urbanSTL

^All part of buying pre-construction my friend. The price break you're getting on your unit is essentially a payment for dealing with the headaches of construction delays and changing building plans. 2-3 month delays from initial deliivery date projectins are common. If you're not wiling to deal with this, don't buy pre-construction. Also, if you ask your developer to cover your extra costs due to their error, I'm sure they would gladly oblige. Take a look at the westgate thread if you want to see a real construction debacle.

Urban Elitist wrote:^All part of buying pre-construction my friend. The price break you're getting on your unit is essentially a payment for dealing with the headaches of construction delays and changing building plans. 2-3 month delays from initial deliivery date projectins are common. If you're not wiling to deal with this, don't buy pre-construction. Also, if you ask your developer to cover your extra costs due to their error, I'm sure they would gladly oblige. Take a look at the westgate thread if you want to see a real construction debacle.

Don't know about the "gladly" part!



I'm in September, so I wonder when they will ask me to lock in? They asked for a pre-approval about a month or so ago.

I realize that it was inevitable the date would be delayed. My biggest concern was that they blatantly lied to me, my real estate agent and a potential buyer. I was just excited and it was upsetting to find out 3 weeks before I moved in that it was delayed three months. I know, it could be worse and let's hope that it doesn't get moved back anymore. That Westgate thing kind of freaks me out.

ksj wrote:Is anyone as upset as me about the delayed move-in date? I am on the 2nd floor and they delayed my move in date 2 months. My real estate agent was in there on Monday with another client looking to buy a unit. They told her that they would be done in the middle of June. They completely lied to her regarding my closing date. They asked us to lock in a loan over a month ago and now extra charges will be slapped on b/c I will not close within 90 days.

I'm not upset about the delay because I had assumed there would be at least a 1-2 month delay just because of what I had heard about the other loft developments.



I was never asked to lock my loan in but I assume you are referring to the pre-approval/loan commitment letter that we had to provide about a month ago?

I also am not upset about the delay, but it is very far from the March/April dates that I was told last year when I first reserved. I'm on the second floor and always predicted that I wouldn't be moving until August. I also learned a lot from watching the progress of other developments. I know delays and changes are to be expected, but there comes a point when it is unacceptable. I don't think The Meridian is to that point. I also wasn't asked to lock in my rate, but my with my experience so far I would definitely refuse to do so until I see my unit substantially finished.



It sounds like ksj's problem is really feeling like you have been lied to. I've heard another buyer say the same thing. I think you should discuss that with them. Sometimes it's just a lack of communication within the development team since they are each given specific tasks and don't always know the latest on issues that they are not directly involved with.

hey, future neighbors.

does anyone know which units are going to be displayed during the loft tour? i'm out of town but im on the second floor so i assume my unit is almost finished. i don't know if i want thousands of people walking thru my unit from the streets. I'm going with the concrete floors so i'm not worried about scuff marks and dirt on the floors (as long as it is cleaned well before i move in) but when i went on the tour myself last year in some buildings, people were touching everything.

Also, has anyone heard anything new about whats going in to the retail space?

ginny wrote:does anyone know which units are going to be displayed during the loft tour? i'm out of town but im on the second floor so i assume my unit is almost finished.

My guess would be the 5th floor because it is much further along than the other floors and would better represent a finished product.



I'm on the second floor too and my unit is not almost finished. The drywall is up and they have started to paint. No fixtures yet.

I thought Hip said 510 and 507 would be displayed on the loft tour.

ksj wrote:I realize that it was inevitable the date would be delayed. My biggest concern was that they blatantly lied to me, my real estate agent and a potential buyer. I was just excited and it was upsetting to find out 3 weeks before I moved in that it was delayed three months. I know, it could be worse and let's hope that it doesn't get moved back anymore. That Westgate thing kind of freaks me out.

Sounds like a cake-walk, compared to my expreience @ Westgate.

Downtown Newbie wrote:I also am not upset about the delay, but it is very far from the March/April dates that I was told last year when I first reserved. I'm on the second floor and always predicted that I wouldn't be moving until August. I also learned a lot from watching the progress of other developments. I know delays and changes are to be expected, but there comes a point when it is unacceptable. I don't think The Meridian is to that point. I also wasn't asked to lock in my rate, but my with my experience so far I would definitely refuse to do so until I see my unit substantially finished.



It sounds like ksj's problem is really feeling like you have been lied to. I've heard another buyer say the same thing. I think you should discuss that with them. Sometimes it's just a lack of communication within the development team since they are each given specific tasks and don't always know the latest on issues that they are not directly involved with.

Ditto. I am not upset with the delays so long as the information is disseminated in a timely fashion. I purchased my unit in January and had been given a projected completion date of mid to late June at that time. Since the projected completion dates for floors 2-5 is slated for July 7-15, I think this short delay is par for the course in a development of this size.

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Can someone please elaborate on how the loft tour works and what one would need to do to participate? Also, do we know how many units remain unsold to date?

cbroy2544 wrote:Can someone please elaborate on how the loft tour works and what one would need to do to participate?

