I am also very curious about the original pricing for this bldg. Was a price list released when the units first came online?
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Thanks so much for the info Urbanite. Assuming some of the units were purchased as investments, I expect to see a few on the market once the building is complete. I am very interested in comparing purchase prices with the asking prices to see how this building, or area, or city is responding to the doom and gloom housing market the media keeps talking about.
This morning, more news about how median home prices in August fell from year-ago levels for the first time in 11 years. The media jumped on the story and bombarded the public with more gloom and doom. But if you read the whole report, it's not that scary. And query if it even applies to St. Louis or at least to the downtown and other surrounding metro areas.
Today's report is at:
http://www.realtor.org/PublicAffairsWeb ... enDocument
This morning, more news about how median home prices in August fell from year-ago levels for the first time in 11 years. The media jumped on the story and bombarded the public with more gloom and doom. But if you read the whole report, it's not that scary. And query if it even applies to St. Louis or at least to the downtown and other surrounding metro areas.
Today's report is at:
http://www.realtor.org/PublicAffairsWeb ... enDocument
If you research the numbers by city, i think that is possible on msnmoney, it appears st. louis has a small increase in selling prices over the past year. It was absolutely not the plummeting ball of fire one might infer from the media, and StL certainly fared better than many cities both midwest and coastal.
Tax Guru brings up a point of great interest. Does anyone have any clue regarding how many units have been purchased specifically for resale when the building opens? I've heard the realtor state she knows "several" opus employees are planning to release their units once the building opens, but one cannot know if
a) that is true
2) how many
c) how much.
Does anyone know of units that are being held with the intention of selling? If you don't want to post publicly, please pm me, although this information would benefit the greater good.
a) that is true
2) how many
c) how much.
Does anyone know of units that are being held with the intention of selling? If you don't want to post publicly, please pm me, although this information would benefit the greater good.
From Yahoo news: 092706
"Sales of new single-family homes increased by 4.1 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.05 million units, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. It was the biggest increase since an 8 percent gain in March. Sales of new homes were up in every region of the country except the West, where they dropped a sharp 17.7 percent. Sales rose 21.7 percent in the Northeast, 12.2 percent in the Midwest and 11.1 percent in the South."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060927/ap_ ... fi/economy
"Sales of new single-family homes increased by 4.1 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.05 million units, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. It was the biggest increase since an 8 percent gain in March. Sales of new homes were up in every region of the country except the West, where they dropped a sharp 17.7 percent. Sales rose 21.7 percent in the Northeast, 12.2 percent in the Midwest and 11.1 percent in the South."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060927/ap_ ... fi/economy
Tax Guru wrote: Sales of new homes were up in every region of the country except the West, where they dropped a sharp 17.7 percent.
I was walking to work today on Wall Street in NYC and looked up at the construction going up the neighborhood. The buildings are very good looking but I did notice the windows are the normal kind. It just made me appreciate the floor to ceiling windows of the Park East Tower that much more.
Does anybody know if it is very expensive to do floor to ceiling windows or it a design choice? I can only think of a few buildings that have gone up recently in Manhattan that use the floor to ceiling windows.
Does anybody know if it is very expensive to do floor to ceiling windows or it a design choice? I can only think of a few buildings that have gone up recently in Manhattan that use the floor to ceiling windows.
Depending on the comparison window (for example, comparing to very expensive double glazed windows which contain wooden blinds) they can be not more expensive than smaller 'conventional' windows. However, they are not as energy efficient and get chilly in the winter. The Park East Tower has heating ducts by the windows to counteract this effect. They also break more easily, and I've seen a couple broken in the tower already. I do not think they shatter like regular glass though, but cannot make that promise so please don't try any jump-throughs.
Sorry, what I was alluding to, but didn't spell out very clearly, is that they may not be utilized as much in NY because of the relatively colder winters. In more moderate climates like Vancouver it is used with wreckless abandon creating a sea of glass and steel buildings. You've probably seen them in Miami and South America too, but my experience with them in warmer climates has been that they can also heat up quite a bit, which would be good for your tropical plants.
I think St. Louis is a bit conservative and it has taken a while to be convinced it's a viable building technique, although there are a few nice glass structures around the city, clayton and the more western reaches.
