CityPlace: St. Jamestown in waiting?

[Jdot]

But should the last great swath of downtown prime land be devoted to this?

Yes it should. Look at who's moving into the city from the 905 - the young upstarts and the retiree's who are perfect for the CP kind of development.

CityPlace IS a place that people aspire to live in. That is why their buildings are practically sold out long before they are opened to the public. Sure, investors and brokers are buying up a lot of the units, but they wouldnt do so unless they knew people wanted to live there, and would buy or rent.

 

[casaguy]

I was biking up Spadina yesterday and decided to pop in to the CityPlace sales centre. I had never been inside so I thought I'd see what was what.

Unfortunately, the hostess said, I'd have to wait about 30 minutes before I would be let in because no sales agents were available. Well, so why can't I just take a gander on my own. Sorry, she said.

I could think of a million other things I'd rather do than wait a half hour just to snap some pics of their model, so I left without regret.

So just what kind of "boiler room tactics" go on in there? Anyone care to speak up?

It reminded me a lot of the time I was dragged to some sales pitch for a timeshare and by the time it was over you felt like an idiot for not buying on the spot.

Seems like Cityplace might be employing the same sleazy high pressured style.

I worked in sales years ago and I understand "the game", but please, this ain't The Ritz.

---

On another note, to get my rant back on topic...

This "new community" looks about as inviting as the proposed "new community" below.

And it really is quite similar to this:

[/QUOTE]
(CanadianNational's pic)

 

[Hydrogen]

I had never been inside so I thought I'd see what was what.

So just what kind of "boiler room tactics" go on in there? Anyone care to speak up?

Seems like Cityplace might be employing the same sleazy high pressured style.

Just curious, but if you have not been in the showroom then how can you know or assume that there are "boiler room tactics" or a sleazy, high pressure sales style?

I've been in twice, for two different developments, and I never encountered anything sleazy or forceful. You get a little show, a little model suite look-see, a big model to gander at, and a sales rep who answers your questions if you have any. That's pretty much it. It's all pretty innocent condo shmarketing.

 

[casaguy]

How can you know or assume that there are "boiler room tactics" or a sleazy, high pressure sales style?

I don't assume or know.

I was saying it jokingly, wondering why it was absolutely out of the question for me to enter the showroom without a sales agent at my side.

I'm a big boy. I can handle looking on my own without a salesperson at my side. To not be given that option suggests to me that they have a very well rehearsed schtick that you must hear from beginning to end (much like a timeshare pitch).

 

[Jdot]

If there was noone there, then I guess they dont want some random person walking around. It is, after all, the headquarters for Concord Adex. Do you think any business would allow the public to wander their offices?

 

[casaguy]

That's hardly their head office.

It's a temporary sales office with models and floorplans.

I've been to showrooms all over the city, and that is the first time I've ever been told I must be escorted at all times. I've always been able to wander freely in any other development I was checking out.

The whole thing seemed rather odd to me.

 

[unimaginative2]

I already live at Cityplace, and I happen to have strolled over to the sales centre a couple weeks ago just to see what's up and how much the new units are selling for. I did wait for the sales rep, but the pitch was certainly very low pressure, and he mostly talked about the master plan for the site and a few units which were still available in the new phases. After that, he asked if we had any questions and let us wander around the model suites alone. I've been to time share pitches and there certainly was no comparison. In fact, when we first got this unit, we were fighting for the sales agents' attention. Most of the Cityplace phases have all but sold out in a few hours (our building included), so the units pretty much sell themselves.

Interesting note: price per square foot is soaring with every phase. They're expecting to ask $800 per square foot(!) by the last phase, the supertall Signature building.

 

[casaguy]

They're expecting to ask $800 per square foot(!) by the last phase, the supertall Signature building.

Wow. And I mean that in every way that "wow" could be interpreted.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

unimaginative:

Actually I would love to see a hotel component to the last phase - I would imagine the area (w/ Skydome, Harbourfront and Entertainment District) can definitely support one more.

AoD

 

[casaguy]

^THAT is a great idea.

 

[gei]

Geez new hotels are popping up in this area every day... how many can it support.

That being said I walk past the new Marriott just down the street on wellington and even though it just opened it seems jam packed every day... perhaps the area can support more..

 

[Hydrogen]

I don't assume or know.

I was saying it jokingly, wondering why it was absolutely out of the question for me to enter the showroom without a sales agent at my side.

I'm a big boy. I can handle looking on my own without a salesperson at my side. To not be given that option suggests to me that they have a very well rehearsed schtick that you must hear from beginning to end (much like a timeshare pitch).

Sorry cassaguy, I missed the humour. My bad.

 

[GovernorARNOLD]

Depending on the quality of photography, the camera can trick your eye to resemble anything.. why doin't you put a wider shot of the towers next to any skyline other shot?

 

[casaguy]

^You're right.

I was struck by how ugly/bland the buildings are from that vantage point and snapped that pic.

A friend mentioned that although the development and architecture leaves a lot to be desired, the buildings can be somewhat impressive when driving into downtown on the Gardiner (especially at night).

I like the coloured lighting effect they are using on top of some of the buildings. Although maybe that is just because during the day, that area is crying out for some colour. Is this colour what will replace all of the older typical brown buildings?

Unimaginitive2, (and anyone else who lives there), I'd be curious to see other vantage points of the development. What does the development look like from your windows?

I had snapped some other pics, desperately trying to find some sexy angles of the developments but don't think I succeeded. I think it's gonna take more than just "magic hour" lighting striking the glass or extreme low angles.

I used to love the feature on West One, and still kinda like it, but I've noticed I'm not really impressed by it anymore. It's completely worn off. (Much like a hit song that you love at once and then get bored of after a few weeks. In other words, it's not timeless.)

I don't remember the name of this building below, but on its own, it's pretty cool... but then it loses its appeal caught up in the cluster of all the others.

And I don't think I've ever seen it discussed...

Why can't these tracks be covered? This could have been some valuable real estate for park lands of some sort over top of this huge swath of tracks reaching right up to Front St.

Good morning Spadina!

Ugh, get me out of here!

 

[unimaginative2]

Why can't these tracks be covered? This could have been some valuable real estate for park lands of some sort over top of this huge swath of tracks reaching right up to Front St.

It's definitely been discussed. This has been my long crusade. Perhaps it's been too long since I last brought up my report from 1985 done for CP that says it's both feasible and economically desirable to bury the rail corridor though downtown...

I spoke to the Cityplace people and they said they're still looking at building on the southwest corner of Front and Spadina. If they're actually managing to get $800 a square foot by the end, they'd be crazy not to. Perhaps once that's done, they'll want to keep the income rolling by covering over the entire rail corridor.