Comments on: Lumen Penthouse Finally Done http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: lulo http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/comment-page-1/#comment-81011 lulo Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:03:28 +0000 http://www.urbnlivn.com/?p=1614#comment-81011 The 'avant garde' art was a 13' styrofoam carrot (yes, I said carrot), suspended from the wall at about the 2nd level, complete with a big plume of greenery at the end. Beneath the carrot, sat a 2 - 3' tall porcelin rabbit, 'allegedly' sitting on the astroturf. I say 'allegedly', because I never got to see it and have never seen pictures of it. I did see the carrot though and it was quite possibly the wierdest art selection for a common area space, I've ever heard of. There HAS to be an interesting story behind it's selection because it was so odd - a choice by the 'famed local designer' intially marketed in relation to the building, Garrett Cord Werner? The 'avant garde' art was a 13' styrofoam carrot (yes, I said carrot), suspended from the wall at about the 2nd level, complete with a big plume of greenery at the end. Beneath the carrot, sat a 2 – 3' tall porcelin rabbit, 'allegedly' sitting on the astroturf. I say 'allegedly', because I never got to see it and have never seen pictures of it. I did see the carrot though and it was quite possibly the wierdest art selection for a common area space, I've ever heard of. There HAS to be an interesting story behind it's selection because it was so odd – a choice by the 'famed local designer' intially marketed in relation to the building, Garrett Cord Werner?

]]> By: lulo http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/comment-page-1/#comment-79094 lulo Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:03:28 +0000 http://www.urbnlivn.com/?p=1614#comment-79094 The 'avant garde' art was a 13' styrofoam carrot (yes, I said carrot), suspended from the wall at about the 2nd level, complete with a big plume of greenery at the end. Beneath the carrot, sat a 2 - 3' tall porcelin rabbit, 'allegedly' sitting on the astroturf. I say 'allegedly', because I never got to see it and have never seen pictures of it. I did see the carrot though and it was quite possibly the wierdest art selection for a common area space, I've ever heard of. There HAS to be an interesting story behind it's selection because it was so odd - a choice by the 'famed local designer' intially marketed in relation to the building, Garrett Cord Werner? The 'avant garde' art was a 13' styrofoam carrot (yes, I said carrot), suspended from the wall at about the 2nd level, complete with a big plume of greenery at the end. Beneath the carrot, sat a 2 – 3' tall porcelin rabbit, 'allegedly' sitting on the astroturf. I say 'allegedly', because I never got to see it and have never seen pictures of it. I did see the carrot though and it was quite possibly the wierdest art selection for a common area space, I've ever heard of. There HAS to be an interesting story behind it's selection because it was so odd – a choice by the 'famed local designer' intially marketed in relation to the building, Garrett Cord Werner?

]]> By: mattgoyer http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/comment-page-1/#comment-78604 mattgoyer Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:39:17 +0000 http://www.urbnlivn.com/?p=1614#comment-78604 Do tell, what all was removed? Do tell, what all was removed?

]]> By: Nthwest http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/comment-page-1/#comment-78548 Nthwest Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:24:37 +0000 http://www.urbnlivn.com/?p=1614#comment-78548 No surprise the developer chose not to live there...would you wanted to be reminded what a bath you took on this project? Unfortunately they are still under the illusion that anyone else wants to pay top dollar for this failed project. No surprise the developer chose not to live there…would you wanted to be reminded what a bath you took on this project? Unfortunately they are still under the illusion that anyone else wants to pay top dollar for this failed project.

]]> By: KMW http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/comment-page-1/#comment-78543 KMW Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:36:19 +0000 http://www.urbnlivn.com/?p=1614#comment-78543 2100 sq ft * $300 per sq ft = $630k. They are asking for $300k over that, si basically a third of the value of this condo is in highly depreciable interior finishes? <br><br>I remember when they pulled this space from auction and I thought it was rich to describe it as a penthouse, but throwing more money at it like this - now that's crazy! 2100 sq ft * $300 per sq ft = $630k. They are asking for $300k over that, si basically a third of the value of this condo is in highly depreciable interior finishes?

I remember when they pulled this space from auction and I thought it was rich to describe it as a penthouse, but throwing more money at it like this – now that's crazy!

