The Village Squire — a downtown Redmond motel that has had a string of difficulties over the last few years — will have a second life in the coming years as new owners hope to renovate it into a 26-unit apartment complex.

While plans are still not final, the new owners hope to turn the blighted property into 24 studio and two 2-bedroom apartments that offer an affordable opportunity to live in downtown Redmond.

“The idea is to make it into something sustainable, something clean and something presentable,” said Haseeb Shojai, who bought the property with Moe Aria.

Aria and Shojai, two local business owners who have been friends for roughly 20 years, saw potential in the property, despite the motel’s less than sterling reputation.

According to public records, the Redmond Police Department responded to 68 incidents at the Village Squire between December 2021 and December 2022 — just over one incident per week.

The incidents ranged from fentanyl drug busts and theft to harassment and weapons charges.

Shojai and Aria own multiple businesses in Redmond, including the Saffron Grill and Shell gas station and food mart on 5th St. across the street from the Village Squire.

Problem property

The previous owner of the Village Squire, Ashwin J. Patel, didn’t live in Redmond and, according to Shojai, had no idea the Village Squire was in such a dire state.

“If it’s managed right, none of those problems will happen,” said Shojai.

According to Chuck Arnold, the economic development and urban renewal program manager for Redmond, the property had come to the attention of the city during the previous ownership. He said it wasn’t benefiting the surrounding properties and businesses.

“It was a challenge,” Arnold said.

Arnold spoke with the previous owners and he said they wanted to see something better for the property.

“They were done with it and couldn’t manage it anymore,” Shojai said.

A second chance

Arnold and the Downtown Urban Renewal Advisory Committee helped make introductions and found Aria and Shojai.

“Having a local owner that is literally across the street is going to make a big difference,” Arnold said. “(Local ownership) creates better success for everybody.”

The property sits at an important intersection between Highway 126 and Highway 97. It’s the first building many people see when they drive into downtown Redmond. Arnold said it is surrounded by other investments, both public and private, that have been made in the area.

But, the property has been on a slow and challenging course. In the end, Arnold said moves like renovating the Village Squire are long-term plays that can benefit the surrounding business community.

“We have a sacred trust with the community to encourage property owners to invest and take care of their property,” Arnold said. “Bringing that new energy is what it’s all about.”

Shojai said that while they realized the building has been a problem in the past five or six years, he believes with better oversight and management they can turn it into an icon in the heart of downtown.

“Especially for people who have grown up here, they know that building,” Shojai said. “We want to turn it into something that will stay a part of Redmond history.”

According to Shojai, other business owners in the area are excited and ready for a new life for the Village Squire, after dealing with consistent police calls and criminal activity at the motel.

But, before that can happen, Shojai and Aria have a lot of work ahead of them. Already, they’re taking out furniture. Shojai said they’re still in the design process but will redo floors, repaint and redecorate. They will also need to fix the parking lot and lighting and will hopefully make the property more energy efficient.

The duo are still in talks with the city about what they can do with the property and do not have an estimated timeframe yet, but Shojai said if they’re able to turn them into apartments then they will aim for them to be affordable for the downtown workforce.

“(They will) probably be one of the most reasonably priced apartments in Redmond,” Shojai said.

And the location is hard to beat.

Restaurants, nightlife, groceries, churches and multiple banks are all within a 10 minute walk. To catch any of the city’s numerous yearly parades, one would only need to walk a block to 6th Street.

“Everything is right around the corner,” Shojai said. “We think it will make a big impact.”