New apartment complex built in lieu of commercial development

The company building a Holiday Inn in North Carson City has decided to give up on retail development after eight months with no takers.

Carson City Hotels LLC originally purchased the 18.3-acre parcel for $3.825 million to build a Holiday Express Inn, high-end restaurant and retail development.

Company spokesman Malkait S. Dhami said his firm has solicited retail business for eight months without success.

"We have a lot of money tied up in this project," he said. "We can't sit idle."

To that end, Carson City Hotels, LLC, expects to break ground on its 132-unit gated apartment, Dolphin Bay Apartments, in about two months.

Dhami said construction will begin after the Holiday Inn Express is completed in late October or mid-November.

On Broadleaf Lane just east of the Holiday Inn, the project includes a swimming pool and gym.

The apartments, which include one-, two- and three-bedroom units, will be spread out among eight buildings. The three-story complex will be completed in phases, and the apartments rented out as they become available.

The project should be finished by summer 2004. The company dedicated .75 acres to the county to widen Broadleaf Lane for the apartment complex, which includes 265 parking spaces and 20 garages.

The complex is on 5 acres, leaving about 11 acres for additional development, Dhami said.

"We're ready to build a high-quality restaurant franchise, fast-food restaurant or a small casino on the property," he said. "We have lots of ideas."

Originally from Punjab in northern India, Dhami was a civil engineer there for 33 years. He tried several occupations and locations after leaving India, first owning a gas station and convenience store in Alabama then building houses with his brother in Vancouver, Canada.

In 1996, he purchased his first local motel, the Carson City Inn.