The tour is fun and I've been two or three times now. It's very informal. You just walk around and look at all the lofts. They have a "main office" set up where you pick up your map of what all is on the tour, then you just roam around. Last time some of the restaurants participated too and you get to taste food from different places. They have also had shuttles in past for the locations that are a little further from Washington. I think there has been music too, but I missed it. It's a great way to see what all is going on and be able to adequately compare what the various developments have to offer.

I am moving into the Meridian during the first Phase in July. I need a second parking space. Does anyone have one they would like to rent?

Everyone has only one space, save for the penthouses which have two I believe. The common solution is to purchase a lift from the Meridian which will enable parking two cars in one space. However, you'll need to have a ground floor parking space as the below ground spaces won't fit a lift.



Dave

California Girl wrote:I am moving into the Meridian during the first Phase in July. I need a second parking space. Does anyone have one they would like to rent?

cbroy2544 wrote:Also, do we know how many units remain unsold to date?

They're down to 19 or 20 units. I think the loft tour will help move some of those since the fall tour led to a lot of reservations.



This is what I was told by one of the developers on yesterday.

Downtown Newbie wrote:

cbroy2544 wrote:Also, do we know how many units remain unsold to date?

They're down to 19 or 20 units. I think the loft tour will help move some of those since the fall tour led to a lot of reservations.

I'm guessing they're all lightwells or even a penthouse or two.

I figured the same thing. I don't remember now exactly, but I think 4 penthouses, 6 exterior units, and the rest interior units.

Downtown Newbie wrote:I figured the same thing. I don't remember now exactly, but I think 4 penthouses, 6 exterior units, and the rest interior units.

I'm surprised any exteriors are left.

There are 13 light court units and two exterior Tucker side units on 7 left according to the printout I picked up this past weekend.

I was really surprised to hear that there are two units on the 7th floor facing Tucker that are available! I thought they would be gone a long time ago.



Did anyone see the display units at the tour this weekend? A friend of mine went and said they look great - he liked The Meridian better than any of the other buildings on the tour.



If anyone has any pics, please post them!

Many projects in the downtown area have had delays. I can only think of a few that haven't actually. It is a major pain as far as scheduling, etc but try and be positive about what a great deal you are getting. I know that the developers for WestGate paid for the loan extentions and the developer for Printers paid for people to live in hotels if needed and I think paid for movers (Not positive about that though). I'm sure that the guys developing the Meridian do not want a building full of angry residents. If the delay is causing a financial stress ask them to cover it. They might not offer but if you ask they will most likley say yes (if they know what is good for them!) Good Luck! I know it will be worth it once you are in!

hey California Girl, and anyone else moving in during the first phase,



I'm supposed to be moving in during the first phase. that e-mail they sent us a while back said that closings will be July 7 - july 14th.



I haven't heard anything since then. I came in town for the weekend and stopped by there on Thursday. I can't imagine people moving in/closing next week. Does anyone have any info on this?



Shouldn't they be telling us soon when exactly we're going to be moving in and closing?

ginny wrote:hey California Girl, and anyone else moving in during the first phase,



I'm supposed to be moving in during the first phase. that e-mail they sent us a while back said that closings will be July 7 - july 14th.



I haven't heard anything since then. I came in town for the weekend and stopped by there on Thursday. I can't imagine people moving in/closing next week. Does anyone have any info on this?



Shouldn't they be telling us soon when exactly we're going to be moving in and closing?

I stopped in a week ago and was told the 8th floor was scheduled for move ins in mid-September. There's no way in hell that will happen. Which is fine. But I'm thinking it will be more like October or November before I'm in.

My final walk through inspection is on 7/12. Subsequent to that we are supposed to schedule closing and move-in with two third party companies. This was all contained in an emailed letter I received on June 28. I imagine we won't be moving in until late July. I was told that parking is probably not going to be completed by then but maybe enough of it will be finished for those that are moving in, otherwise, they will be making other arrangements for our parking. My unit itself seems like it could be ready by then. The common areas are another story and it seems certain they will not be completed.

There has already been one delay; another delay would be quite unacceptable. Interest rates aren't getting any lower and coordination is required in altering leases, home sales, etc... Reasonable pressure needs to be applied and remedies requested if another schedule slip occurs. I don't encourage a laissez-faire attitude nor an overreaction; just pressure to hold the Meridian accountable to quality and schedule.

I stopped in a week ago and was told the 8th floor was scheduled for move ins in mid-September. There's no way in hell that will happen. Which is fine. But I'm thinking it will be more like October or November before I'm in.

innov8ion wrote:There has already been one delay; another delay would be quite unacceptable. Interest rates aren't getting any lower and coordination is required in altering leases, home sales, etc... Reasonable pressure needs to be applied and remedies requested if another schedule slip occurs. I don't encourage a laissez-faire attitude nor an overreaction; just pressure to hold the Meridian accountable to quality and schedule.

I stopped in a week ago and was told the 8th floor was scheduled for move ins in mid-September. There's no way in hell that will happen. Which is fine. But I'm thinking it will be more like October or November before I'm in.

But for me personally, it really doesn't matter. 2-3 months late means nothing. But for those who are concerned, I would encourage action.