70-unit condo hotel under construction in Seaside

Published 4:00 pm Sunday, December 31, 2006

Opening of the 70-unit Rivertide Suites Condominium Hotel in Seaside is planned in June 2007 – just in time for next summer’s vacation season.

The upscale condo hotel, located at 1^st and Holladay on the Necanicum River, will feature 30 two-bedroom units, 18 with one bedroom, and 22 studios. The luxury facility also will include an indoor pool/spa, exercise room, Great Room, Hearth Room, two conference rooms and the “Crow’s Nest” rooftop viewing deck.

Terry Bichsel, managing partner of Rivertide Suites and owner of the nearby Best Western Ocean View Resort, said the Rivertide Suites will appeal to people who want a place to escape to on occasion, but want to avoid all the hassles of maintaining a resort vacation home or condo.

Nearly 70 percent of the units are either under contract or “spoken for”, said Les Bick, a partner in the project and principal of First West Realty, Inc.

“All of the suites will be fully furnished and tastefully decorated,” Bichsel said. The quality and consistency of the suites will be maintained by the hotel staff. The units will be maintained and refurbished regularly. The owners will be able to simply enjoy their unit while taking full advantage of the rental program, if they so choose, he said.

All units come completely furnished with first-class furnishings, such as granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, plush carpet, tiled floors, pillow-top mattresses and duvets.

Like all condos, Rivertide Suites will be governed by an owners’ association with bylaws.

“The difference between our program and others is in the bylaws,” Bichsel said. “Our bylaws give the Management Company the obligation and funding needed to maintain the units. Owners need not worry about anything but enjoying their units when they vacation in Seaside.”

While local zoning laws do not allow unit owners to permanently reside in their Rivertide Suites unit, they can choose to have plenty of personal use time, Bichsel said.

“Unit owners may pick the time they want to come and stay in their unit for as long as they wish, but after 29 days (within the) year there would be some added charges,” he said.

The Rivertide Suites Condo Hotel’s location on the Necanicum River offers spectacular views up and down the river. Fourth floor units will offer ocean views, and the “Crow’s Nest” rooftop viewing deck will afford incredible sunset vistas.

E. Kent Halvorson Inc. (EKHI) of Redmond, Wash., is the general contractor for the project. Sue A. Whaley of Issaquah, Wash., is the project’s interior designer.