Blairmore building repurposed to rental units

A long vacant commercial building near one of Blairmore’s primary entrances was repurposed into four two-bedroom rental apartments and a new pet food store, with the residential units set to be ready for lease starting Feb. 1, 2026.

Bruce Nimmo, writing on behalf of Greenmore Corporation, said the company led the redevelopment and now owns the building, describing it as part of a wider effort to reinvest in prominent local properties.

Greenmore is also the owner of the old Courthouse, Onemore Restaurant and other properties in the Crowsnest Pass.

Construction began in the spring of 2025 and was described as substantially complete as of mid-January.

In a written response to the Pass Herald, Nimmo said the decision to shift the former Bamboo Bistro and Black Rock Pizza building from restaurant use into housing was driven by both the layout of the structure and local demand.

“The property lends itself well to residential use and there is a need for quality residential rentals,” Nimmo said.

While the exterior was already considered structurally sound, Nimmo said the redevelopment focused on reworking the inside while improving light and livability.

“The building envelope is strong and so the project consisted of re demising the inside and introducing windows,” he said.

Nimmo said the exterior was refreshed and that new landscaping is expected to be planted in the spring.

The project also required coordination with municipal officials and inspectors, particularly because older buildings often come with surprises once work begins.

new apartments, including unit sizes, accessibility and in suite features.

“The units with 10-foot-high ceilings, range in size from 721 square feet to 1,200, all are ground level accessible, there is ample parking, all appliances are new, each suite has a washer and dryer and 8’ x 20’ onsite storage lockers will be available in the spring,” Nimmo said.

Alongside the apartments, the building will also include a pet focused retail tenant, with Nimmo saying the idea came together after a local business owner made contact.

“Tim at Paws Claws Hooves reached out to me as there was no exclusively pet focused stores in the area,” Nimmo said.

Nimmo said early reaction from customers has been positive, adding that, “Speaking to customers they are enthused with his new store.”

The addition of four new rental units is modest in scale, but Nimmo argued the project adds a different type of housing option to the local market, particularly for renters looking for a purpose-built suite.

“More supply is good. Diversity in the type of units available is also good. As is having high quality purpose built rental suites,” he said.

The site’s visibility was also part of the pitch, with Nimmo saying the building sits in the line of sight of a key entry point into Blairmore and can shape first impressions for residents and visitors.

When asked what he hoped the finished project would signal, Nimmo pointed to other investments underway in the community.

“An overall community wide momentum of revitalization including the Orpheum Theater, the Greenhill Hotel and more,” he said.

Greenmore also described energy efficiency work completed during the redevelopment, including upgrades aimed at improving performance beyond the minimum required standard.

“All HVAC systems are energy efficient, as are all of the windows and a significant investment was made providing insulation which exceeds code requirements,” Nimmo said.

Residents who want more information about leasing, the suite details, or the Paws Claws Hooves pet food store can reach out to the property owner or business directly, and anyone with additional housing conversion projects in the Pass is encouraged to contact the Pass Herald so the paper can continue tracking changes to the local rental supply.