Claridge Icon [505 Preston St] | 143m | 45 fl | Completed

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Veggie

A couple from today:

I was told this would cast Dows Lake and the Glebe into perpetual shade.

[rumple-stilts]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I was told this would cast Dows Lake and the Glebe into perpetual shade.

It would be mighty tough to put Dows lake in perpetual shade, unless the earth's axis happens to shift of course.

[Arcologist]

Originally Posted by rumple-stilts

It would be mighty tough to put Dows lake in perpetual shade, unless the earth's axis happens to shift of course.

The height of this building might slow the earth's rotation due to atmospheric wind drag, thereby shifting the earth's axis.

[J.OT13]

Looks great on the first pic. Second pic, you start seeing the value engineering.

[Harley613]

Kitchener has a 146 metre tower going up right now. Ottawa is losing the race to a city of 242,000 people (575,000 metro).

[harls]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Kitchener has a 146 metre tower going up right now. Ottawa is losing the race to a city of 242,000 people (575,000 metro).

We are not close enough to Toronto, dammit.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by harls

We are not close enough to Toronto, dammit.

Yeah, that tower isn't even being marketed in Kitchener. It's completely targeted at Toronto investors, with the requisite tiny units, despite Kitchener being a solid 2 hours away at rush hour. I'm skeptical that one ends well.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by phil235

Yeah, that tower isn't even being marketed in Kitchener. It's completely targeted at Toronto investors, with the requisite tiny units, despite Kitchener being a solid 2 hours away at rush hour. I'm skeptical that one ends well.

I rode Via from Union Station to Woodstock three weeks ago during the afternoon rush. I was shocked to see a not insignificant number of banker looking guys riding home to Woodstock after work. Woodstock and Kitchener are both around 1 hour 40 minutes on the train from Union. That commute would be a special kind of hell for me, but with the cost of Toronto real estate, people WILL do it to save some serious dough.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I rode Via from Union Station to Woodstock three weeks ago during the afternoon rush. I was shocked to see a not insignificant number of banker looking guys riding home to Woodstock after work. Woodstock and Kitchener are both around 1 hour 40 minutes on the train from Union. That commute would be a special kind of hell for me, but with the cost of Toronto real estate, people WILL do it to save some serious dough.

Yep, and that is just the time on the train. You still have to get to and from the train. There is no chance that I'd be looking to add a 4 hour commute to my workday, but there were always a few who did it. Now they seem to be actively promoting it.

In any event, makes our condos look like a bargain from just about every perspective. Because I can tell you that I would pick a condo at the foot of Preston St. on Dow's lake over a condo in downtown Kitchener 100 times out of 100.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Kitchener has a 146 metre tower going up right now. Ottawa is losing the race to a city of 242,000 people (575,000 metro).

I did not know it was a race.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I did not know it was a race.

It sure as heck is to me, an avid member of a Skyscraper forum!

[harls]

Originally Posted by phil235

In any event, makes our condos look like a bargain from just about every perspective. Because I can tell you that I would pick a condo at the foot of Preston St. on Dow's lake over a condo in downtown Kitchener 100 times out of 100.

I bought a condo on the plateau in Gatineau for 155k in 2019.

Going by the amount of junk mail from realtors I get on a daily basis, I think I could turn a tiny bit of profit.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by harls

I bought a condo on the plateau in Gatineau for 155k in 2019.

Going by the amount of junk mail from realtors I get on a daily basis, I think I could turn a tiny bit of profit.

So you'll be retiring any day now?

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by harls

I bought a condo on the plateau in Gatineau for 155k in 2019.

Going by the amount of junk mail from realtors I get on a daily basis, I think I could turn a tiny bit of profit.

A friend bought a one bedroom in East Market Lofts in the Byward Market for $130,000 during the pre-construction sale. I often think about how crazy the market (housing market, although I suppose I could also be referring to 'The Byward Market' in the 'crazy' context ) has become since that project started, which was really the first condo project of the modern era in this city.

