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

[danishh]

They have a tenant, it's the CIBC from across the road. No timeline yet on when they move in, the space clearly isn't ready for them yet though.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by danishh

They have a tenant, it's the CIBC from across the road. No timeline yet on when they move in, the space clearly isn't ready for them yet though.

That makes a lot of sense! it clears the way for their development across the street.

[solo748]

Originally Posted by OttawaCondo

Nothing really. It’s tight and takes a bit to get used to. Some spots are worse than others for sure. But once you park and drive every day, you get used to it quick.

Gonna assume you have ownership or exposure to Icon. Lived there for 4 months and did not meet a single person who felt there was "nothing really" wrong w the parking garage. It's narrow, tight, inefficient, and the spots are ridiculously small.

The brinks along Carling have been a mess for months. A total joke. The 1st level views into the work area are disgusting and unprofessional.

1 year and waiting to have the BBQ/patio area accessible. All these chairs and BBQs sitting there all summer and fall with the access doors to them locked.

An embarassment for a gym. You'd find a better gym in a 3* Ramada hotel.

I could go on. Just look at the miserable uptake on the dozens of units for sale, and the few that actually sell at a huge discount.

I'd estimate 50% of units are filled. If that place gets to 80%+, watchout. Parking garage, elevator waits, new construciton across the street. Could not imagine.

Came in there looking to buy a unit on the 33rd floor. Forget it. Buyer beware.

[Harley613]

I mean... It's a building that was built by a 3 billion dollar net worth family as their 'Icon', including their family home and head office, but they walk in every day for over a year with shredded tyvek wrap covering junk in the floor-to-ceiling ground floor windows and a mess of randomly piled interlock all around the base of the building that could be installed in A SINGLE DAY if anyone in power gave a shit. This building and this builder are kind of a sad joke.

[solo748]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I mean... It's a building that was built by a 3 billion dollar net worth family as their 'Icon', including their family home and head office, but they walk in every day for over a year with shredded tyvek wrap covering junk in the floor-to-ceiling ground floor windows and a mess of randomly piled interlock all around the base of the building that could be installed in A SINGLE DAY if anyone in power gave a shit. This building and this builder are kind of a sad joke.

100 percent. Saw a guy working on the bricks a month ago. Thought to myself 'good, that'll be done and cleared by end of day'. Came back 4 hours later, he was gone and the job had actually regressed.

What a complete sh!tshow.

I'm sure majority bought precon and are likely cash flow positive for now wiht rent. Few more rate increases and a bump in condo fees should send them underwater by the new year.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by OttawaCondo

I live here. Not sure why you think residents would care what’s in the retail spaces of there’s no tenant

What about when there is a tenant? Are you hoping to bank with whatever of the big 5 inevitably moves in there?

Kidding aside...

I would really like to see more of the retail development as a whole under some or all of our new condo builds to follow some of the format that I have seen in North York.

They have these smaller rectangular type of units that are perfect for smaller shops and preserve some semblance of an older style retail frontage.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.7763997,-...7TKyXVgJsLs0B4A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.7755225,-...dCgdsRcN1cS6GRg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

The first link in particular is a great spot.. there are like 20 shops in a row with all different types of food and service. That is a 15 minute neighborhood to me.

[OttawaCondo]

Originally Posted by solo748

Gonna assume you have ownership or exposure to Icon. Lived there for 4 months and did not meet a single person who felt there was "nothing really" wrong w the parking garage. It's narrow, tight, inefficient, and the spots are ridiculously small.

The brinks along Carling have been a mess for months. A total joke. The 1st level views into the work area are disgusting and unprofessional.

1 year and waiting to have the BBQ/patio area accessible. All these chairs and BBQs sitting there all summer and fall with the access doors to them locked.

An embarassment for a gym. You'd find a better gym in a 3* Ramada hotel.

I could go on. Just look at the miserable uptake on the dozens of units for sale, and the few that actually sell at a huge discount.

I'd estimate 50% of units are filled. If that place gets to 80%+, watchout. Parking garage, elevator waits, new construciton across the street. Could not imagine.

Came in there looking to buy a unit on the 33rd floor. Forget it. Buyer beware.

I own a unit. I’ve been living here for almost a year and have been using the garage on a semi daily basis. Like I said, you get used to it. There are definitely more than 50% units filled. The garage is usually full.

