Apartment Tour
Just for fun, I took my first-ever new housing development tour today at this place in Banqiao. The complex was called “Royal” something or other, and it turned out to be royally expensive–about NTD 21 million for a three-bedroom unit (about USD 700,000). For USD 700,000 you do get a free gift, however–a scooter parking spot!
It reminded me of when friends and I took a housing development tour a few years ago in Palm Springs, with units already dolled up to lure buyers into feeling they’ve arrived at home. In Royal’s case, however, home means these god-awful etched metal doors opening up to what seemed like an updated version of a Brenda Dickson set. Unlike the units in Palm Springs, neither of the two model units I saw were decorated with phony framed photos of people. All in all, let’s just say it was better to see the unfinished units.
The bathrooms in the apartments were too small. I would have gladly gotten rid of one of the three bedrooms just to expand the bathrooms (and kitchen) more. The complex did have a huge pool, spa and sauna, all waiting to fall into neglect as these things in complexes here usually do (or at least to close after a child drowns in it). In my current complex alone, they have canned the laundry room, the auditorium is now a storage room, and they “drained” that big tub of colored balls for kids to roll around in.
I have to give the agent credit for being friendly, knowledgeable and actually pleasant to be around during the tour. She was chatty, but not in an annoying way. Not once did she give off creepy real estate agent feeling.
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“The bathrooms in the apartments were too small. I would have gladly gotten rid of one of the three bedrooms just to expand the bathrooms (and kitchen) more. The complex did have a huge pool, spa and sauna, all waiting to fall into neglect as these things in complexes here usually do (or at least to close after a child drowns in it).”
This is definitely something to keep in mind. Once they’ve got you, they let the place slide. I had a membership at Anya around a decade. It went from being a beautiful gym (when they were signing people up to memberships) to a place I had to leave due to maintenance issues.
When I look for apartment, I want one that comes without facilities (that I never use) and security guards (who do nothing). Right now, I pay NT$1700 a month in fees for this sort of thing. When our intruder alarm accidentally was set off and could not be turned off, I had to go down and get a security guard because they simply couldn’t be bothered to come. The guy said: “It’s hard to know if it’s a thief or not.” It’s even harder if you don’t go look. I’ve seriously got to blog about these guys.
Good post.
They were very enthusiastic about it..According to Moran River Street Commons lifted the property values of the area..Affordable housing does not have to be negative River Street is proof of this..Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna said that the rehabilitation of the site encouraged the improvement of the surrounding area..As soon as we converted this particular structure this was the anchor that was needed for the west side he said… …It just goes to show that a seed planted can germinate into a positive experience for a community..Now Moran said River Street Commons acts as a hub for community activity..Many other places in the community have come here because of our stage and the community room she said..The Red Bank charter school Count Basie Theatre they all ask to use this to hold performances holiday events school events and that involves everyone in the community..The tour also visited the currently under-construction Cedar Crossing site..When completed the site will feature 18 three-bedroom units at 1 200 square feet each and two twobedroom units at 1 000 square feet said the Rev. This could not have happened if we didnt have some really wonderful community partners Menna said..
Ellen says that the government is using Yonkers to experiment with new forms of public housing that the residents of Yonkers have no recourse if the experiment does not work.