[GeoNerd]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Kitchener has a 146 metre tower going up right now. Ottawa is losing the race to a city of 242,000 people (575,000 metro).

Have you ever been to Kitchener-Waterloo? That place sucks! Maybe we should just let them have it for a bit.

[McKellarDweller]

Originally Posted by GeoNerd

Have you ever been to Kitchener-Waterloo? That place sucks!

Mostly it does suck!. Though I do occasionally stop into Legacy Greens on my way through town - a great little boutique farm-to-table store in downtown Kitchener that happens to be run by my high school crush. (PS - yeah, I am wayyy off topic )

[solo748]

Can any of the Icon residents/experts help me with a few questions :
1. Are balconies accessible at this time? If not, has an ETA been given?
2. Any insignt into party room? Hard to book? Cost to book?
3. Hydro cost approx? Any recent bills as a data point?
4. Is the pool/sauna/gym open?

Any experiences would be appreciated. Thank you

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by solo748

Can any of the Icon residents/experts help me with a few questions :
1. Are balconies accessible at this time? If not, has an ETA been given?
2. Any insignt into party room? Hard to book? Cost to book?
3. Hydro cost approx? Any recent bills as a data point?
4. Is the pool/sauna/gym open?

Any experiences would be appreciated. Thank you

Welcome to the forum

I'm sure that you'll get some answers here.

[intj]

Originally Posted by solo748

Can any of the Icon residents/experts help me with a few questions :
1. Are balconies accessible at this time? If not, has an ETA been given?
2. Any insignt into party room? Hard to book? Cost to book?
3. Hydro cost approx? Any recent bills as a data point?
4. Is the pool/sauna/gym open?

Any experiences would be appreciated. Thank you

Hi, I'm a resident living in a 2-bedroom at the Icon.

1. Are balconies accessible at this time? If not, has an ETA been given?

I'm not sure how it is for units with their own individual balcony, but my own balcony isn't accessible yet as they need to get a divider to separate my half of the balcony from the neighbour's. No ETA yet.

2. Any insight into party room? Hard to book? Cost to book?

I haven't booked the party room yet, but the booking system in general seems easy (I've booked the Theatre Room and the Guest Room in the past, plus the pool, sauna and gym). The Party rooms can be booked at a rate of $150 per reservation for Party Room 1, and $100 per reservation for Party Room 2.

3. Hydro cost approx? Any recent bills as a data point?

Approximate hydro cost has been $60 for my unit.

4. Is the pool/sauna/gym open?

Yes, the pool, sauna and gym are all open. They are pretty cool too; the pool has 270 degree views, the gym overlooks Dows Lake, and even the sauna has a window overlooking Commissioners Park.

[solo748]

Originally Posted by intj

Hi, I'm a resident living in a 2-bedroom at the Icon.

1. Are balconies accessible at this time? If not, has an ETA been given?

I'm not sure how it is for units with their own individual balcony, but my own balcony isn't accessible yet as they need to get a divider to separate my half of the balcony from the neighbour's. No ETA yet.

2. Any insight into party room? Hard to book? Cost to book?

I haven't booked the party room yet, but the booking system in general seems easy (I've booked the Theatre Room and the Guest Room in the past, plus the pool, sauna and gym). The Party rooms can be booked at a rate of $150 per reservation for Party Room 1, and $100 per reservation for Party Room 2.

3. Hydro cost approx? Any recent bills as a data point?

Approximate hydro cost has been $60 for my unit.

4. Is the pool/sauna/gym open?

Yes, the pool, sauna and gym are all open. They are pretty cool too; the pool has 270 degree views, the gym overlooks Dows Lake, and even the sauna has a window overlooking Commissioners Park.

Thank you very much for taking the time. Sorry, a few other questions please

1. Has there been ANY communicaiton re balcony? ie, we taking weeks? months??
2. Is the $100/150 fee just for the space? Was availability scarce?
3. Thank you.
4. You mention pool/gym/sauna - Do those each have to be booked too? Assumed you could just go lift weights or swim at your leisure.

I saw a few pages back you're happy with your scene there. Great to see that. Thanks again