A site on Pelham Parkway that was formerly a horse stable is now a cleverly branded luxury apartment complex.

The complex, called the Equestrian, is now open and Juan Sanchez is the first tenant to call it home.

"I remember as a child when my mom used to drive us to Orchard Beach," Sanchez says. "We used to see the horses here, the very beautiful horses."

Developer Mark Stagg's project faced plenty of criticism. The barn and stables had been a local landmark since 1962.

The former owner fought to keep developers away, but the land was sold in 2013 at a public auction. Today, the Equestrian includes a rooftop deck, gym and putting green, as just some of the amenities showcased at its grand opening on Friday.

A studio at The Equestrian rents for about $1,800, and two-bedroom units are about $2,600.

Sanchez says the changes to the area have come full circle.

"It's amazing how life changes, the world changes, the site changes and in this case the changes have been very positive," Sanchez says.