Sunday, January 18, 2009

SL8 Opinion part two

I drove past SL8 today in West End. I was not impressed. Although still under construction, to me it looks like a cheap motel from the 1950s. All the railings for the balconies are metal pipe rails. So from the front, it looks very uniform with railings going the complete width from left to right on every floor, without a break. From the back, it looks even worse. You may not realise, but the apartments don't have closed hallways. The door opens onto a hall that is outside -- and with the same rails going along the whole length. So you will be exposed to the the rain, heat and wind as soon as you open your door. The building looks to me like a larger version of the motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated when leaving his room.

3 comments:

Tommo said...

A word of warning about SL8: the developers have changed a lot of the fit out (ie. replaced nice stuff with cheap rubbish) just prior to completion of the project. This includes interior fittings and the balcony railings, very noticeable and very different to original spec.

Very disappointing as this looked to be a good development from a good developer. As an owner I was miffed!!

Tommo said...

A word of warning about SL8: it appears the financial crisis has forced the developer (FKP) into a number of "cost rationalization" exercises. A number of items in the original fit out (eg,. taps, balcony railings etc.) have been changed for cheaper, inferior substitutes. A good example are the verandas, which have gone from frosted glass to aluminum railings (which was NOT noted in the specs changed sent to owners!!) which are nowhere near as expensive or attractive as the original.

Disappointing really as this looked like being a good property from a good developer.

Tommo said...

A word of warning about SL8: the developers have changed a lot of the fit out (ie. replaced nice stuff with cheap rubbish) just prior to completion of the project. This includes interior fittings and the balcony railings, very noticeable and very different to original spec.

Very disappointing as this looked to be a good development from a good developer. As an owner I was miffed!!