Hudson Park | 17 fl | Completed (Phase I)| 19 fl | Completed (Phase II) - Page 47

Tor2Ott · #**921** Posted **May 16, 2009, 11:36 PM**

jOttawa, I am curious as to why you keep looking at units, and only at Hudson Park. Are you looking to buy? Charlesfort does not allow units to be sold until a year after closing. Are you looking to rent? It's been two months since your first post. Normally takes one less time to find a place. You have 3 posts thus far, and all concerning deficiencies you found in HP. It is starting to look like you just signed up for this forum to talk down the building.

With regards to the unit, the thinner granite and apartment-size fridge is Charlesfort standard finish. It would be an upgrade to have a thicker countertop and a larger fridge.

My PDI is on Wednesday, closing on the following Monday. Hopefully, there won't be any major deficiencies.

jtOttawa · #**922** Posted **May 17, 2009, 2:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tor2Ott

jOttawa, I am curious as to why you keep looking at units, and only at Hudson Park. Are you looking to buy? Charlesfort does not allow units to be sold until a year after closing. Are you looking to rent? It's been two months since your first post. Normally takes one less time to find a place. You have 3 posts thus far, and all concerning deficiencies you found in HP. It is starting to look like you just signed up for this forum to talk down the building.

With regards to the unit, the thinner granite and apartment-size fridge is Charlesfort standard finish. It would be an upgrade to have a thicker countertop and a larger fridge.

My PDI is on Wednesday, closing on the following Monday. Hopefully, there won't be any major deficiencies.

No, Tor2Ott, I don't mean to talk down the building. That's why I keep re-emphasizing that I like Charlesfort's buildings, and for that matter, I like HP - I'm just disappointed with the units I've seen, especially compared to Charlesfort's past projects. Take a look sometime on the Ottawa Real Estate Board's website at units in the Gardens, the Glasgow, the Annex ,etc. and you will see what I mean. And I'm sorry, but an apartment-sized fridge just doesn't cut it in a $300,000 one-bedroom condo in either Ottawa or TO. And remember, HP is billed as luxury and priced as such - you shouldn't have to 'upgrade' to a standard fridge or thicker granite. The other items I pointed out are legitimate concerns as well - but again, as I said, I would very much like to hear other views such as yours once you take possession.

As for me, yes I am looking to buy, but as I am presently renting, I am in no hurry, as I currently rent for not much more than what the condo fee, taxes and utilities woud cost. The Ellington I saw was being rented by the investor/owner until he could sell, which as you point out is one year from closing or until all the other units are sold. The Lexington as I mentioned has come available again apparently after the first purchaser upgraded, and a second purchaser also apparently changed his or her mind - perhaps for the reasons I cited?

But all in all, my posts are just a reflection of the high hopes I had for what I think is a very beautiful building - that it is a shame that (at least the smaller units I have seen) are not up to the same standard Charlesfort has maintained in the past.

Norman Bates · #**923** Posted **May 17, 2009, 12:41 PM**

jtOttawa, thanks for posting your observations.

I too have a keen eye for detail, and have absolutely no problem paying a premium for it. It is the reverse, unfulfilled expectations of attention to detail - while having already paid the money, that irritates me.

jtOttawa · #**924** Posted **May 17, 2009, 1:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

jtOttawa, thanks for posting your observations.

I too have a keen eye for detail, and have absolutely no problem paying a premium for it. It is the reverse, unfulfilled expectations of attention to detail - while having already paid the money, that irritates me.

My thoughts exactly, Norman - except of course I haven't paid yet. I may still look at units in HP2 that have not yet been completed to see if I can get the finishings I want, although the remaining units are more expensive than what I had hoped to spend.

YOWetal · #**925** Posted **May 20, 2009, 8:08 PM**

[QUOTE=jtOttawa;4253851]
The Ellington I saw was being rented by the investor/owner until he could sell, which as you point out is one year from closing or until all the other units are sold. QUOTE]

Is this a normal clause for Charlesfort buildings? I haven't seen this in any other Ottawa buildings,leading to the usual onslaught of sales soon after closings.

YOWetal · #**926** Posted **May 20, 2009, 8:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicegirl

Does anyone know if there is a fee to be paid to the real estate agent when you list a rental on MLS?

Yes, I believe it is one months rent.

AuxTown · #**927** Posted **May 20, 2009, 8:28 PM**

Quote:

Is this a normal clause for Charlesfort buildings? I haven't seen this in any other Ottawa buildings,leading to the usual onslaught of sales soon after closings.

I don't know if that is the case for other Charlesfort buildings, but it is definately so for Mondrian. We can't sell our units for 1 year. I feel much more comfortable buying a unit in a building where the entire place isn't going to go up for sale in the few months after I move in.

