Claridge Plaza I & II | 78m |25 fl| Completed

[Deez]

Originally Posted by nomadic

the "Nate's Deli/Ottawa U Residence" project was cancelled about 8 months ago due to lack of $$

But Claridge owns the land on the east side of cumberland from Claridge Plaza

Cool...didn't know that. Do you know who owns the parking lot between the fur store and the hotel?

[harls]

I saw the crane there last night, it's pretty low. I guess they're planning on jacking it up as they go?

[harls]

Shot of the crane for Phase II:

[Davis137]

Can't wait to see PH II hit ground level or rise above it soon...as ugly as these buildings might be to some people, at least they are 25 storey's...which is better than being limited to 10 floors or less like the area around Somerset...

[Beatrix]

A lot of people I talk to seem pretty split on this development. At least in terms of aesthetics.

What is the general feel for them in this forum?

[jitterbug]

Originally Posted by Beatrix

A lot of people I talk to seem pretty split on this development. At least in terms of aesthetics.

What is the general feel for them in this forum?

I don't mind these towers, although there's nothing much to get excited about. I was hoping they'd be taller looking and more slender. Because they're actually quite wide, they seem rather short and stumpy to me.

Having just returned from a visit to Vancouver, I was amazed at the number of new condo towers there - must be in the hundreds just in the downtown area. And many of them are striking in their design - tall, sleek, slender. Most impressive is the brand new 60-storey Shangi-La hotel and condos. So if you compare this to Claridge Plaza or the condos at Lebreton Flats, well, there's no contest.

[Beatrix]

Yes, the "stumpy-ness" is definitely something I noticed as well. Especially from afar.

I'm not sure what kind of architectual style you would dub these towers as, but they are definitely not something to write home about. It seems like they would have been better suited somewhere outside the downtown core. Again, strictly from an aesthetics stand-point. I am aware we should be intensifiyng the core, but it would be nice if we had a bit higher standards in terms of what we build.

[Mille Sabords]

They may not be at the level of Vancouver's but they aren't bad at all in my opinion. Certainly one of Claridge's best projects. I like the L-shape; the rounded corner from the street is quite attractive, and I also enjoy the lighting effects they put on the facade both close to street level and higher up - it really makes the building stand out at night. While we are still "a ways away" from Vancouver-level sophistication, it's a step in the right direction - the building will age reasonably well and it will play its role in the urban fabric competently. The two major items of improvement for me would have been a taller podium with better and larger retail space; and finding a way for the complex to have SOME relation with the sidewalk on Besserer and the side street, Waller.

[Deez]

Originally Posted by Mille Sabords

The two major items of improvement for me would have been a taller podium with better and larger retail space; and finding a way for the complex to have SOME relation with the sidewalk on Besserer and the side street, Waller.

Bingo. I wish they had stuck with the original 3-storey podium design.

[harls]

Another cool shot from southfacing on flickr. (Nov. 22)

[Brooklyn]

What are your opinions of the big flood that happened Sunday night, Nov 23rd. We drove home to the sound of the fire alarm, blissfully ignorant, I took a hot shower and was then called out by my husband to view the waterfalls that was raining down on the stairwells of the 2nd floor (we have a good video of it if anyone's interested). A hot water pipe bursted in 601, and it caused water damage from floors 6-2 (including many of the units) and all the way down to the lobby.

And this morning I woke up to sound of the fire alarm at 6:40, and there was another pipe burst in the garage, but no damage apparently, so it was considered a minor flood.

I spoke with Christina Sonders and she has admitted that there has been three major floods (May, July and Nov 23rd, I know for sure because we along with many others were delayed move-in by the May flood, the July one happened to a number of our next-door neighbours and missed us by 6 inches), and a number of small floods, but she doesn't believe any of it to be an issue because it's normal to new buildings.

Is it normal really? And even if it is, is there nothing else they can do? I had suggested that they could authorize the lobby concierge (I always thought they are security guards but apparently they are not) to turn off the main water control or get someone authorized to do as soon as it happens, because the Nov 23rd flood happened for at least two hours before the water was turned off. Many units may have been able to avoid this damage if they turned it off say 20 mins in. But Claridge can't see to this what I believe to be a simple preventive measure and neither can Tarion. I wonder what else I can do or who else I can talk to?

[c_speed3108]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn

What are your opinions of the big flood that happened Sunday night, Nov 23rd. We drove home to the sound of the fire alarm, blissfully ignorant, I took a hot shower and was then called out by my husband to view the waterfalls that was raining down on the stairwells of the 2nd floor (we have a good video of it if anyone's interested). A hot water pipe bursted in 601, and it caused water damage from floors 6-2 (including many of the units) and all the way down to the lobby.

And this morning I woke up to sound of the fire alarm at 6:40, and there was another pipe burst in the garage, but no damage apparently, so it was considered a minor flood.

I spoke with Christina Sonders and she has admitted that there has been three major floods (May, July and Nov 23rd, I know for sure because we along with many others were delayed move-in by the May flood, the July one happened to a number of our next-door neighbours and missed us by 6 inches), and a number of small floods, but she doesn't believe any of it to be an issue because it's normal to new buildings.

