The Bluffs Senior Apartments at 135 DP Road has units available. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
A one-bedroom apartment in the Bluffs Senior Apartments is earmarked as a model unit to show prospective tenants what living could be like in the new complex at 135 DP Road. There are throw pillows on the sofas, a potted plant in the kitchen and serene lighting in the bedroom. All that is left to complete the picture are residents. Many units are already filled.
The Bluffs Senior Apartments were officially open to renters in January and Kay-Kay Realty Corp. District Director Stacey Deal said it is anticipated that the complex will be filled by mid-April. As of today, 15 of the 64 units are still available for rent. The complex contains two-bedroom and one-bedroom apartments. To be eligible to move in, Deal said prospective clients need to meet the affordable housing guidelines set by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.
She explained that for a household of one, the maximum income cannot go above $53,000 and a household of two’s maximum income can’t go above $60,000. Section 8 Housing is accepted at the Bluffs. Another requirement is tenants need to be 55 or older to live in the apartment complex.
As far as the rent, Deal said the rent for a one-bedroom apartment starts at $1,099 and the rent for a two-bedroom starts at $1,299.
The rent covers some utilities including water, sewer and trash. Renters are responsible for electricity, internet and cable.
There are some amenities thrown into the mix as well. The complex offers an exercise room, a multi-purpose room, a computer lab and library. It also has community laundry facilities; however, each unit does have its own washer and dryer hook up. All of this seems to be attractive to renters, Deal said.
“It’s going pretty well,” she said. “I think everybody loves it. It’s a really nice group of residents for sure.”
Todd Thal is one of those residents. He praised Kay-Kay Realty, which manages the property, and said the place is “99.9 percent perfect”. The only thing missing, Thal said, is a private golf course and pond fully stocked with trout.
With inflation going through the roof and apartment tenants throughout the U.S. getting priced out of their homes, Thal said the Bluffs’ model should be followed throughout the country.
On a personal note, he said, “This was, for me, a miracle.”
The whole purpose behind the Bluffs, Deal said, is to offer everything seniors need to live independently.
“It’s designed to be an affordable place to live and to have a good mix of amenities,” she said.
Also, its location next door to Canyon Rim Trail, a few blocks from Smith’s Marketplace and some downtown restaurants is another plus, Deal said.
“It’s good quality living in a really nice community,” she said.
Another perk is that the apartment complex is brand new, especially in a town with a lot of old housing stock, Deal said.
The place might be new, but Deal said tenants are encouraged to build camaraderie and community within the complex. Group activities are scheduled based on residents’ interests.
“We want to encourage that because developing a sense of community is really important,” she said.
To learn more, visit the Bluffs Senior Apartments website or call 505.672.7453.
The living and dining area of the one-bedroom apartment used as a model unit. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
The kitchen area of the model one-bedroom apartment at the Bluffs Senior Apartments. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
The bedroom in the model one-bedroom apartment unit. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
A common room in the Bluffs Senior Apartments. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
The fitness room at the Bluffs Senior Apartments. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
The library room at the Bluffs Senior Apartments. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com