New residents buy downtown business, rehab upstairs apartment into a short-term rental
By Victoria Gaither
The city of Rutland has a population of nearly 16,000; included in that number are new residents Brian and Calista Budrow and their two kids.
They moved to Rutland from Arizona last year, trading a hot and dry environment for a much colder one.
Brian, a carpenter, wasted no time looking around downtown Rutland and figuring out the needs in his new community.
“We are still fairly new to the Rutland community, but we recognized a need for short-term rentals downtown after my wife and I visited the area before making the decision to move our family here,” said Brian.
To that end, last year, Brian and Calista purchased a building on Center Street in downtown Rutland. Its two floors could serve two functions. The lower level would house Calista’s new plant shop, Green Spell, and the upstairs Brian would renovate to be a short-term rental.
Renters will be able to see what’s happening on Center Street from the balcony.
“The big drive for purchasing our building was an attempt to spark private redevelopment downtown. I figured that we could set an example, like the original community developers, that anyone can do it,” he said during a recent phone interview.
That decision was a home run for him (Brian was a former Arizona Diamondbacks farmhand, and to read his stats as a pitcher at the University of Utah is impressive!)
But buying an older building in Rutland is risky, “there are big risks involved, and it’s not easy, but with the right planning and support, any community member can have a huge impact by investing in the redevelopment of their town,” Brian said.
Many in the community are cheering him on. He created The Balcony on Center, an Instagram page of the renovated apartment updating with photos and progress.
Budrow admits that purchasing a new building during a pandemic was tricky business, with costs of materials and goods skyrocketing. “Prices for material have steadily gone up this year, and I expect they will continue to rise through April as manufacturers continue to catch up with demand,” he said.
Still, he can handle the curveballs; a few adjustments here and there, keeping his budget tight, and keeping his eye on the ball, his downtown investment is just what a growing Rutland needs.
Like most newcomers to Rutland, he feels grateful. “We’ve experienced so much positive feedback and gratitude for investing in Rutland. Since the purchase of our building last April, there have been a number of new businesses and building purchases downtown. It’s very exciting to witness.”
