urbanSTL

Does anyone else think that the standards at Bankers were pretty disappointing?

The standard finishes in most all loft developments are of low quality. It's all about upgrades, upgrades, upgrades. You can eaisly add 20k or even 30k to your purchase price this way. You've gotta factor that in when you're budgeting for a loft. I think Bankers standard finishes reflect the market downtown fairly well.

MistaC01 wrote:The standard finishes in most all loft developments are of low quality. It's all about upgrades, upgrades, upgrades. You can eaisly add 20k or even 30k to your purchase price this way. You've gotta factor that in when you're budgeting for a loft. I think Bankers standard finishes reflect the market downtown fairly well.

Maybe it's changed in the last few years but the people that I know that live down there now (and have for a few years) had a much different experience. They didn't have to upgrade very much at all.

Ah I know what you are saying, I have a few friends that moved in back in '03 and they only had to upgrade minimal things. Alot more was included back then. The eliminating of decent standard features is how they mask some price increases. Yeah, unfortunately this is how it is now. If you get a second bathroom build out and some decent appliances standard, count yourself lucky. Also pyramid has always had the "worst" standard features, however their base price is always lower to compensate so it works out to be the same as their competiors. You just gotta plan ahead and ask these types of questions when you sign so you don't get a shock later and realize you may have bought too much loft.

I think we are in total agreement. We did pretty significant upgrades however, after all that our price per square foot remained below (slightly) market value of recently priced loft space. that of course is if you use Pyramids generous measurement philosophy.

Would anyone who's recently gotten the Banker's upgrades list be willing to PM me with the information?



I've purchased in Dorsa (Pyramid's next project), and the buildings are fairly similarly styled. I do, of course, know that options and prices may change in the next 6 months (which is when I'll get my upgrade list), but I'm just interested to see that the options are for Banker's.



I wonder if Stirling would be willing to send them to me ...

Try him first. We only have a paper version and it's like 6 pages long. Lots of options.

nothing to see here wrote:I think we are in total agreement. We did pretty significant upgrades however, after all that our price per square foot remained below (slightly) market value of recently priced loft space. that of course is if you use Pyramids generous measurement philosophy.

I agree with Pyramid's measurements. You buy part of the building, what's between the walls. What gets put in that space is determined by the Pyramid and you. Somethings you can change, others you can't. I do wish they would mention what actual usable sq footage is in each unit.



Oh yea, and I wish they would finish their display.

That's not Pyramid's method of measurement, that's an industry standard (covered in detail in previous threads). As for upgrades, the only thing I think can be questioned is the cost of partions/walls and perhaps electrical upgrades due to agreements with contractors (Pyramid just passes these costs on to the buyer, they don't gouge). I don't know where MistaC01 gets the data to claim Pyramid's standard features are the worst. Everyone at Bankers should be on cloud nine as the value of their loft has prematurely appreciated with the development now slated for STL Centre and Dillards. I'd be surprised if the remaining inventory isn't purchased in the very near future.

I never said pyramid gouges. They most certainnly do not. I said that their base price is lower and that gets made up for when you upgrade. That's not good or bad, that's just how they price. I guess saying their standards are "worst" was a bad way of saying that. I should have said that Pyramid gives you a nearly stripped down unit and then gives you the option of upgrading whatever you wish, and while other developments may offer better "standard" features, it is at the cost of an increased base price so it all works out the same. So it could be seen as more flexability. It was an observation that I made when I was pricing units to buy back in may '05. Bankers was back then and still remains an excellent project.

MistaC01 wrote:I never said pyramid gouges. They most certainnly do not. I said that their base price is lower and that gets made up for when you upgrade. That's not good or bad, that's just how they price. I guess saying their standards are "worst" was a bad way of saying that. I should have said that Pyramid gives you a nearly stripped down unit and then gives you the option of upgrading whatever you wish, and while other developments may offer better "standard" features, it is at the cost of an increased base price so it all works out the same. So it could be seen as more flexability. It was an observation that I made when I was pricing units to buy back in may '05. Bankers was back then and still remains an excellent project.

