site of the former Alma Middle School.
The hotel wasn’t actually part of Smith’s original plan.
Initially he had hoped to attract retail businesses to lease the bottom floor.
However, Smith received “basically zero interest from anyone I spoke with,” he noted last year.
That’s when he got the idea for a hotel.
“Community members, business travelers and Alma College alumni often tell me that they wish that there were more lodging choices in Alma,” Smith explained. “And from there the concept came to fruition.”
The rooms will range in size from 320 to 540 square feet.
In addition to standard hotel amenities it will feature natural hardwood floors in the living spaces and ceramic tile showers in the bathrooms with solid surface countertops.
Modern technology has also been incorporated into the design, including an electronic self-check-in, and electronic building and room access from a mobile app.
The hotel will also be “pet friendly.”
Reconstruction of the 9,000-square-foot upper level will take place at the
same time and feature eight two- and one-bedroom apartments. A single unit, which meets American with Disabilities Act requirements, will also be located on the lower floor.
“We are hoping to be open for business sometime in November or December,” Smith said. “Assuming that we do not experience any construction delays.”
He’s already had a couple reserve the hotel for their wedding in 2022.