Tuscaloosa Developer Transforms Master's Inn Into Studio Apartments

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A Tuscaloosa-based commercial property developer has transformed a once-troubled and blighted motel into short-term, affordable housing.

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Right Space Commercial — the current owner and operator of the former Master's Inn property off of McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa — is touting its efforts to redevelop the motel in a way that directly and positively benefits the surrounding community.

Located at 3600 Albright Road, the former motel has been rebranded as Flex Studio Apartments.

The former proprietor of the Master's Inn turned over the motel's business license to the City of Tuscaloosa in late 2021 after receiving public pressure and negative headlines regarding prostitution, drugs and other criminal activity at the blighted motel.

Right Space Commercial founder Richard Henry told Patch that his firm was able to get the motel rezoned for use as a residential property and a full rehabilitation effort was undertaken.

Even in that short time, he also said the call volume for the Tuscaloosa Police Department responding to the property has decreased astronomically.

"As far as the neighborhood goes, we really removed a negative," Henry said.

Henry went on to say that the target demographics for residents are those wanting something small and efficient, keeping in mind professions like travel nurses and construction workers.

"Our goal was to offer this kind of flexible product, with month-to-month [leases] or even a one-year deal, furnished and unfurnished," he said. "All of the utilities are master metered, so there's just a flat utility charge. If you're in between places or new to town, our rates are cheaper."

Utilities include water, power, cable, internet, and garbage with a $100 monthly fee.

Flex Studio offers one-bedroom, one-bathroom studio-style apartments, in addition to two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment units.

Henry also said Tuscaloosa District 7 Councilor Cassius Lanier was instrumental on the city's end in transforming the property for the better.

"I love what [Henry did]," Lanier told Patch. "He cared about what was on the inside and out. With great lighting and fencing. Our district deserves a safe area and getting rid of such a thorn in our community with a super upgrade like this makes me feel like we are headed in the right direction."

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