Gotham | 53m | 17 fl | Completed

[Harley613]

I almost bought at Soba a year ago. I'm glad I didn't.

[gothambuyer]

I'd like to meet too. I'm not sure what the green wall is at Minto Place - is it an exterior wall?

[cabello]

Originally Posted by jcphoenix

Again...Ide, Orrd, and I will be at the Minto Place meeting at 5:30pm tomorrow if any other owners want to join us.

LETTER TO LAMB DEVELOPMENT

Hi Debbie,

Yes, I have a concern about this being the 8th delay since the first firm occupancy date of November 28, 2014.

I have a concern that I've been living out of a hotel for the past two months and going since the supposed week and a half delay back in January and have been leaking money due to Lamb Development's incompetence. At what point do you stop blaming every trade and the inspectors and own up and actually apologize for what your company has put us owners through?

I have a concern that your company has been completely horrific at keeping us up to date with each update and letting us know the status of the situation until the very last minute.

I have a concern that we're sent form letters that are exactly the same week after week telling us next to nothing and trying to placate us with insultingly laughable ideas like "We are working very hard to ensure that your suite is complete in a timely fashion" or "we believe there should be no more extensions beyond this one." That's been said for almost every single one of the delays. At what point do you just own up to the point that you are way past the point of delivering our suites on time?

I have been told by another owner that Lamb Development informed his lawyer that they will not compensate us owners for the Tarion amounts we are owed (and that's really a minimum, to be honest) on closing. That is frankly insulting. It shows your company couldn't give a — about what you've put us owners through. I'm not the only owner living out of a hotel right now. I know of an owner who is living on his friend's couch due to your last minute notices.

Please forward this on to Mr. Lamb so he knows just appalled I am at the way he is treating all of us who bought into his —, hook, line and sinker. He should be taking ownership of his mistakes and communicating directly to us owners, not hiding behind form letters and pointing fingers at everyone else.

Can you get compensation from Tarion?

[jcphoenix]

Originally Posted by cabello

Can you get compensation from Tarion?

We should be able to but there's a cap (I thought Tarion was supposed to protect us) that they've blown past probably 3x or more over. To be clear, what I'm referring to in that letter is their unwillingness to simply compensate us the amounts we are owed by Tarion, instead of forcing us to apply for it. From reading up, there are cases in the past where builders who have owed money in this way will work with you on closing to compensate you that money instead of making you go through the process with Tarion. It's a gesture of goodwill and apology on the part of the builder in cases like that but of course, our builder can't admit —.

gothambuyer - just look for the 360 Steakhouse and I assume we're meeting somewhere inside the complex next to that. I'm not sure where the green wall is off the top of my head and I'm living in the Minto Place right now hah, but I'm sure we'll figure it out.

ETA: I also had my meeting with my lawyer today to hand over the cheques, etc. We discussed a few of these things:

1. He also advised against going public due to "bad reputation" issues for our building and the fact that we still have business to do with Lamb as far as wanting him to sell the rest of the inventory in the building.
2. He also said there's not much we can do regarding compensation above the Tarion amounts - he's not 100% certain that there's no other avenues but based on his experience and without billing me for research on it, he thinks it unlikely.
3. The condo fee raise between purchase and occupancy is something we should discuss as a group and see if anyone has any input or knowledge on the legal aspect of that. It's also something he would have to research and bill me for if I wanted him specifically to go further, but it sounded like it's possible there's something there we should be looking at further. At the very least, we should all send inquiries to Lamb Development requesting the reason for the rise in condo fees and see what they say. I've already sent an e-mail but they're probably just going to do their best to ignore me after that last letter, given their track record.

[teej1984]

The green wall is on the inside of Minto Place on the Lyon side of the building. It's close to Rexall and the former Prime 360 and can be accessed by walking through the lobby of the old Minto Hotel. You'll know it when you see it!

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by jcphoenix

We should be able to but there's a cap (I thought Tarion was supposed to protect us) that they've blown past probably 3x or more over. To be clear, what I'm referring to in that letter is their unwillingness to simply compensate us the amounts we are owed by Tarion, instead of forcing us to apply for it. From reading up, there are cases in the past where builders who have owed money in this way will work with you on closing to compensate you that money instead of making you go through the process with Tarion. It's a gesture of goodwill and apology on the part of the builder in cases like that but of course, our builder can't admit —.

gothambuyer - just look for the 360 Steakhouse and I assume we're meeting somewhere inside the complex next to that. I'm not sure where the green wall is off the top of my head and I'm living in the Minto Place right now hah, but I'm sure we'll figure it out.

ETA: I also had my meeting with my lawyer today to hand over the cheques, etc. We discussed a few of these things:

1. He also advised against going public due to "bad reputation" issues for our building and the fact that we still have business to do with Lamb as far as wanting him to sell the rest of the inventory in the building.
2. He also said there's not much we can do regarding compensation above the Tarion amounts - he's not 100% certain that there's no other avenues but based on his experience and without billing me for research on it, he thinks it unlikely.
3. The condo fee raise between purchase and occupancy is something we should discuss as a group and see if anyone has any input or knowledge on the legal aspect of that. It's also something he would have to research and bill me for if I wanted him specifically to go further, but it sounded like it's possible there's something there we should be looking at further. At the very least, we should all send inquiries to Lamb Development requesting the reason for the rise in condo fees and see what they say. I've already sent an e-mail but they're probably just going to do their best to ignore me after that last letter, given their track record.

One disregards one's lawyer's advice at one's peril. In this case, unfortunately, it's too late.