Tor2Ott · #**928** Posted **May 21, 2009, 1:44 AM**

Please tell me again how to post pix. I've uploaded them onto flickr.

Thanks.

Zach6668 · #**929** Posted **May 21, 2009, 2:40 AM**

Get the URL of the image (right-click, copy image location in Firefox, or right-click, properties in IE or Firefox, listed under "location"), and paste it between image tags.

Code:

[ img ] http://www.flickr.com/.../image.jpg [ /img ]

Just remove all of the spaces.

Tor2Ott · #**930** Posted **May 21, 2009, 2:41 AM**

Thanks. Holy cow, that's a lot of work. Makes me appreciate those who consistently post pix for our enjoyment. Now it's my turn...

PDI today went extremely well. There is just one glitch (small area of hardwood flooring). Otherwise everything was perfect. After hearing some negative feedback, I was concerned and was expecting much worse. I went through the unit 3 times to make sure, and am very pleasantly surprised it was (almost) perfect. The paint was great, the floor, kitchen, bathroom were all amazing. My choice of color of the wall portion of the kitchen cabinets blend into the wall color more than I would like, but that's correctable.

The lack of bulkheads in the unit makes it a bit larger.

Cheers.

Zach6668 · #**931** Posted **May 21, 2009, 2:45 AM**

It really is a great looking building.

I love art-deco.

Woofer · #**932** Posted **May 21, 2009, 1:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach6668

It really is a great looking building.

I love art-deco.

It really does draw your eyes upwards because of it's sleek, vertical lines. And when you look upwards, you see these stylized, decorative details.

It is especially great looking in the evening, with the lighting of the top two floors on the north, west, and south sides. It is a very "classy" and unique building to downtown Ottawa.

It will look even classier with the two towers finished, scaffolding down, and everything is landscaped...by summer 2010...hopefully...

333fun555 · #**933** Posted **May 21, 2009, 5:29 PM**

Wow, what a view!!!

Too bad you didn't take some pictures of HP2 (I am itching to see the roof

)
Glad you didn't have any major problems.
Nice to see the kitchen cabinets extended to ceiling, and no bulkheads.

Thanks for the pix

[QUOTE=Tor2Ott;4260687]

harls · #**934** Posted **May 21, 2009, 5:52 PM**

Nice pix, Tor2Ott! that is an awesome view.

I've finally made myself come downtown for work today and snapped these - it's a scorcher out there today (30 degrees).

333fun555 · #**935** Posted **May 21, 2009, 6:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by harls

Nice pix, Tor2Ott! that is an awesome view.

Thanks Harls. Gorgeous pix. I was dying to see the roof

YOWetal · #**936** Posted **May 21, 2009, 6:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

I don't know if that is the case for other Charlesfort buildings, but it is definately so for Mondrian. We can't sell our units for 1 year. I feel much more comfortable buying a unit in a building where the entire place isn't going to go up for sale in the few months after I move in.

Interesting. In some ways it might just make the problem worse one year after closing. Then you have all the people that would have sold right away plus whoever decided to sell in the next year all selling one year after closing.

I lived in the East Market (also Urban Capital) a year after occupancy and always wondered why so many units were for sale so long after occupancy. This has now abated, but I know at the time it made some people nervous about buying there.

Tor2Ott · #**937** Posted **May 21, 2009, 6:41 PM**

[QUOTE=333fun555;4261819]Wow, what a view!!!

Too bad you didn't take some pictures of HP2 (I am itching to see the roof

)
Glad you didn't have any major problems.
Nice to see the kitchen cabinets extended to ceiling, and no bulkheads.

Thanks for the pix

[QUOTE=Tor2Ott;4260687]

Thanks. Too bad I won't be living in there.

I wanted to take more exterior pix. But I drove up wearing a t-shirt and it was 5C. It warmed up later on, but I was already on my way back.

Tor2Ott · #**938** Posted **May 21, 2009, 6:48 PM**

Beautiful. The Twin Towers of Ottawa.

Rocky1687 · #**939** Posted **May 21, 2009, 9:48 PM**

Anyone have a listing of the square footage for the units in Phase I? The HP website has available units listed, but show "sold out" for the units that are no longer available.

http://www.charlesfort.ca/hudson-park/floorplans.php

Etoile · #**940** Posted **May 21, 2009, 10:21 PM**

Great pictures everyone, no bulkheads due to being on top floor, wow! I don't see the kitchen cabinet picture? Where did it go, I wanted to see those huge cabinets.

Tor your unit looks really great, happy to hear you are satisfied and all went well!