The Madison | ? | 11 fl | U/C

[raisethehammer]

Later.

[ihateittoo]

ahhhh... I can't wait to grow up and, when I do, realize that there is only one opinion out there and it is my own. Then when others beg to differ I'll attack the person or the ideas without any finesse or understanding. I will be an idealist and stubborn to my ways. I will generalize and catergorize everything rigidly. I'll claim that I want the world or even my local community to be a better place - but I will not concede or compromise anything. I will fight on the internet over personal viewpoints and somehow try to show that either my over-obundant optomism or my unmoving pessimistic realism is the true and right way - all others are dinosaurs or young minds out of touch.

ie. this whole thing is getting old on all sides.

[hamiltonguy]

Westdale is not downtown to Mac students.

Not all the Banks have Westdale branches, the movie theatre shows only a limited range of movies, the library is small, there's not that many watering holes, and the shopping for non-foodstuffs is expensive (ie. the Villager).

Most Mac Students do not regard Westdale as downtown, but as a neighbourhood area.

[rousseau]

As a regular lurker and occasional poster to this board, I'd much rather that it was raisethehammer that was taking a sabbatical if we were choosing among members.

Note to raisethehammer: You don't agree with BCTed, we get it. How about keeping your criticisms substantive and avoiding the ad hominem? I myself may not agree with everything BCTed says here, but I find him to be a valuable contributor.

[Ancaster observer]

Re. the Madison.
The floor plans would have been set when the concrete was poured.
You cannot go back and alter a building with 2 suites per floor into some other configuration. The mechanical costs would be prohibitive. They are stuck with what is there.
This building will be occupied someday, but it is possible that the price points have not worked. Mark the units to market, they will move eventually. Will it be a profitable venture? Time and financial costs eat returns. It was clearly foolish to build without pre selling. Purchasers can now dictate pricing, a profitable waiting game.
I reviewed the MLS web site for other high priced condo's in the Hamilton area.
The listing photography indicated empty units. If these are held by speculators, pricing will weaken by the month.
A call to the Madison marketing agent, Gilliane Shaver at Chase Realty in Ancaster might provide insight into the status of this project. Her web site indicates "only 20 luxurious apartments" Given that the building has 22 suites according to The Hamilton Spectator, if her site is accurate, a possible inference is the 2 mentioned in the press as sold last year might be the sum total of the sales. In the meantime she is representing units in Ancaster that are priced at a fraction of the Madison ask prices. The pricing is $270 plus a foot. (they are pre selling)
The building, The Stonegate has a web site that works by the way.
The skinny white haired gentleman might wish he was in Madison Wisconsin.
At least the name would work there.

[HAMRetrofit]

Ancaster Observer the floorplans may not necessarily have been set by the time concrete was poured. It depends on the type of construction of the building and type of mechanical system chosen. There is some flexibility from my experience in condos where the interior walls are non load bearing. In near grade units some flexibility is often designed in to revise units based on sales. Cost of revision is prohibitive, but in this case the developers were likely over optimistic selling the same high priced luxury units near grade.

Regarding the Ancaster condos, lets face it is Ancaster. The views will not be nearly as fantastic. The location will be in an overbuilt and obtrusive subdivision, where condos often act primarily as density carriers for overbuilt tract houses. The lower cost suburban condo gets thrown in to meet planning densities and do not often attract high value sales. The Concession Street condos will be close proximity to the more robust amenities Hamilton offers, and is closer to major employment areas (Henderson Hospital and Downtown). In principle, we are really comparing apples to oranges here, low rise suburban without views vs. high rise urban with views.

[i_am_hydrogen]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

Don't you wonder why nobody on this forum can take an idiot like you seriously?

These types of responses are totally immature and unproductive.

Consider this a general warning to all of you, since this thread has become increasingly problematic: The next person to issue any type of personal insult whatsoever will have his/her account suspended. It isn't that difficult to have a discussion without constantly resorting to childish name-calling.

[LikeHamilton]

Pictures taken 17 April 2008

[DC83]

too bad the design is so generic! But look at those penthouse's terraces! Wow! If only I had $800,000... then I'd prolly buy a house in Druand! hehe

[the dude]

craptastic.

i could give you a list of 800,000 other things i'd rather spend my money on.

[Berklon]

I'd really like to see what the inside looks like when it's all done. As it stands right now, it's not looking like an 800k condo.

[JT Jacobs]

It looks like project housing of the seventies. It needs way more windows. The best condos now are done entirely in glass, especially ones with tremendous views like this one has. So sad. I wouldn't pay $300,000 for one of these units.

I do hope that this strip becomes condo developed, though. With more contemporary styles, that is.

[DC83]

Originally Posted by JT Jacobs

It looks like project housing of the seventies. It needs way more windows. The best condos now are done entirely in glass, especially ones with tremendous views like this one has. So sad. I wouldn't pay $300,000 for one of these units.

My bldg is from the 70's and has way more windows... and great views... and two-bed, 1000 sq.ft. units sell for $125,000-130,000. Granted the Madison's units are probably about twice the size of mine w/ privare elevator access. but what other amenities does this bldg offer?

It's way over-priced for the lack of any amenities. I'm scared to see what their condo fees are :s

[raisethehammer]

pretty bland design.
More windows would have been nice, although if you walk up to the building in person you can really see how large the windows are. lots of huge bay windows.
still, $800,000?? interior better be stunning.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by the dude

craptastic.

i could give you a list of 800,000 other things i'd rather spend my money on.

Agreed.

[realcity]

I'm still waiting to see the HPL panels, hopefully they'll be glass/mirror or something reflective.

The biggest dissapointment for me is the mech penthouse, this should've been housed in an architecutural pinnacle.

Secondly the total boxiness

Up close the windows do look large esp facing the city.

[JT Jacobs]

Originally Posted by realcity

I'm still waiting to see the HPL panels, hopefully they'll be glass/mirror or something reflective.

The biggest dissapointment for me is the mech penthouse, this should've been housed in an architecutural pinnacle.

Secondly the total boxiness

Up close the windows do look large esp facing the city.

How about the exposed parking? Utterly ridiculous for units priced upwards of $800K. Really, how cheap. This is not lost on the potential condo buyer.

For $800K you could get quite the unit in Toronto, and I guarantee the views would be superior (of the skyline and/or the lake).

Really, I hate to continue bashing this project, but it's just so shoddy. If the units were more reasonably priced, appropriate to the market, then I'd shut up. I honestly hope this developer takes a bath for his/her greed.

[markbarbera]

The parking isn't exposed. Garage entrance on west side of building, the east side is a covered curbside approach to the entrance.

[JT Jacobs]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

The parking isn't exposed. Garage entrance on west side of building, the east side is a covered curbside approach to the entrance.

Ah, okay--I stand corrected.

[the dude]

still can't get over how they've been priced. $400K...ya, i could see that but $800K to $1 million? if they're successful it'll say something quite significant about the market in hamilton.