[Ralphedelominius]

Originally Posted by teej1984

The green wall is on the inside of Minto Place on the Lyon side of the building. It's close to Rexall and the former Prime 360 and can be accessed by walking through the lobby of the old Minto Hotel. You'll know it when you see it!

Actually as of today you can't go through the hotel to get into the rest of the buillding, they've put in a key fob system, so the doors are barred to non-residents. You have to go in through the public entrances at either end of the block on Laurier or Slater sides.

[jcphoenix]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

One disregards one's lawyer's advice at one's peril. In this case, unfortunately, it's too late.

Is this supposed to be an admonition?

I don't see how this has gotten particularly public at this point. A few people have tweeted and there's this thread and word of mouth obviously but beyond that, not much is out there. There's still discussion to be had and frankly, I don't think we've come to any kind of a decision as owners. Personally, I take the advice of people here, from yourself to MattRichling, etc seriously which is why I'm proceeding with some caution.

My friend, on seeing my FB status update, took it upon herself to contact some of her reporter friends before letting me know but they're not going to go forward with anything unless I'm comfortable with it (if they even wanted to pick it up as a story). I told her I was going to discuss with other owners.

I know you mentioned getting owners together and seeing how we could work with the builder - well, our meeting today is a first step towards that, or going public, or something else. Unfortunately, we don't have a list of all the buyers in the building so we can only rely on whoever manages to stumble onto this forum.

Regardless, for me personally, the current issues stem from abominable communication from the developer resulting in my living in a hotel week to week not knowing when I'm moving in. That hardly has anything to do with the quality of build itself and I would hope people can differentiate between communication/delay issues with the builder and issues with the building itself years down the road.

[Manny12]

So I was delayed yesterday, but only 1 day to April 8th... I went from April 2nd to the 7th to the 8th... perhaps this is it? I know... wishful thinking.

[willdatsun]

Originally Posted by jcphoenix

Is this supposed to be an admonition?

I don't see how this has gotten particularly public at this point. A few people have tweeted and there's this thread and word of mouth obviously but beyond that, not much is out there. There's still discussion to be had and frankly, I don't think we've come to any kind of a decision as owners. Personally, I take the advice of people here, from yourself to MattRichling, etc seriously which is why I'm proceeding with some caution.

My friend, on seeing my FB status update, took it upon herself to contact some of her reporter friends before letting me know but they're not going to go forward with anything unless I'm comfortable with it (if they even wanted to pick it up as a story). I told her I was going to discuss with other owners.

I know you mentioned getting owners together and seeing how we could work with the builder - well, our meeting today is a first step towards that, or going public, or something else. Unfortunately, we don't have a list of all the buyers in the building so we can only rely on whoever manages to stumble onto this forum.

Regardless, for me personally, the current issues stem from abominable communication from the developer resulting in my living in a hotel week to week not knowing when I'm moving in. That hardly has anything to do with the quality of build itself and I would hope people can differentiate between communication/delay issues with the builder and issues with the building itself years down the road.

FYI someone from the Ottawa Citizen has this story and has seen this forum.

[Orrd]

Hi everyone!

I'm not going to be able to make it tonight - I'm so sorry, I was really looking forward to it. Could someone let me know about what you all discuss?

I really wanted to meet some fellow Gothomites and I hope we can all get together sometime in the near future. Maybe our next meeting will be Gotham itself?

Apologies for missing the meeting, I hope it goes well.

[Ide]

Originally Posted by Orrd

Hi everyone!

I'm not going to be able to make it tonight - I'm so sorry, I was really looking forward to it. Could someone let me know about what you all discuss?

I really wanted to meet some fellow Gothomites and I hope we can all get together sometime in the near future. Maybe our next meeting will be Gotham itself?

Apologies for missing the meeting, I hope it goes well.

Fellow Gothamite, you were solely missed! It was a first good meeting and most of us found the 'green wall'. I will let others to fill the void. For anyone who is reading this blog, please try to lobby to extend the elevator hours and loading dock beyond the 3pm to 8pm daily window by contacting staff at Brad Lamb Dev by email and the building manager using Bazinga (as a resident, it is the first step to be able to book the elevator along a 200$ deposit and a form to fill up).

It was also the majority opinion that it was not in the interest of owners or investors to go public about the frustrations that has built up against Mr. Lamb and the ongoing delays.

As suggested by Karma22, I will be looking forwards for the travelling housewarming party starting from the top to the bottom of the building once things have settled a bit! And to see the various layouts...

Nice bunch of people, Gothamites! And patient is the least one must say with all these delays!

[ServiceGuy]

This whole discussion seems to have gone silent. Interesting....

[Manny12]

.

[Ralphedelominius]

Originally Posted by ServiceGuy

This whole discussion seems to have gone silent. Interesting....

Our awful builder is watching, why say anything in here anymore

[canabiz]

Originally Posted by Ralphedelominius

Our awful builder is watching, why say anything in here anymore

That is really too bad. I hope they learned the lessons and do not pull the same stunt for SoBa and future projects.

Brad will get an earful next time he is in town for a seminar.

[cr872190]

So is it finally happening? Are people moving in today?

[jcphoenix]

^The current earliest occupancy dates for anyone in the building as far as I know are tomorrow, April 8th.

For any owners who have an occupancy date for tomorrow though and are wondering what's going on, an FYI - mechanical/HVAC inspections are happening in the morning with occupancy inspections in the afternoon. If both are approved, keys will be given out following that.

[MattRichling]

I was in the building yesterday afternoon, and the tile in the lobby had been grouted! Looked sharp.

[cr872190]

Can't wait to see photos of the building once you guys move in. Hopefully they are finally finished dicking around.