A reader from the Heights writes in to ask what’s going on with the condos on the southwest corner of Heights Blvd. and 15th St.:
I am curious about a development project that seems to have fallen prey to the recent US mortgage debacle. The place looks abandoned and unfinished.
Two condos in the 20-unit Melrose Park Condominium development are listed for sale on HAR. All but one of the units appear to have the same owner. Can anyone fill our reader in on the latest?
- 1449 Heights Blvd., Units 112 and 229 [HAR]
- Melrose Park Condominium [iCityCondo.com]
- iCityCondo Units, Intersection of Heights Blvd and 15th Street [HAIF]
Photo of 1447 and 1449 Heights Blvd.: HAR
13 Comments
This place never impressed me. You can take a pile of dog poo and put candy sprinkles on it….but in the end…..its still a pile of dog poo.
You got that right, Jeff … and an almost $200/month maintenance fee ? For what ?!
…candy sprinkles…
I used to live down the street from these, when they were super crappy apartments with tin foil in the windows. During construction and now it looks like most of the work that was done was superficial at best. They were also open and abandoned looking for a while. So you can probably add some cat poo, rat poo, and pigeon poo to the pile, too.
Hey Jeff, Kelley and Jessica, we all appreciate your foray into creative writing; enlightening if overtly scatological but I think it’s time for some facts. Melrose Park is mostly vacant and is especially a victim of the decline in the mortgage market. Granted, the maintenance fee is nearly $200 but London Square Condos in the Galleria is nearly twice that for similar amenities and a much older complex ( let’s not even bring up the fees at the Royalton on Allen Parkeway). The complex at Melrose Park is actually a complete remodel. All walls were torn down to the studs and all electrical and plumbing systems completely replaced. Additionally each unit is customizable by the new owner and the finishes include hardwood floors, granite counters, stainless appliances etc. A little research is all it takes my dears. Happy Holidays!
Forget the $200/month maintenance; why would anyone pay $188K for either of the listed units? I have two bedrooms, my own laundry room, a garage, and a yard and paid only $190,000. I’m not on the boulevard, and my place could do with some updating, but still….
And Josh, if you have an interest in this place, I’d suggest you spend some money on landscaping. That courtyard is fugly to the max.
Toadfroggy, I think you are completely right about the pricing. I feel 188k is pie-in-the-sky unrealistic; I’d much prefer to see them about $135k tops even if each unit comes with its own washer/dryer included. As far as the landscaping, I also agree, it’s unattractive and I don’t hold out high hopes that it will necessarily be as long lasting or useful as the developer might suspect. I’m sure the residents would prefer a pool or some plantlife; even some statuary would be more in keeping with the Heights style.
Condo and apartment redevelopers tend to be a rather unscrupulous lot. I’ve locked horns with some before. This thing should have been torn down and townhomes put in before the market collapse. Good luck doing anything with it for the near future.
Thanks for the friendly reminder, Jeff, but thorough research also generally includes eyewitness accounts. I drove/walked by that property every day for a few years, during which time the buildings were in transition from low rent apartments to what we see now - and I was not under the impression that a high level of care or workmanship was going into the renovations. But if the developer’s post on HAIF from 2007 tells you differently, then I guess I could have been wrong! Wouldn’t be the first time.
The comments above reflect people who know nothing about this property. As a new owner and soon to be resident of The Heights, I have researched the construction and renovation thoroughly. The new owner and contractor have gutted this structure and used quality construction materials and the latest in appliances and European cabinets. The only original part of this structure left was the frame, block and studs. Anyone looking for the best bargain in the Heights has to stop by and see the units now under construction and the depth of the remodel.
They are using upscale materials in all the rooms, they have hardwood floors and granite counters. The property is currently being renovated to accommodate a parking lot in the rear of the building with security gates and coded entry. The roof on both buildings has been replaced and the electrical was completely replaced along with the plumbing to meet code. The stacked stone facer and huge cedar beams have replaced the old dated lumber. The walks on the second floor are 12 inches wider and there is a gym and guest suite available for the residents and owner to use as amenities.
If you want to discredit this property then go see it first and try to find a better value in the Heights for $125,000. Check out the rebuild and the models; new condos for this price on Heights Blvd are non existent. As a new resident/owner just email me at kathy.corbitt91@gmail.com and I’ll give you the owners name and number. Take a look and see for yourself.
Kathy, I agree. I looked last week at these apartments and they are NICE! I don’t know what these people are speaking about with $200 fees and window dressing because I spoke to the developer and they are clueless about this fee and the rebuild is extensive. New everything, floors, walls, kitchens, windows and it goes on and on. The one and a half bedroom is only 129,900.
I want to rent one first and at $900 a month then option my rent money to buy it if it works for me. You can’t find anything close to this for the money on Heights Blvd unless you want to live one of those flea traps from the 70’s that smell like old shoes!
James, I look forward to meeting you and the others who have bought and rented soon. I believe that based on the people I met who bought and are leasing we will have a good group there. Have you met the property manager yet. He and his wife are going to live there and are really nice people. Drop me an email and let me know what your move-in date is. Thanks
Well, let’s see. I too live in the Heights and watched these places being “renovated”. It is virtually impossible that the entire attic is not full of pigeon droppings. For months on end, they sat open and hundreds of pigeons were roosting and flying in and out of the attics.
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As far as the maintenance fees that people quoted in December, they probably came from the icitycondo web site. They’ve now been changed on the web site to $150 for the “600 sqft” unit and $195 for the “800 sqft” unit. On another page it indicates those are monthly fees. Also, per HCAD, the units are 581 and 773 sqft.
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The prices on the web site are $130K-137K for the small unit and $165K-170K for the larger one. That’s still over $210/sq ft and it’s a condo!
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I also picked up a brochure when they were under construction. There were wonderful photos of the “outdoor kitchen” (you can still see it on the web site) with a fireplace and built-in grill, etc. There was a small footnote that said “actual outdoor kitchen may vary substantially from photo” or something like that. What an understatement! The actual “outdoor kitchen” that I saw was a couple of free-standing residential-sized gas grills.
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The brochure also featured photos of the kitchens in the condos with beautiful cabinets and countertops with the same footnote “actual kitchen may vary substantially from photo.” Since the photo they used in the brochure was “borrowed” from the Kraftmaid cabinet literature, I’d imagine the finished kitchens do vary substantially.