This is all standard for new builds. I wouldn’t recommend a new build to anyone until a year or more after it’s complete

[ServiceGuy]

Originally Posted by OttawaCondo

I own a unit. I’ve been living here for almost a year and have been using the garage on a semi daily basis. Like I said, you get used to it. There are definitely more than 50% units filled. The garage is usually full.

This is all standard for new builds. I wouldn’t recommend a new build to anyone until a year or more after it’s complete

I don't live there but often visit for service calls in both common areas and inside individual units. OttawaCondo is absolutely correct IMO. One owner told me they wanted to buy another parking space but none were available other than a couple electric charging spaces for a premium cost. I don't know the cost but guessing 10 to 20k above the regular price whatever that was/is. He or she is also correct about allowing construction to finish before moving in. I see it all the time that someone is hot and bothered to get into a new highrise yet they don's have a finished corridor, the elevators are lined with plywood, and chippers or other tools are going all day until the building is topped out for move ins.

solo748 is correct about the parking. Some spots are retarded yet others are great. Luck of the draw I guess.

Interlock around the building is supposed to be done before snow. In fairness this wasn't Claridge ignoring it. It was a trade issue in getting the project done.

Gym I can't comment on. I don't know what makes for a good gym. All I know is it is being used by multiple people anytime I go there which is a bit a pain for what I need to do.

Units for sale? You know the condo market has recently crashed right? There are only two units left for sale from Claridge in the entire building. A very large one and a tiny one. All others are investors or people that have had life situation change since they bought.

Besides... Claridge head office will be located there in about a month so you can just go downstairs in your pajama pants and bunny slippers to complain.

[little italian]

These clowns have finally finished the interlock... only to install a bank of bike racks in the middle of the side walk.

[shelltime]

Well I mean, and hear me out here, you could just walk around them.


P.S. Elgin, Beechwood, Dalouhsie all have bike racks a metre off the curb...Its just where they go. The Arch just makes it awkward here.

[little italian]

Well I mean, and hear me out here, they could just place the bike racks where they are not an obstacle to everyone.

Add bikes to that rack, and there is even less space to go around. As for those in wheelchairs, pushing strollers...

[jitterbug]

Originally Posted by little italian

Well I mean, and hear me out here, they could just place the bike racks where they are not an obstacle to everyone.

Add bikes to that rack, and there is even less space to go around. As for those in wheelchairs, pushing strollers...

Why would anyone with half a brain put bike racks in the middle of a sidewalk?! I suspect they will need to be moved before long. And must they be so ugly looking? This building looks cheap from the ground to the penthouse.

[vtecyo]

As you can see from the location on Google streetview - there's absolutely no room to move them closer to the building.

Nope, none. Not a square centimeter of space available anywhere.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by vtecyo

As you can see from the location on Google streetview - there's absolutely no room to move them closer to the building.

Nope, none. Not a square centimeter of space available anywhere.

I will never ever forget Ottawa's Tallest Building, occupied by the head office and patriarch of one of Ottawa's Richest Familes, having jumbled piles of interlock around it's base, and it's corner window covered in lopsided shredded tyvek sheeting covering shelves full of garbage, for over a year.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by little italian

These clowns have finally finished the interlock... only to install a bank of bike racks in the middle of the side walk.

They could have at least lined them up with the post of the welcome sign/traffic light boxes. Why is it so hard to get things done right? Better yet, they could have done them around the curved wall, away from the sidewalk.

[waterloowarrior]

The original plans had the bike racks closer to the wall athe the main commercial and residential entrances
http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%...0Preston%20-%20Architectural%20Study.PDF

[Spoonsy]

Originally Posted by shelltime

Well I mean, and hear me out here, you could just walk around them.


P.S. Elgin, Beechwood, Dalouhsie all have bike racks a metre off the curb...Its just where they go. The Arch just makes it awkward here.

found neil malholtra's account

[GeoNerd]

Originally Posted by Spoonsy

found neil malholtra's account

[GeoNerd]

This might be one of the dumbest installations I’ve ever seen. Sure there is technically room to “walk around” them now when empty. What happens when people start actually using them? What happens to someone in a wheelchair?? How is the sidewalk plowed??? I think these will be getting removed asap.

[zzptichka]

Those 3 tiny screws holding this bike rack are pretty funny.