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Being the only senior assisted living facility offering fishing on the world-famous Kenai River might be just the hook needed to fill the big, new condominiums built last year in the heart of Soldotna's business district.

With sales of the condos off to a slow start, developer Randy Kaer said Tuesday, he has decided to fill a greater need in the central Kenai Peninsula area by establishing the project as a senior community, initially setting up one of the eight-plexes as a senior assisted living facility for 16 seniors.

The other units would likely be sold as senior independent living condominium apartments. Market demand would determine the percentage that would be assisted living or independent living, he said.

The complex has a total of 28 units, split evenly between first-floor and second-floor units. Each unit is 1,200 square-feet with two bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths, and each has its own laundry facilities.

The bedrooms are oversized at 12-feet by 15 1/2-feet and all apartments have walk-in closets, radiant heat and hardwood floors.

Kaer said he will need to apply for and receive state licensing for the senior assisted living building, "but right now, if people have their own licensed care providers to bring in the services they need, the units are ready."

Certificates of occupancy have been issued by the city of Soldotna.

With Central Emergency Services, the police station and the Safeway grocery and pharmacy across the street, and banks within easy walking distance, Kaer said the location is ideal for seniors.

"It's only a couple blocks from the post office and a short cab ride to Central Peninsula Hospital," he said.

Although the purchase price of one unit is in the $300,000 range, Kaer said seniors wishing to live in the senior assisted living units will be able to rent.

"Rents probably would be upper end," he said.

So far, one condominium unit has been sold and three sales are pending. Potential buyers have shown interest in others, according to Kaer.

As it happens, all buyers and potential buyers are active seniors.

"We're saying 55 and older, right now," Kaer said when asked what constitutes a senior.

"We're just starting to market (the condos) to find occupants," he said, adding he would manage rentals for those owners who choose only to live in their units for part of the year.

"Until we find out the exact needs, we will not apply for (senior assisted living) licensing," he said. "I have hired a consultant to go through that process."

Kaer said he also has been in contact with administrators of area senior citizen centers and housing facilities, who all have expressed the need for senior assisted living units in the Sterling-Soldotna-Kenai area.

"The Kenai Senior Center has a waiting list of 115," he said Senior Services Director Rachael Craig told him of the number of seniors waiting to rent apartments in the Vintage Pointe Manor in Kenai.

"There's a huge demand for this," Kaer said.

Additionally, he has contacted the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, which said it would be behind the project in terms of helping seniors arrange financing to purchase condo units.

"They've already said the buyers wouldn't need appraisals," Kaer said.

People interested in what he is calling "Classic Living on the Kenai," can call Kaer at 907-240-8963.

Phil Hermanek can be reached at phillip.hermanek@peninsulaclarion.com.