Neighbors -deer and coyote

I was recently chatting with a neighbor in the other building and she mentioned that in the fields across from us there are deer every morning plus a wolf pack and coyotes! Too cool (although watch your small dogs and cats)

Building is really progressing on the outside. I also hear that floors 1 and 2 are pretty much done as far as color selections are concerned.

NEWS on Delay

Folks, this is the word from the builder on the latest delay:

**************

In making the decision to make the floor joist system steel not wood, we

took a bit of extra time to do the review to ensure we were delivering a

better product to our customers.  That cost us about a week.  We decided to

push it to a month so we did it once and it was a date clients could rely

on.  That way if other decisions that come up take time to consider we won't

impact clients' plans for moving dates etc.  Thanks for your patience

**************

Hopefully the dates we now have will be our final ones.

Latest pictures and delays

Well, we have the latest pictures below. Coming along really nicely.

On the other hand, we too got a delay letter from the builder. We are now Aug from June. Sigh.
I am working with builder to try and get an idea of the reasons as I find that helps to understand the delays. There is a high level of work that goes into building a condo. I am sure Jeff would not delay us if he didn't have to. I can understand although I don't like it, that builders deal with multiple trades and governments so delay is very typical.

I will let you all know as soon as I hear anything.

The outside is progressing really well. The grey is material (the stucco?)  being put onto the white which is thick Styrofoam insulation.

10 ft ceilings

I asked when I met with the Haven folks and yes, the 4th floor is coming with 10ft ceilings. Cool!
I am opting for flat ceilings (no stipple or other finishes) in my condo.

If you like this blog, please encourage other owners you  might meet or you already know to start following and sign up. The more the  merrier and incidentally, the more followers, the more the builder will listen and respond to us (though they are doing exceptionally well already as far as I am concerned)

I will post new pictures soon (if the rain ever stops<S>). My wife and I go for our Décor appointment this coming Monday evening. Keep you posted!

New comments

There are a few great new comments in the Sept 25th Parking entry. Be sure to check them out and add yours to the mix. (Click on September on the right hand side of the Blog to view old entries)

Thanks to those who are commenting! Keep them coming. My wife and I as well as my two sisters all go for a meeting this Friday at the Décor center. I will post some results when we are done.

Great idea on the double doors. I hope to add solid doors for noise abatement.

And it is news to me that the 4th floor will be 10ft ceilings! that's great (I will double check this Friday). We already heard no pot lights, that sucks. It's all very exciting.

Sorry for the delay. I have been out of the country.

As you can see though, the builder continues his work. Bricking is going in at a good pace and where the white paint(?) is will be stucco. This picture shows the inside section of the building with Upper Middle in the background (behind it) so facing south (the picture is taken from the small park area on the north end). My sister's balcony and windows are the top and third floor ones. Very exciting.

We certainly hope the builder is planning to add a window on the top floor where the darker patch of white is to even out the floors (all the rest of the floors show a window in what I believe is the stairwell at that end of the building. (right behind the scaffolding)

This picture shows the north side of the building and how bricking is continuing.

My condo is the top floor corner unit.

Parking

As an owner I have been asking since day one about getting an additional parking space. It seems unlikely at this point although I am keeping my hopes up. What about you? Are you interested in more parking? Do you think you will not use what you have?

Let's start a discussion. Join in by posting a comment with your thoughts. And, as always sign up so the builder sees the interest form the owners. The more support I have on this blog, the more interesting it will become.

thanks!

Bricking continues

Ah it is starting to look really good. You can see on wall is done on the south west corner (Upper Middle) with nice concrete style and brown above. The leftover section will be stucco similar to the other building. Give them a couple of weeks and it will likely be mostly done at this rate.

Also, as you can see in this slightly older photo from a week or so ago, these large openings will be the roughly 1200sq ft Amenity room (our gathering place perhaps<S>). As you can see it should be really light and airy inside.

Brick work has started!

Awesome, I was over to check out the site today and saw on the south west corner that they have started bricking the outside. It looks nice.

It is a bit hard to see on the photo with all the scaffolding but you can click on the picture to see it full size. All the windows and doors are in and the outside looks done to me so I guess the bricking can start.

Look for an ad for this blog in the décor center when you visit and start following the blog weekly and share how you are decorating/upgrading your condo. I will let you all know what we do once we have our own appointment. Perhaps we can learn from each other.

Decor center is running

Well everyone, the décor center opened up and folks on the first floor have been processed through with work beginning on those on the second floor.

Start planning what you want your condo to look like!
I have been out of the country but will post new pictures in the next few days. Look for business cards advertising this blog in the décor center with thanks to the builder.

Doors and windows!

The condo is progressing well folks. All four floors are pretty much up with the roof being completed now from the looks of it. Also, the doors and windows are going in! They look nice and well put together from the distance. Take a look at the photos. Remember you can see the pictures larger if you want by clicking on them. I didn't have the Nikon for these so they are from my phone and thus not quite as good.


