YORK, Maine — As soon as a historic lodge, the century-plus-old Albracca mattress and breakfast is coming into its subsequent section of life as a weekly rental accessible for $25,000.
Kris Lubanski and his spouse, Dole Phiri, turned the Albracca right into a mattress and breakfast two years in the past. They determined the construction, which opened as a lodge in 1891, would possibly lend itself as a high-end retreat or marriage ceremony venue only a quick distance from the harbor and a half mile from Lengthy Sands Seashore.
The seven-bedroom residence contains a few of its authentic ending and sits on 3.57 acres of land.
“Household reunions, weddings — persons are in search of that have, that privateness,” Lubanski stated. “That shall be a spot for them.”
John Man of Jean Knapp Leases, who works with Lubanski and Phiri, stated amongst his agency’s leases, the Albracca is at a better worth level than most. The property’s dimension and the standard of the restoration, he stated, lend itself to the worth tag.
“It’s a really distinctive property,” Man stated. “And there’s a number of historical past behind it.”
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Albracca’s winding historical past: From mattress and breakfast to luxurious rental
The Albracca Resort had its grand opening on June 17, 1891, in response to a newspaper article within the Cambridge Tribune from that 12 months. It had 70 rooms and stood 4 tales tall, owned by Edward and Josephine Baker.
It lasted 4 a long time earlier than it was practically fully misplaced in a fireplace with solely the chimneys left, in response to the Portsmouth Herald’s report in 1924. The loss was estimated at about $80,000, and a residence was constructed instead.
Right now, the construction is 7,062 sq. ft with two tales in a colonial type with a essential constructing and two hooked up smaller buildings. It was divided into three residences when Lubanksi and Phiri purchased it in 2020. They paid $2,619,000, in response to city data, and proceeded to make it a single residence as soon as once more.
Lubanski stated he heard one other potential purchaser of the property was all in favour of growing the land into one thing larger. He stated he contemplated that possibility as properly, however believed it might waste the property’s magnificence.
“I like the garden,” Lubanski stated. “It prices me an excessive amount of to keep up, but it surely’s an ideal garden.”
After main renovations, Lubanski and Phiri opened the Albracca Mattress and Breakfast in 2021. The work concerned eradicating the additional kitchens, tearing down partitions, and transferring a number of the doorways to make the constructing really feel like a single-family residence.
The work was difficult and took creativity, partly for its surprises. Any wall torn down may reveal a shock that meant extra work, Lubanski stated. He stated he loved the method of sustaining the house’s authentic options whereas ensuring the brand new development blends in.
“Making it appear to be nothing was executed to it,” Lubanski stated.
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Leases costing tens of 1000’s of {dollars} round Maine should not new, and Man stated different leases supplied by Jean Knapp can price as a lot as $10,000.
Lubanski and Phiri’s funding, in response to Man, is a giant a part of what brings the Albracca’s weekly rental worth level as much as $25,000. Along with hiring contractors, Lubanski painted a lot of the home himself and scrubbed its authentic flooring for days so it didn’t want substitute.
Man stated different historic properties with related retreat-like properties exist within the space, together with York, however nonetheless want vital enhancements.
The three.57-acre dimension of the property can also be a giant a part of the worth, he stated.
“This dimension, they’re powerful to seek out round right here,” Man stated, talking by way of weekly leases.
Nonetheless, the house just isn’t the most costly rental in Maine. An Airbnb was listed this 12 months at $40,000 every week to hire in Scarborough, Maine.
Man stated the rental market has seen rises in costs that need to do with inflation but in addition the rising recognition of staying in Maine. He famous Ogunquit was lately acknowledged by Journey Advisor as among the best locations within the nation. It positioned No. 9 on the web site’s Journey’s Alternative listing this 12 months.
“That has a big effect on issues,” Man stated. “The Canadian border is open, and people company are in a position to come. I’m simply seeing much more folks, much more bigger teams, visiting the world.”
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Albracca house owners seeking to take a break
The couple behind the Albracca stated renting the house weekly could be a pleasant change for them after two years of creating breakfast and tending to company every week. They haven’t booked any reservations but, because the itemizing simply went up, however Lubanski is assured the suitable prospects will need to spend their holidays within the historic residence.
Renting the Albracca just isn’t the one change that Lubanski and Phiri have made to decelerate. In addition they bought the Lighthouse Inn in November 2022 for $4.1 million city data present, which was a load off, in response to Lubanski. The couple has two younger youngsters at residence.
“Simpler life,” stated Lubanski, 43. “This can be a very demanding business.”
Phiri agreed about needing extra private time, however she stated they nonetheless intend so as to add extra properties to their portfolio. The couple met in Killington, Vermont. Lubanski is from Poland, whereas Phiri is from Zambia.
Previous to proudly owning their very own properties, the 2 labored collectively in hospitality.
The Albracca will nonetheless be supplied as a mattress and breakfast within the offseason, in response to Man. Lubanski stated that mannequin is at all times an satisfactory fallback if obligatory.
If the leases take off, Lubanski and Phiri stated they look ahead to spending extra day without work and having fun with the native seashores subsequent summer time.
“One thing totally different,” Lubanski stated. “Value a attempt.”
