Comments on: Vintage Urbanism in the CBD

By: Juan Ortega

Juan Ortega — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:27:27 +0000

You have to walk the entire building with your GC and your MEP consultants before you put your “hard money” deposits in place. Then you have to decide on a full scope of the work so that the GC can be involved early and start getting you some realistic construction budgets.

If you get into the project before having your GC and engineers work with you on the scope, you’re screwed.

By: Xavier Zayas-Bazan

Xavier Zayas-Bazan — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:35:11 +0000

It could be more expensive in that one really doesn’t know the full cost of restoration until you start chipping away at the concrete. You’d have to pay an engineer top dollar to do the report, and due to the nature of the project, expect constant change orders from the GC.

By: Juan Ortega

Juan Ortega — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:50:47 +0000

Yeah, I agree. It’s all in the GC and the Architect.

Also, if one were to do a residential conversion, you probably need to differentiate the project from the luxury projects going up everywhere else in the city. Perhaps some NY style lofts at a reasonable sales price would be more attractive.

Then again, sometimes, conversions are WAY more costly to do than new construction.

By: Xavier Zayas-Bazan

Xavier Zayas-Bazan — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:31:48 +0000

J,
Connectivity in the CBD via the metro mover is a definite plus. Here’s what I see as the restoration stigma: a restoration project from the 1920′s as is the case with Rok’s First National Building project, involves major concrete restoration, electrical rewiring, and mechanical work. We’re talking a complete overhaul of all three building elements due to years of deterioration and neglect. A common consumer fear is that given shoddy construction in new condos, a restoration may have even more construction-related issues. Unless you have a GC that specializes in such work with an architect to match, consumer concerns are not likely to be allayed.

By: Juan Ortega

Juan Ortega — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:54:52 +0000

I agree. I’m thinking some buildings within the Jewelry District neighborhoods and Flagler St.

Heck, even the Macy’s building should be redone. One of the keys to the area is the strong presence of the Metromover, so if redevelopment could be done right, and if you do some modern components (a la Circle Centre) then perhaps you can compete with brand new construction….

Just a thought…