I would agree that Bankers is an excellent project and I would agree that all who have bought a unit (espcially back at pre-construction) got an excellent deal. I don't think they gouge either... UNLESS you try to price something outside of their list of upgrades. There pricing for some of our requests was absolutely ridiculous compared to what I could get them done if I were to contract them out myself after I move in.

loftlover wrote:That's not Pyramid's method of measurement, that's an industry standard (covered in detail in previous threads). As for upgrades, the only thing I think can be questioned is the cost of partions/walls and perhaps electrical upgrades due to agreements with contractors (Pyramid just passes these costs on to the buyer, they don't gouge). I don't know where MistaC01 gets the data to claim Pyramid's standard features are the worst. Everyone at Bankers should be on cloud nine as the value of their loft has prematurely appreciated with the development now slated for STL Centre and Dillards. I'd be surprised if the remaining inventory isn't purchased in the very near future.

So what is their method of measurement then?

^It was covered in earlier posts, I THINK they use the sq footage from the outside walls and to the midpoint of inside walls, and yes that is an industry standard for COMMERCIAL units, so it isn't strange that they use it as there isn't really a standard for residential units so developers use what they want.

MistaC01 wrote:^It was covered in earlier posts, I THINK they use the sq footage from the outside walls and to the midpoint of inside walls, and yes that is an industry standard for COMMERCIAL units, so it isn't strange that they use it as there isn't really a standard for residential units so developers use what they want.

Ok, so my description was not totally accuracte, and I was too lazy to look back in the thread. Part of my original premise was correct, just missing something. So it's measured from the midpoint of the walls, but really, would you want to get rid of all your walls in order to get area back?

^No. of course not. I think his original point was that he wishes they'd tell him the useable square footage, that's all. He felt like he was being decieved. No one is argueing that you should remove your walls to gain more square footage. No one is saying pyramid is ripping people off because they are not. I think he just disagreed with their method of measuring square footage.

So, everyone that has purchased a unit...I'm looking forward to meeting you. Anyone care to share a little about yourself? Curious as to what our building will be like.



I'm 28 and my husband is 30. We're on the 5th floor. We like wine. A lot. I have a feeling we'll be at Copia once a week or so. He works from home and I get the lovely commute to Chesterfield everyday.



What about you?

my wife and I are both 30 with no kids. Our unit is 205. She is a professor at SLU and I am a computer engineer consultant at Anheuser-Busch.



We are looking forward to moving in. We live in St Louis Hills now. I?m looking forward to the Bankers Community website and learning where to run, eat, etc..

i've been lurking here for a while, i guess i should speak up. we're anxiously awaiting a move in date sometime this april.

My name is Brian, I'm 25 and I'll be moving into 510. I look forward to Dubliner's Irish Pub, in the King Bee building I believe. I'm moving from an apartment in Shrewsbury. Obviously, I'm very excited about Bankers and the whole Downtown region.

^hi neighbor. i'm with stlchristy in 509.

maustin75 wrote:Our unit is 205.

hey, we're in 211. have you guys thought about what kind of window treatments for your ginourmous windows that we both have? we've debated about it and have considered not doing anything at all. but if we do something, we might have to take a second mortgage out!

ContractorKitchens wrote:^hi neighbor. i'm with stlchristy in 509.

Well Hello Neighbors! We should all go have lunch at Kitchen K when the display opens. Anyone hear anything about when that will actually happen?



I was hoping there would be a few more floors represented. We have 2 & 5, but need 3 & 4 to keep us updated as well.



As for Window treatments, I balk at them!

Hi all. I'm Rob and will be in 307. I'm 57 and single and will commute to the Lammert Building next door at 911 Washington, where I've worked for the past 8 years. Sounds like I'm at the high end of the age spectrum, but I'm fine with that. I'm looking forward to the move and meeting all of you! I drove past the building tonight and saw they have walls painted and kitchen cabinets up in at least some of the units on second floor. I'm hoping some of you get to move in in March!

As for Window treatments, I balk at them!

yeah, well, we probably wont do anything with our main windows but we've got 4 other windows in the light well, 2 of which are in our bedroom.

Looking forward to meeting you all!



Window treatments: Definitely getting some in our bedroom, but I don't know about the rest. I think we'll wait and see how we feel once we're in. We have a corner unit, so I hate the idea of covering all those windows!!!