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May 06, 2022#461

A simple fix is to ban one night stays and start charging more. $99 for an entire loft is just affordable enough for some teenagers.

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May 06, 2022#462

^ Certainly a start!

May 20, 2022#463

A pair of news articles from St. Louis Public Radio and Kansas City Star:

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/2022-05 ... nt-project

https://www.kansascity.com/news/busines ... 00782.html

The first article outlines how Lux Living did not disclose an SEC settlement as well as multiple lawsuits in their bid to seek a 25-year tax abatement on a riverfront apartment complex they proposed to build in Kansas City.  One of the lawsuits relates to the mismanagement of Ely Walker Lofts.  

The second article reports that the Port Authority of Kansas City rejected the Lux Living riverfront apartment plan.  

I hope that this incentivizes Lux Living to manage their properties properly, and do right by their tenants and neighbors.  

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Jul 22, 2022#464

Looks like a resident of the Ely Walker posted in the comments of the Lux Living article that the fire suppression system in the building hasn't worked in months and is under fire watch. Is there not a limit on how long a building can remain without a working fire suppression system without losing occupancy permits?
ElyWalkerComment.png (348.48KiB)

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Jul 22, 2022#465

It's one thing when elevators break in one apartment building since that becomes an ADA/mobility issue, but how hard is it to fix the fire suppression system in another? Sure, it takes some work and money but on a building as large as Ely Walker, you certainly do not want it accidentally turning into the next 3949.

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Jul 22, 2022#466

What is 3949?

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Jul 22, 2022#467


Aug 04, 2022#468

KMOV - City attorneys take action against condo board members of Downtown West problem property

https://www.kmov.com/2022/08/04/city-at ... -property/

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Aug 04, 2022#469

Five units condemned for occupancy 

@dandoelling | FPSE

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Aug 04, 2022#470

I don't know what's worse and/or more embarrassing. The Ely Walker lofts situation, Raphael apartments maintenance issues, or the Kingshighway/Oakland debacle. All three could/will have negative consequences and they have to know that. 

The criticism and negative press won't stop by sending a lawyer after each person who dares to raise their concerns and/or voice their opinions. Intimidation should never work in a situation like this, yet it apparently does. Remember: They subpoenaed that resident at the Hudson who spoke out on the issues there and demanded to see his text messages to other residents and the developer of the Expo to see if they were colluding (https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/cri ... fb7dd.html). If that's not an intimidation tactic into silencing people who might raise concerns, then I don't know what is. But intimidation is always common.

It makes you wonder what other issues are out there in the older properties that we're not aware of.

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Aug 04, 2022#471

Most developers buy well situated, cheap properties to breathe new life in.  They seem to buy and further neglect. 
 
The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.

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Aug 05, 2022#472

“Ely Walker's hearing is set for 10 a.m. Sept. 7 before the city condominium board. The city's public safety director will then ask a judge to grant an "order of abatement," which could result in the building being closed for up to a year.

168 families could lose their homes because of the Lux Living / CityWide board's irresponsibility and negligence.

City issues nuisance notice, condemnations for controversial Ely Walker Lofts / POST DISPATCH  
@dandoelling | FPSE

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Aug 05, 2022#473

doellingd wrote:
Aug 05, 2022
“Ely Walker's hearing is set for 10 a.m. Sept. 7 before the city condominium board. The city's public safety director will then ask a judge to grant an "order of abatement," which could result in the building being closed for up to a year.

168 families could lose their homes because of the Lux Living / CityWide board's irresponsibility and negligence.

City issues nuisance notice, condemnations for controversial Ely Walker Lofts / POST DISPATCH  
This right here is terrifying. Negligence and incompetence that can seem harmless at first can now result in 168 families being pushed out for an extended period of time, some are unlikely to easily find temporary housing. 

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Aug 05, 2022#474

Are there other measures the city could take? I seem to recall the reporter mentioning condemnation of the nuisance units being a possibility. If their units are condemned could they then lose their voting privileges and thus control of the condominium board? A simple change in condominium rules and management would seem the best solution here. Allow the people that actually live there to run the place, as was originally intended. They've invested in it, after all. I suspect they want to see their investment succeed.

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Aug 05, 2022#475

This is all setting up for the permanent residents to sue CityWide for damages. 
The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.

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Aug 05, 2022#476

Are the units named problem and/or AirBnB party places?
Uppity Doopity Dop

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Aug 05, 2022#477

The best solution is to have owners reoccupy the board and remove all 5 City Wide members. If that were to occur, the building would turn around very quickly.

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Sep 05, 2022#478

A very factual report from St. Louis Post Dispatch:

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... -top-story

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Sep 07, 2022#479

Entered into agreement.  Not great, as the board remains in control of same persons. 

https://www.kmov.com/2022/09/07/st-loui ... sociation/
The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.

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Sep 19, 2023#480

StlToday - Lux Living owners dropped insurance on downtown St. Louis condo building, suit says

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/bus ... f697b.html

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Sep 20, 2023#481

Lux is obviously losing money on this building.  Why else would you risk a total loss scenario without insurance protection.  Between the Air B&B issues, fire suppression and now this, it would seem the condo owners should sue them silly. 

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Sep 27, 2023#482


Sep 27, 2023#483

Lux and affiliated management companies are under federal investigation.  Should come as no shock.
The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.

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Sep 27, 2023#484

TheWayoftheArch_V2.0 wrote:
Sep 27, 2023
Lux and affiliated management companies are under federal investigation.  Should come as no shock.
What are they under investigation for ? 

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Sep 27, 2023#485

I have a good feeling about what, as do some others, but cannot post about it yet.

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