Montage Update

Montage condominiums replaces the site of a parking lot and is a new addition close to the Pike/Pine corridor. The sales center is set to open in a few weeks' with prices for their units still in the tweaking stages. Here is a summary of my thoughts after taking a sneak preview tour yesterday.

1. Well laid out floor plan- Master suite in most of their floor plans, good amount of storage space in the units. Dens are a little on the smaller side. I would probably call it an office nook instead of a den.
2. Generous amounts of outdoor space. All of them come with either a terrace or deck. Approximately 127-375 square feet.
3. Large windows. Even for units facing east, you still get a good amount of light. They even have windows in the hallway which is kind of nice for a smaller condo building. 
4. Attention to small details such as inline on-demand hot water from the sink, recessed lights in the kitchen, solid doors, dual flush toilets, gas cooking, and fireplace.
5. If you are in the market for a two bedroom, I would check out #503. Great layout with 2 decks and neighborhood views.

       

Looking at the exterior, there is nothing striking about the curb appeal but the building has a lot to offer such as interior details and proximity to the Pike/Pine corridor.

Comments

[Rob]

Wendy, I'm confused why you state these are 'large' windows. They look like regular sized vinyl windows to me. The penthouses Mosler or Four Seasons are examples of large windows, where they've used commercial grade window steel or aluminum casings rather than vinyl.

I realize Montage is not a luxury development and they are using cheaper residential style vinyl windows, but that still doesn't make them large!

[Daryn]

Rob, I think by 'large' she means a plentiful amount of glass and light. The windows themselves are standard size, but there are a lot of them...

[Wendy]

Thanks Rob and Daryn. To clarify, the windows on Montage are larger and in higher quantity than most wood-framed buildings'. I agree Mosler, Four Seasons, and other higher-end, new concrete and steel buildings have the largest windows.

[Mark]

I think it's sad that we've come to this in our beautiful city. Aside from noting that the units have decent floor plans and that it isn't built to the absolute cheapest possible standards, there is nothing about this building to recommend it. It is a banal, uninspired hulk of a thing, which is saying something in this neighborhood. Just because it wasn't developed as a luxury project shouldn't mean that the builder gets a free pass on how the building looks. As prospective buyers, as neighbors, as citizens, I wish we all had the good sense to recognize the harm this does to our community and not support this sort of "lowering the bar".

[Jacob]

I agree that building looks like the developer didn't want to pay for an architect. It may have great layout, light, and interiors but the outside looks like an East German prison on a cold winter's day.