Also, I am hearing that the decor center has opened and bookings are starting for those on the first floor. Exciting!

Work continues on

We were over at the site on the 4th and took this picture. The top floor is really coming along and becoming complete. Soon they will be working on the interior.

Hopefully we will start hearing color and design appointments being made. Any time now<S>

I will get some updated pictures this weekend some time. If you hear from the builder about appointments please let me know so I can update the page.

4th floor rises

The site is really starting to look like a building now with 3 floors done everywhere and 4 floors done on most of the building.

We also hear that color selections will start mid-August with the first floor. Whoohoo!

Latest Changes

While it still seems difficult to get information from the builder on the delay, construction continues.

This is the view facing south-west (so my new condo will be on the left side corner another two stories up<S>) Sutton drive is on the left.

We look forward to moving in whenever that will be. Will keep you posted on info we get.

Owners

If you find this blog useful, please sign up and check in regularly.

As more owners become part of the blog the builder will be a little more willing and quicker to share information with us through this blog. The builder is definately onside with it, but numbers count.

thanks

NEWS! Haven delayed

Not sure what is going on folks, but I am sure you have gotten your delay letter by now. Current date is June 2013. So far, only reason we have is "something to do with permits"

I will keep you posted.

In other news, it sure seems like the building is progressing realy well. See the latest picture below taken on the 11th June. Those who bought on the Upper Middle side of the building can see their unit's shell in place already.

Building materials

Bernie posted a comment query after seeing my latest pictures on the building materials being wood rather than concrete and wondered why. When I talked to the builders intially, they told me that building bylaws in Burlington allow the use of wood for buildings under 5 stories, so our building being only 4 stories lets the builder use wood rather than concrete.
In my opinion, I am guessing that it is far cheaper to build using wood frame than concrete hence their decision. Personally, I would prefer concrete as I find it is a better sound proofing that what will occur with a wood frame. That said, when I expressed this concern to the builder they indicated they would be ensuring sound quality. I guess we will see.

It is April 29th. We are here to see about rentals so took some more pictures.

The first floor rises! Work is progressing at a great rate to my inexperienced eyes.

My wife and I have sold our home and secured a rental in Burlington where we will be come June 1st. So a lot closer to the action: expect more updates.

Latest changes

More work done. A lot of the parking level floor is in place now and the first floor continues to be added.

Condo Suppliers

I found out through my sister a few of the places our builder is getting supplies from. This allows you to check them out prior to going to the decor center (and also let's you see options that are possible other than those offered by the builder)

The granite supplier is Custom Granite in Stoney Creek, they are in the building beside Adamson Flooring
The flooring supplier is Adamson Flooring in Stoney Creek (745 South Service Road, Unit #1 905-643-4522)
Plumbing supplies will be Kohler
The kitchens will come from Frendel (5850 Dixie Road, Mississuaga Rd)

Decor center should start any time soon bringing owners in for selections by appointment.

March madness

Folks, I am back after a three week hiatus (and some great golf in Hilton Head SC). The builders continue to impress with their schedule. Take a look, the foundation is almost complete and they are starting to build up the main floor! (Remember, you can click on each image to see more details)

It is certainly looking like the schedule will easily be met (let us hope there are no summer slowdowns).

Also, we found the Decor Center open so took a quick peek. From discussions it appears they will be starting to call us in for consultations some time soon. Start thinking of what you want your condo to look like inside!

Feb 25th Visit

Well, not much snow this winter so constructon continues unabated. Looking good, as all the main walls and supports seem to be up except the last corner where the currrent truck lane down is.

Will start to look like a building soon! Can't wait.

I will be away for the next three weeks so might be a small lapse here unless I can get some of the other owners to send in a picture or two while I am away.

Update Feb 5th

More work done on the foundation! As you can see from the attached picture, the foundation is progressing well. Most of the walls are in it seems. Looking good.

Looking near the yellow backhoe there appears to be the main elevator hole. If I am correct in my assumption, the backhoe is stitting near the spot where our car will be eventually parked. (Of course, I could be way off here<S>)

Mid-January

Well folks, the building continues. In the picture below you can see the foundation walls going up.
Looking good!

Look for more in a couple of weeks to check out progress.

2012 News

News is a little hard to get on the condo status but I did hear from them that the builder is planning a Grand Opening in the next few weeks. They are also planning updates to their own website (and hopefully will link to this blog). I will be out again this coming weekend to provide a progress update on the site.

First week of Jan 2012!

Work continues over the holidays. It looks like the builder has started the footings when we were there this weekend. They also have the decor center looking ready. No dates yet when we can start choosing our "fitting" and colours though. We will try and find out and let you all know.

The Decor Center