Ely Walker Lofts - 1520 Washington Avenue

cmd+h · PostJun 26, 2007#3262007-06-26T15:02+00:00

I have been dying to post this since June 13 so the info is a little out of date but, for those of you who are searching for window treatments at Ely Walker:

Christin Beck recommended that I check out JC Penny and I ran into a great sale. I was able to purchase $2,300 worth of window treatments for $700! They also have the name of a guy who will measure and install for a good price. He has done several of the units in the building so he is very familiar with the layouts and sizes.

Great service, great selection -- they even told me to come back in a week to get the best deal possible (which saved me an additional $400). It's worth a look!

Expat · PostJun 26, 2007#3272007-06-26T15:08+00:00

I had all the drapes and blinds put into my house the same way. JC Penney sent me a new homeowner coupon and I made my purchases when they had a huge sale. It is worth watching for that sale. Thanks to JC Penney, all my windows are fully treated, drapes, blinds, nice hardware, etc. for not much more than I would have spent on ordinary blinds. What about Macy's downtown, do they sell window treatments & have big sales? That would be worth checking out and supporting a downtown merchant.

avantstl · PostJun 26, 2007#3282007-06-26T15:21+00:00

mattsebek wrote:
Downtown2007 wrote:Are they going to sand and stain yours? Do you have to request this?

I don't think it's a request. Most of the others have been stained.

According to their sales staff, the floors are not stained, they are "sealed". The sealer darkens the floors slightly, but not much. I like the rustic nature of the floors at Ely Walker. If you prefer perfect new floors, they offer new wood and bamboo as an upgrade.

mattsebek · PostJun 26, 2007#3292007-06-26T16:27+00:00

CMD+H wrote:I have been dying to post this since June 13 so the info is a little out of date but, for those of you who are searching for window treatments at Ely Walker:

Christin Beck recommended that I check out JC Penny and I ran into a great sale. I was able to purchase $2,300 worth of window treatments for $700! They also have the name of a guy who will measure and install for a good price. He has done several of the units in the building so he is very familiar with the layouts and sizes.

Great service, great selection -- they even told me to come back in a week to get the best deal possible (which saved me an additional $400). It's worth a look!

PM or email (matt.sebek@gmail.com) me when you get a chance. I'll probably go shopping for window treatments this weekend, and would love to get some information from you. Thanks.

cmd+h · PostJul 02, 2007#3302007-07-02T15:17+00:00

I had my final walk thru last Friday and, after a 45 minute wait, I was a little underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong -- the place looks great! The finishes are excellent and aesthetically everything looks perfect but in 45 minutes, you have plenty of time to check things out!!

Cabinet doors were installed backwards, there were dimensions written on the ceiling, the outlet in the lower part of the bar was jutting out 2", the windows weren't weather stripped at the bottom, the base of the cabinets hadn't been finished correctly (ie - still exposed raw wood), the windows aren't weather stripped -- the list was long (about two pages)!

It seems like I may be the only one who's had this many problems and I wonder if that's because I had so long to sit and wait. Is there anyone who has moved in already that has noticed things now that they didn't notice at the final walk thru?

I hope they can get everything done for my Friday the 13th closing date!! I'm so excited to move in! This little glitch has not squelched my enthusiasm!

MattnSTL · PostJul 02, 2007#3312007-07-02T15:28+00:00

Your closing date is probably the problem.

cmd+h · PostJul 02, 2007#3322007-07-02T15:32+00:00

I thought it was a humorous date for closing, but maybe I just have a strange sense of humor!

downtown2007 · PostJul 02, 2007#3332007-07-02T17:46+00:00

I havent had this problem yet. I think the building looks great but the units are not very impressive. What kind of shape were your floors in?

cmd+h · PostJul 02, 2007#3342007-07-02T19:34+00:00

My floors are not in as excellent shape as many of the other units to begin with but I like the character. It seems there was probably a lot of machinery where my unit is located because there are a lot of square holes cut into the floor (usually in groups of four).

However, I did ask them at the final walk through to fill several of these as best they could. "Integrity of the floor" or not, they're just the perfect size for my heal to get caught in and knowing my luck I'll fall and break an ankle!

I think the building is gorgeous and the layout of the units was intelligently thought out. Absolutely there are things I would change if it were up to me but some of the other lofts I looked into downtown *really* lacked intuitive design. The show unit in this building is amazing (as most are) and I can only hope to finish mine off in as beautiful a way.

Although, I'll have to admit, I'm getting a bit self-conscious about my smaller unit!!

moorlander · PostJul 02, 2007#3352007-07-02T19:40+00:00

CMD+H wrote:
Although, I'll have to admit, I'm getting a bit self-conscious about my smaller unit!!