I think St. Louis is a bit conservative and it has taken a while to be convinced it's a viable building technique, although there are a few nice glass structures around the city, clayton and the more western reaches.
Well, I'm glad it's breaking through. Although I still think the Park PLaza is a great looking building. They don't build them like that anymore.
Now, if the glass on the outside is green, will things outside look green to someone standing inside, like when you wear sunglasses? HAve I said too much? I'm really not stupid, I just don't know this one.
Now, if the glass on the outside is green, will things outside look green to someone standing inside, like when you wear sunglasses? HAve I said too much? I'm really not stupid, I just don't know this one.
I've seen it both ways (the glass, I mean). I've seen glass that is colored to reflection outside yet transmits light inside without color variation, and some that absolutely colors the light transmitted inside. I have some windows right now that are reflective and from the outside appear kind of golden-grey yet appear truly clear from the inside.
I'm no glass physicist, so if there is one in the forum please speak up.
I'm no glass physicist, so if there is one in the forum please speak up.
Apparently I'm no software engineer either, as I cannot make my avatar work. I have checked the FAQs and this avatar has worked on other forums. Did anyone else have this problem? Can anyone offer a solution? My apologies for this wildly off topic post.
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Yes, apparently the avatar option has issues (or we do).
Re: the Part East - I think it's a great looking building form just about anywhere, but I still think the top looks bad coming East on Forest Park . . . something about the rounded glass topped by what looks like a shipping container (the metal shed on the top). From other directions this is much less noticable and/or sits about square lines.
Re: the Part East - I think it's a great looking building form just about anywhere, but I still think the top looks bad coming East on Forest Park . . . something about the rounded glass topped by what looks like a shipping container (the metal shed on the top). From other directions this is much less noticable and/or sits about square lines.
has anyone been inside the top two floors? They have a nice, rounded floor to ceiling glass facade. It's a little bit of venice beach beachhouse right on top of the tower. i suspect it looks spectacular, and plants would probably grow very well there. maybe they'll have a nice aloe.
To add a little to what mosl mentioned earlier, the unit interiors do not have air ducts above the windows but rather electric heat coils cast into the concrete floor at the slab edge. These coils are controlled by a thermostat in each room. The heat coils eliminate the "air curtain" created when cold air from the windows drops down creating a cold draft.
Because it is floor to ceiling glass any soffits above the window would reduce the view so instead air is blown towards the windows from a duct further back in the room, creating a circular air flow in the unit.
Because it is floor to ceiling glass any soffits above the window would reduce the view so instead air is blown towards the windows from a duct further back in the room, creating a circular air flow in the unit.
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^ I think he said either earlier in this thread or in another thread that he used to work for Opus and he did design work on this building. That's if I'm remembering correctly.
I'm a big fan of insider information. I wish we had some investment bankers on this site.
Thanks Condoguy.
Thanks Condoguy.
I am in the construction industry and have a friend who bought a unit there so he and I did some homework when he purchased the unit. That and I have another friend who works at Opus so he was able to answer a lot of our questions.
Oh boy! What else can you tell us? What unit did your friend buy? What do you think of the unit and the bldg given your professional knowledge? Pros & Cons.
And thanks for sharing. It is very much appreciated.
And thanks for sharing. It is very much appreciated.
I'd also welcome any insight you may offer.
Is anyone moving in soon? I recall hearing they will start closing with buyers and moving in around mid-October. If anyone is closing and moving into the building, please post your impressions, and perhaps some photos.
Is anyone moving in soon? I recall hearing they will start closing with buyers and moving in around mid-October. If anyone is closing and moving into the building, please post your impressions, and perhaps some photos.
The fence is down.
The decorative things they are going to put up are also leaning against the base. The are supposed to kind of simulate where windows would be on the base. Should help the blank look a little, but still not as good as actual glass.
The decorative things they are going to put up are also leaning against the base. The are supposed to kind of simulate where windows would be on the base. Should help the blank look a little, but still not as good as actual glass.
I heard that residents will begin moving in this weekend or next week. I wonder if anyone on this site will be moving in soon. I would love to see some pictures of the interiors.