]]> By: lulo http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/comment-page-1/#comment-78542 lulo Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:12:17 +0000 http://www.urbnlivn.com/?p=1614#comment-78542 Yes. This unit was originally being designed for the developer of the property who has chosen not to live there - I think they're the seller. <br><br>Despite being on the courtyard, the placement of this unit actually does afford it a pretty decent view of the Space Needle from the master bedroom (decent does not mean perfect; decent means the upper 1/3 of the structure). <br><br>As for the astroturf - it was one apsect of a botched, developer-chosen art project which was too avant garde for the residents taste (everything but the astro turf was removed well before the building went to auction, by request of residents). I wouldn't be surprsied if the HOA replaces the astroturf within a few years. Yes. This unit was originally being designed for the developer of the property who has chosen not to live there – I think they're the seller.

Despite being on the courtyard, the placement of this unit actually does afford it a pretty decent view of the Space Needle from the master bedroom (decent does not mean perfect; decent means the upper 1/3 of the structure).

As for the astroturf – it was one apsect of a botched, developer-chosen art project which was too avant garde for the residents taste (everything but the astro turf was removed well before the building went to auction, by request of residents). I wouldn't be surprsied if the HOA replaces the astroturf within a few years.

]]> By: urban http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/comment-page-1/#comment-78540 urban Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:51:10 +0000 http://www.urbnlivn.com/?p=1614#comment-78540 Go to Redfin and look at the aerial photo. That courtyard is horrifying! You are looking straight at the unit across from you... when you dress.. when you eat... when you sleep... Go to Redfin and look at the aerial photo. That courtyard is horrifying! You are looking straight at the unit across from you… when you dress.. when you eat… when you sleep…

]]> By: Sam DeBord, SeattleHome.com http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/comment-page-1/#comment-78505 Sam DeBord, SeattleHome.com Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:48:40 +0000 http://www.urbnlivn.com/?p=1614#comment-78505 Lumen is one interesting project. A few really nice units, a few "less-than-desireable" design ideas. Astro-turf in the hallway? Yikes. Lumen is one interesting project. A few really nice units, a few “less-than-desireable” design ideas. Astro-turf in the hallway? Yikes.

]]> By: JimmyS http://www.urbnlivn.com/2009/10/24/lumen-penthouse-finally/comment-page-1/#comment-78395 JimmyS Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:09:25 +0000 http://www.urbnlivn.com/?p=1614#comment-78395 $443 a square foot and $1600 monthly HOA is crazy for a condo at Lumen, which is widely recognized as a failed development that was auctioned off cheap. <br><br>Anyone who has visited can tell you #224 is not really a 'penthouse' per se since it's at the same level as the townhouses and barely two stories above the busy street level.<br><br>The claimed "$500k in upgrades" doesn't change that fact, nor does it magically add a view. In my experience, expensive interior upgrades are usually (a) overinflated numbers and (b) add little real value to the property, because most buyers wouldn't know expensive Pedini cabinets from their elbow. The worst sort of upgrades are audiovisual systems which are immediately outdated.<br><br>The one advantage is that you could live like Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window - in a fishbowl with a view into your neighbors. You would think the "$500k in upgrades" would include actual Lutron blinds but according to the photo's and the listing it only includes the wiring.<br><br>The kicker is the $1685 monthly HOA fees, for a building which doesn't even have a fitness center.<br><br>At the recent auction Lumen units sold for $279 s/f to $350 a s/f. I don't see the justification for nearly doubling the market value for this property, but then I guess a sucker is born every minute.You'd be better off buying a $449k condo and pocketing the $500k and $20k in annual HOA fees for something else, but that's just me. $443 a square foot and $1600 monthly HOA is crazy for a condo at Lumen, which is widely recognized as a failed development that was auctioned off cheap.

Anyone who has visited can tell you #224 is not really a 'penthouse' per se since it's at the same level as the townhouses and barely two stories above the busy street level.

The claimed “$500k in upgrades” doesn't change that fact, nor does it magically add a view. In my experience, expensive interior upgrades are usually (a) overinflated numbers and (b) add little real value to the property, because most buyers wouldn't know expensive Pedini cabinets from their elbow. The worst sort of upgrades are audiovisual systems which are immediately outdated.

The one advantage is that you could live like Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window – in a fishbowl with a view into your neighbors. You would think the “$500k in upgrades” would include actual Lutron blinds but according to the photo's and the listing it only includes the wiring.

The kicker is the $1685 monthly HOA fees, for a building which doesn't even have a fitness center.

At the recent auction Lumen units sold for $279 s/f to $350 a s/f. I don't see the justification for nearly doubling the market value for this property, but then I guess a sucker is born every minute.You'd be better off buying a $449k condo and pocketing the $500k and $20k in annual HOA fees for something else, but that's just me.

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