Affordable lofts in downtown

[drgath]

Any info online on Piper Lofts?  What are the prices/sizes?  I'd love to live in the crossroads, but they're just too pricey for my pocket right now.

[bahua]

I just got wind of a listing for sub-100k studios in one of the Soho Loft spaces.

Just FYI.

[parrothead]

Yep, I heard Piper will be starting around $260/SF.  Pretty expensive and unfortunatley you won't be able to move in for at least 18-24 months, and thats if this project actually happens.

Soho Lofts, on the other hand, sounds like a great bargin and you can move in tommorow, seems like a no brainer.  I am a big fan of the Garment District.

But if your heart is set on the crossroads, check out Frieght House Lofts.  It's in a great location, decent price, move in tommorow. 

[DaveKCMO]

Yep, I heard Piper will be starting around $260/SF.  Pretty expensive and unfortunatley you won't be able to move in for at least 18-24 months, and thats if this project actually happens.

But if your heart is set on the crossroads, check out Frieght House Lofts.  It's in a great location, decent price, move in tommorow. 

are you kidding? the cheapest at freighthouse is $334,000 for a 1BR/1BA. if $260/sf is correct then i can get a 2BR/2BA for $292,500. i'm not sure why you'd think the project might not happen. the sales office is opening this month.

[kard]

are you kidding?

parrothead is probably associated with Embassy Properties, who is behind every property parrothead has said a kind word about.

[LenexatoKCMO]

parrothead is probably associated with Embassy Properties, who is behind every property parrothead has said a kind word about.

Embassy is behind the Lofts at the Freighthouse (aka Stuart Hall and the Safeway) but not the Freighthouse Lofts Dave is referring too (expensive building between Stuart Hall and Safeway, subtle difference I know).  Stuart Hall isn't for sale yet but will probably be every bit as expesnive as Piper.  However, I believe Safeway is a bit more in line with the Soho properties price-wise so I suspect that was what Parrothead was referring to

[mean]

I'm pretty certain parrothead was referring to the Safeway lofts.

[jeffvb9]

That is true, some (is it really "all"?) Coffee lofts units do have concrete separating them, which would of course be fine.  One thing to keep in mind that they don't tell you unless you ask is I believe there is only 1 year left on the tax abatement and then I think it goes to 0%.  But then again, you can talk them out of parking & HOA to make up for it.

I currently live at 9th & Walnut, and one thing I noticed as I'm looking at views from out south is that you actually get to see downtown.  Most views from downtown (aside from the east side buildings) are at the building across the street from you, which is sometimes nice, but others times sucks (my current one).

I believe the tax abatement ends in 2009.  Also I have been living in the Coffee Lofts for about 4 months and have a neighbor that just moved in next door.  The only thing I hear is when he turns on his bathroom sink or shower.  Thats about it.

[kccrackednut]

Well, for God's sake, you shouldn't have to hear your neighbor's sink or shower.  It's one thing in an apartment, but not in a condo.  Believe me, it will get old fast.

[bahua]

Well, for God's sake, you shouldn't have to hear your neighbor's sink or shower.  It's one thing in an apartment, but not in a condo.  Believe me, it will get old fast.

I don't see how it can be avoided when you share plumbing.

[hawkgolfer]

I dont hear anything in my condo.  If I did, I probably would get tired of it

[artistboy]

I gotta say, having owned 3 loft/condos downtown, the sound all depends on the building. My own experience, the most expensive new construction just happened to be louder than the cheapest old building. Unless you have insanely dense walls, you are going to hear stuff beyond your own walls at some point. People seem to think that they pay money for complete silence from their neighbors, but when you have dozens of people closely packed into a small space on a quarter of a block, you are going to hear something. Just be realistic about it.

I do know some places are much worst than others. Stuart Hall is one of them. Some Embassy properties are good and others are poor.

One final note, the contractors and materials make all the difference. If you buy and need to sound proof over existing walls, I suggest high density rubber covered with fresh sheetrock.

[LenexatoKCMO]

I do know some places are much worst than others. Stuart Hall is one of them.

Stuart Hall seems to be really hit and miss.  We live on the North end of the building and hear next to nothing.  But I have heard people on the south end really bitch about noisy neighbors and train noise.  In a lot of these old converted buildings it can vary by unit to unit - for instance if you have a thick brick wall between you and the neighbor on one side you are probably going to hear less than the side where there is a new stud wall. 

[tella100]

I think a view is a lovely amenity, but it isn't a big factor for me, and is certainly not something I'd pay for.

I took a different route on the view issue.  The "view" was one of my primary considerations, obviously my other needs had to be meet as well.  For me it came down to the 9th floor at 21 Ten with a nice view for sure, 2nd Floor at Coffee Loft with an OK view and the 4th Floor of 523 Grand with one of the BEST views of any unit I had ever seen in KC (no matter the price) I ended up with what I consider the best view and can say I paid 10% more over comparable sized units in my building based on the view. In my opinion I think its worth it both financially and for me personally. There are times I come home and look out the window and am still shocked by what I see!

[drgath]

... the 4th Floor of 523 Grand with one of the BEST views of any unit I had ever seen in KC (no matter the price)

For a 5 story building, 523 Grand does have some GREAT views.  To the South you have a great view of the KC skyline, and to the West is a view of the river market that is unlike any other. 

I looked at 909 Walnut yesterday, and wow... I would absolutely kill for some of the views there. 

[Gretz]

My unit has an unobstructed, straight-shot view of a neighbor with and extreme porn addiction across the street's big screen.  Over the last year my roomate, guests and I have observed that he is particularly enamoured with group/gang bang scenarios.   If you stick your head out the window on a calm summer evening, you can even hear it sometimes.  Small wonder our rent just went up $40 a month.     This unit will probably be up for rent again in September, so get your reservation in soon at the quality hill office.

[bahua]

My unit has an unobstructed, straight-shot view of a neighbor with and extreme porn addiction across the street's big screen.  Over the last year my roomate, guests and I have observed that he is particularly enamoured with group/gang bang scenarios.  If you stick your head out the window on a calm summer evening, you can even hear it sometimes.  Small wonder our rent just went up $40 a month.    This unit will probably be up for rent again in September, so get your reservation in soon at the quality hill office.

Nice. One of the many unadvertised perks of living in Quality Hill. But with no sarcasm, I will dearly miss it. I absolutely loved living there.