It's how you use your small unit that matters. You know what they say about guys who have big feet- they wear big shoes.

cmd+h · PostJul 02, 2007#3362007-07-02T21:17+00:00

Thank you, Julia Roberts.

chrisindowntown · PostJul 11, 2007#3372007-07-11T13:22+00:00

Are those new banners covering some of the Windows on the retail spot not occupied by English Living? Or are those the same ones that were over there? It also looks like they put in a door half way in teh space facing Wash. Or was that already there? I'm hoping this side moves as quickly as the Western half, but guessing not.

midcoaststl · PostJul 11, 2007#3382007-07-11T13:48+00:00

Those are the same banners, and last time I checked there is still a for lease sign in the window. The door however is new and it will be for the possible restaraunt space on the east side (small 1 story)...

I am assuming that the other space will enter in the front where the tea room is.

They are also working everyday on the back alley of the building (new concrete, sewers, lights, etc. I can't wait to see it when it is finished.

PS: I have now been living here for 3 weeks and I love it!

cmd+h · PostJul 11, 2007#3392007-07-11T17:39+00:00

I spoke to someone at Orchard on Saturday and they said the plan is to have the back alley done this summer which really surprised me. But they are making quick progress!

Other than the Red Moon outdoor seating, are there any other rumors about how the space will be utilized??

PostJul 13, 2007#3402007-07-13T19:47+00:00

I closed on unit 427 this afternoon -- pretty painless for a first time home buyer

I'm excited to get moved in!!

janit0r · PostJul 14, 2007#3412007-07-14T02:09+00:00

CMD+H wrote:I closed on unit 427 this afternoon [...] I'm excited to get moved in!!

Congrats!

I strongly recommend taking up Orchard on reserving the freight elevator with the independent-mode key for the 4 hour block they offer. And don't be like me and reserve it and show up too late to their office to grab that key - it makes things more complicated.

We were able to unload the moving truck at the back of the building and bring everything through the service access which simplified everything; check on Orchard's schedules for finishing that alley to make sure you don't try similar and find pavers in the way.

downtown2007 · PostJul 14, 2007#3422007-07-14T02:59+00:00

Did it cost anything to reserve it?

janit0r · PostJul 14, 2007#3432007-07-14T03:19+00:00

Downtown2007 wrote:Did it cost anything to reserve it?

Nope. Just call their office and talk to Molly, she's got the schedule.

cmd+h · PostJul 14, 2007#3442007-07-14T21:07+00:00

Great idea about checking for pavers! I hadn't even thought about that! And the back door -- I must be an idiot because I couldn't get it opened from the outside yesterday. Did I miss that part of the "induction ceremony"?

mattsebek · PostAug 01, 2007#3452007-08-01T16:59+00:00

Just moved into our unit this past weekend. Loving it.

One question for any tenants that have already moved in and have bedrooms by the naturally-lit windows in the back of your floorplan - did you cover them with anything, or leave them as is?

We get quite alot of natural light coming in through these windows (not that it's bad thing), and was wondering if anyone was experiencing the same thing...and if you did anything about it.

janit0r · PostAug 01, 2007#3462007-08-01T17:56+00:00

mattsebek wrote:did you cover them with anything, or leave them as is?

Ours remains uncovered and lets in much light, even at night. Since it's in the 2nd bedroom, we've considered covering it with a curtain or shade of some sort. I've seen them fully covered with poster-board in another unit, but I don't think that's a good permanent solution.

stlight · PostAug 01, 2007#3472007-08-01T18:00+00:00

Is there any kind of shade requirement for the windows to keep the exterior of the building uniform?

cmd+h · PostAug 01, 2007#3482007-08-01T22:55+00:00

I have those windows in my bedroom and yes they do let in a lot of light which is nice during the day but slightly on the annoying, very large night light" side when I'm trying to sleep.

I've thought about covering them but couldn't come up with any creatively attractive ways to do it. I'm curious though! If anyone has any ideas....

I haven't heard anything yet about requirements for window coverings. Anyone else?

downtown2007 · PostAug 02, 2007#3492007-08-02T01:52+00:00

No I havent yet. Does anyone know why our building isnt illuminated at night with the outside lights? They were on in June but they havent been on for the past month.

downtown stl fan · PostAug 02, 2007#3502007-08-02T04:45+00:00

I live in the Bankers Lofts and have three east facing 5X8 windows in my unit. I had problems with it being too light at night and also was getting lots of summer light from early morning until around Noon. I ended up getting roller shades and they not only block the light and heat during the day but work just as well at greatly reducing the amount of night light that enters those windows. During the summer I keep them down from night until noon the following day and then raise them until night time. When raised, they just disappear and you don't even know they're there. They've worked out really well for me and during the winter months I only use them at night as the morning sun's not a problem.

Maybe something like that would work in your windows. Good luck!

Ely Walker Lofts - 1520 Washington Avenue

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