Is it normal really? And even if it is, is there nothing else they can do? I had suggested that they could authorize the lobby concierge (I always thought they are security guards but apparently they are not) to turn off the main water control or get someone authorized to do as soon as it happens, because the Nov 23rd flood happened for at least two hours before the water was turned off. Many units may have been able to avoid this damage if they turned it off say 20 mins in. But Claridge can't see to this what I believe to be a simple preventive measure and neither can Tarion. I wonder what else I can do or who else I can talk to?

Does the condo corp not employ an on-site super in a condo that size? Certainly the super would be able to turn off water (or anything else) Generally the management company and by extension the super have authorization to enter units and what not in the event of these sort of emergencies....for the exact reason you mentioned: to prevent further damages.

I know at a condo a family members condo they have it in their rules that owners must have up to date keys on file and in the event they do not and management needs access to a unit doors can be broken down at the owners expense.

Sounds like there are a few issues to bring up with the board anyway...

[harls]

Didn't something like this happen at the Metropole a while back?

[Davis137]

Wow, flood action...craziness

That being said, at least you don't live somewhere like Locke St South in Hamilton, where broken watermains and other activities often had the entire neighbourhood under several feet of water...(No I didn't live there, but cousins of mine lived a couple blocks away, and went to observe).

[Skyway]

Originally Posted by harls

Didn't something like this happen at the Metropole a while back?

Yep, it was the main pipe for the sprinkler system on the 32nd floor. Now that one was a mess.

[Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

Does the condo corp not employ an on-site super in a condo that size? Certainly the super would be able to turn off water (or anything else) Generally the management company and by extension the super have authorization to enter units and what not in the event of these sort of emergencies....for the exact reason you mentioned: to prevent further damages.

I know at a condo a family members condo they have it in their rules that owners must have up to date keys on file and in the event they do not and management needs access to a unit doors can be broken down at the owners expense.

Sounds like there are a few issues to bring up with the board anyway...

The condo corp is not formed yet because none of the units have closed yet (projected closing date is Dec 1 at earliest, will most likely be delayed by this). There is a sup, but he works 8-4, and a property manager, but she doens't live on-site either. We saw her in the lobby talking after I believe about an hour and half after the flood happened, while people were stuffing towels and blankets in their front doors preventing water from going in, but it's no use since water was coming in from their ceilings and walls as well.

There is also a security guard on-site but I was told by Christina Sonders that he is not authorized to turn off the main water control because he doesn't have the skills.

[Brooklyn]

Also since this is the third major flood in under 6 months, those who managed to dodge the previous rounds are worried that it'll hit us eventually. Through the grapevine, we heard that it was largely due to the plumbing company Claridge employed that did a poor job connecting the pipe joints.

[c_speed3108]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn

The condo corp is not formed yet because none of the units have closed yet (projected closing date is Dec 1 at earliest, will most likely be delayed by this). There is a sup, but he works 8-4, and a property manager, but she doens't live on-site either. We saw her in the lobby talking after I believe about an hour and half after the flood happened, while people were stuffing towels and blankets in their front doors preventing water from going in, but it's no use since water was coming in from their ceilings and walls as well.

There is also a security guard on-site but I was told by Christina Sonders that he is not authorized to turn off the main water control because he doesn't have the skills.

No condo corp yet...so basically you are renting from a landlord providing crappy service...sounds like fun!

I am amazed they would not have an on-site super in a building that large....or at least a volunteer living in the building with an understanding of the mechanics. You definitely can not run a building that large without some sorta goto person oncall. It is just a must.

The complex my relative lives in is a twin buildings sorta like CP with the rec in the middle but the towers are smaller (and have a 70s design) I believe there is a super living in a unit on the first floor of each building and they alternate weekends oncall. There are copies of the schedule posted in some of the common areas.

[jitterbug]

Lived for 7 years in a townhouse loft condo and moved last spring to a single detached house in Greenboro. It's more work for upkeep, no more hassles with other unit owners, a dysfunctional condo board, poor property management, etc. Given the added cost of living in condominiums (what with the high condo fees), it will be a long time before I move back to this kind of dwelling. (btw - My single house is a very "urban" style of house, on a small lot, only 32 ft wide.)

[Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by jitterbug

Lived for 7 years in a townhouse loft condo and moved last spring to a single detached house in Greenboro. It's more work for upkeep, no more hassles with other unit owners, a dysfunctional condo board, poor property management, etc. Given the added cost of living in condominiums (what with the high condo fees), it will be a long time before I move back to this kind of dwelling. (btw - My single house is a very "urban" style of house, on a small lot, only 32 ft wide.)

Aww, but see, my husband and I both LOVE living here. We've met many really fun and nice people and made good friends with them, we get along with everyone on our floor extremely well, commute to work is a breeze for both of us (20 mins of walking for him, 10 mins of bus for me), meeting up with friends in the market is completely hassle free (no driving, no parking, he can drink however much he wants), we went clubbing at minglewoods on halloween at 1:30am for 20 mins just 'cause we felt like it...if only I don't have that fear every day when I lock the door and leave for work that I may be coming back to a flood...

More transparency and more helpful attitude from Claridge would definitely help ease our minds too.