New apartment era dawning

Colonie

A local property management company has entered into business with Century House, Latham’s well-known wedding and event venue, to build apartments on the property.

Sunrise Management and Consulting said Thursday that its investment branch purchased the 14-acre site on Route 9. The Albany Business Review reported the news Wednesday. Century House will continue to operate as a restaurant, event center and hotel while Sunrise develops apartments on the rest of the property.

If the DeMers family, which owns Century House decides to retire, Sunrise would propose tearing down the banquet hall and constructing a third apartment building. However, the 68-room hotel would remain and the original Century House restored if the second phase of the project were to take place.

“We look forward to collaborating with the existing hotel and restaurant/event center’s management to partner on a new living concept where we have shared amenities between the hotel, restaurant/ event center, and apartments,” Sunrise President Jesse Holland said in a news release. “We love the history of The Century House and want to continue to build on their fantastic reputation for great customer service and being an active member of the community.”

The new apartments will maintain the historical style throughout facades and courtyards but have interiors with modern amenities. Sunrise plans to add two buildings to the property, one with 58 apartments and the second with 24, and a courtyard to connect the two buildings.

The plan still needs zoning approval from the town of Colonie.

The owners of Century House said they are looking forward to the collaboration with Sunrise.

“Our location is ideal for residential development, particularly with all the new companies surrounding us, Colin DeMers, managing partner at Century House, said in a news release. “When I started talking to (Sunrise), there was instant chemistry between the companies, both having the mission of providing great customer service to our clients.

“There will be a synergistic relationship with the hotel, restaurant, and apartments offering full-service hospitality.”

The Albany Business Review reported that the estimated cost is $8 million to $10 million for the first phase of the plan, and $5 million to $7 million for the second phase.

Century House, an 1800s Federal brick estate house, was bought by husband and wife Jim and Dorothy O’Hearn in the 1940s. The family worked together to turn the home into a hotel and restaurant in 1949, according to the Century House website.

The family lived in the farmhouse upstairs and served guests meals in their own living and dining rooms.

But as the business grew over the years, the family expanded the property to add dining rooms, banquet rooms and the conference center.

More than 70 years later, the hotel remains a popular site for events and weddings.