i am? while i don't doubt doubt there are people out there that like "exposed concrete" for their own valid reasons, I also don't doubt for a second that the vast majority of people who see it on sales brochures and hear it from their agent assume it's a good thing simply because it was marketed as so. making them sheep... and hence my post.

I'm one of those people who likes exposed concrete (and owns a place where it's part of the look), but you do make a good point. It's been marketed to death, and the misuse of the aesthetic has actually marred some buildings. I now have to laugh when "exposed concrete" is mentioned in the condo porn sales material. It looks great here and there, but it does not have to be replicated on every single building - even modernist buildings.

The exposed concrete pillars on the AGO always make me think that they were never finished.
 
It doesn't look like it's been mentioned that the retail component has been taken up by a Starbucks. Just what the world needed. There's another one about 75 m away in the Hyatt Regency.

Never mind, it has been mentioned. I didn't dig far enough back.
 
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Does anyone know if its normal for balcony railings to rattle and make LOTS of noise when its windy? My friend's place at M5V has this problem. Its bad enough that it kept her up at night on a windy day last week.
That's not normal. You should mention it to your condo board. It might turn out to be a deficiency that they need the developer to address.
 
Does anyone know if its normal for balcony railings to rattle and make LOTS of noise when its windy? My friend's place at M5V has this problem. Its bad enough that it kept her up at night on a windy day last week.

We have been having this exact same problem! We just didn't know what it was. We thought it was pipes and have been in communication with the builder and building management. They can't figure what it is or where it's coming from. I guess it could be balcony railings? I'd advise your friend to complain to the builder AND property management because if enough of us bring it up it then it might speed them up in fixing it.
 
Update on the balcony situation...

I was over at my friend's house recently on a windy night and the noise was VERY loud. i went out on her balcony and I could immediately tell that the noise was the glass moving and banging against the metal supports. I was shocked at how much the glass was moving and that it was rattling against the metal. it seemed ready to break.

Turns out that there have been at least TWO incidents of balcony panels shattering already including on the 31st floor last night (which seems odd because it wasn't very windy). On january 3rd another one broke on the 6th floor and the glass fell onto the terrace of the 3rd floor amenities level. This news came from the M5V Facebook page. i don't know if glass has fallen to the ground, but i would think it must have.

Considering all of the publicity surrounding falling glass in this city recently, I am really surprised we have heard nothing about this yet.
 
Minto's Quantum towers had the same issue, and Minto came in to fix all of the cladding that was rattling. If the developer gets enough complaints, and the condo board takes your side, the problem can be fixed.
 
I just saw these replies and that's very concerning. We actually had Lifetime management in our unit a few days ago when it was windy to listen to the loud rattling. They seemed completely baffled by it as well. They weren't too sure of the cause but said they would find the problem and fix it. However, they did mention that we were the only ones in the building who complained about such a problem. Bruvyman - did your friend speak to Lifetime in the building?
 
Fadi,

Do you belong to the M5V Facebook page? I would suggest you go on there and see what others are saying about the noise and the breaking panels. I don't know for sure if my friend spoke directly to Lifetime or not. I had suggested that she should, but I think she has only raised the issue with the property mgmnt people.

It does surprise me that Lifetime said this is the first that they have heard of it since two panels have already broken (possibly unrelated to the noise?) and my friend's neighbours have the same problem and have also apparently complained.
 
So my friend had Lifetime come and inspect the balcony railing/glass, and apparently they were very concerned at the moving and rattling glass. She says that they merely had to tighten-up some things (i'm assuming she means the hardware that fixes the glass to the supports) and that despite high winds over the past couple of days, that there has been no rattling at all. So if anyone else lives in this building and has a similar problem, it sounds like it is a quick and easy fix.
 
That's absolutely mind boggling.

Why would you go to such effort to draw attention to the piss poor quality of your own investment? So that prospective resale buyers can see your photos that and realize that your unit isn't worth nearly what you'd ask for it?

Why not just shoot yourself in the kneecaps while you're at it?
 
That's absolutely mind boggling.

Why would you go to such effort to draw attention to the piss poor quality of your own investment? So that prospective resale buyers can see your photos that and realize that your unit isn't worth nearly what you'd ask for it?

Why not just shoot yourself in the kneecaps while you're at it?


Sigh.

Because the status quo sucks.

We all tend to hide our shame and hope that it'll all go away, but in reality it won't. My unit will still be a poorly constructed house.
My wife and I will just deal with it.. like we've dealt with all the other curve balls life has thown us.

This is our home. Not an investment. And when we do sell one day, then we'll be forced to spend our hard earned dollars again bring it up to shape. That's why I'm doing this.

Are we hurting ourselves in the long run? Maybe. But I hope to at least raise awareness about a situation that perhaps too many people shy away from.

Peace
 
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