By Noelle Edwards
nedwards@salisburypost.com
An apartment community off Julian Road celebrated its opening this past week in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception.
The Grand on Julian apartments have been functional since July, and they’re already one-fourth full, said Karen Minshew, marketing director for the apartments.
“We need more; make no mistake about that,” Minshew said.
Still, she’s happy that 40 or so apartments are filled.
Minshew, who has been in the apartment business about 20 years, said she thinks the apartments are priced a bit higher than normal for Salisbury. An 873-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment runs $780 a month, and the largest, a 1,549-square-foot three-bedroom, costs $1,005 a month.
But she said the amenities make up for the extra cost.
There are amenities aplenty. Every apartment comes with granite countertops in the kitchen, a dimmer switch in the dining room, walk-in closets, nine-foot ceilings and an alarm system. Residents can choose an apartment with a finished sunroom or a patio.
The apartment community includes a pool and sundeck, a high-intensity tanning bed, a movie theater with cushy reclining seats, a gym, a pool table, a poker table, an indoor basketball court, a clubhouse and WiFi in most community areas. In the future, a sand volleyball court, children’s play area, picnic area and optional garages will join the list. Plus a masseuse comes once a week, and residents can sign up for massages.
“Oh, God, we have everything,” Minshew said.
She said it’s been harder to break into the Salisbury market than she expected.
“I think the economy is affecting everybody,” she said.
The company that built the apartments, McClain Barr and Associates, brought The Grand to Salisbury because nothing here offered such amenities, Minshew said.
The company plans to draw residents from people associated with the research park in Kannapolis. Minshew said the location off Julian Road is well placed near I-85. In a larger sense, it is well placed between Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem, she said.
It’s not just about the location or nearby apartments, though, Minshew said.
Apartment owners are up against the $8,000 tax incentive first-time home buyers can get. Houses for rent also offer competition.
Still, Minshew thinks The Grand on Julian beats out the options.
It’s new, for one thing. Moving into a new apartment is like buying a new car, Minshew said.
“There’s nothing like it.”
And the amenities don’t just add value, she said. They reduce spending for people who would also pay for a gym membership, a pool membership, tanning services and movies.
Minshew’s job is to get the place filled up and on its feet before moving on to a new apartment community that needs her help. But in the meantime, she said, she’s loving her spot at The Grand.