The Tower Hi-Rise Condo's
#1
Posted 30 March 2009 - 09:26 AM
I have been a Director in the Condo Assoc. since the developer turned the building over to residents in 2005. (Was elected and re-elected) Has been very satisfying.
A story in the Business section of Today's Star Telegram tells the story pretty well. Our values remained high even in a deep recession. We have had 2 foreclosures. Out of 292 units. Even though coast to coast condo's have been hit very hard by the recession. Show me ANY other new neighborhood of 300 homes that has had less than 3 foreclosures in the last 4 years! (keep looking.)
Congratulations Fort Worth.
<a href="http://www.star-tele...y/1285668.html" target="_blank">http://www.star-tele...285668.html</a>
#2
Posted 30 March 2009 - 08:07 PM
I see my first Tower Condo on 30 on the west side. (Before I did that "Mov'n on up, to the East Side" thing) when I moved up to 34 on the East side.
I love the East side but I surely miss the West side. If I find a 30 carrot diamond in the field I would try to buy my first unit back and have both. I did own both for 5 months. Was sweet. I did not put my old unit up for sale for 3 months after I moved out of it. Just didn't want to sell it. Then my lake house on Eagle Mountain lake had its contract fall through, and I then owned 3 homes and didn't like that a bit. Out went my place on 30.
#3
Posted 02 April 2009 - 08:03 PM
12' ceilings. 12' windows. (12' custom curtains. Ouch)
#4
Posted 02 April 2009 - 08:20 PM
#5
Posted 07 June 2009 - 01:18 PM
This is the first picture I ever took from the Tower. (Was my first time in The Tower.) I was in the Model condo on June 12th, 2004 on the 23rd floor. My wife said she would never live that high up. (Of course we wound up buying a place on 34) She was pretty creeped out by the heights as the only units high up with windows were the models so there was a 100mph breeze trying to blow us into the parking lot as we made our way from the elevator to the model home.
First pic from tower. (From toy camera)
This is the model that we fell in love with in the sales trailer. Turned out to be remarkably accurate in its rendition.
View from the park.
View from the Library. (can't take this shot anymore with the Carnegie now.)
#6
Posted 18 October 2009 - 07:43 PM
BTW I found this cat as a 4 week old toothless kitten hugging a curb in heavy traffic on Forest Park Blvd. I was going to find her a home. Of course I did. Here.
2 pictures.
Here is a shot of my cat inside her new play area. She can, and does, climb up to the third story and sleep.
And here is a shot I took of her from my other balcony when I forget to close her cage. I don't think think she can get her fat belly through the balusters of my guard rails. But I won't test my theory.
#7
Posted 18 October 2009 - 11:47 PM
Fort Worth Texas
#8
Posted 19 October 2009 - 06:34 AM
How about, "Were you supposed to close the door on this thing ?"
#9
Posted 21 March 2010 - 07:14 PM
#10
Posted 21 March 2010 - 08:55 PM
#11
Posted 22 March 2010 - 07:11 PM
Thank you KP
Here are a couple more from later last night. (Lights off in my condo) The clouds make it look like a huge eve on the building.
#12
Posted 27 March 2010 - 03:02 PM
Until then, I'll live vicariously through your photos!
Mary Bess
#13
Posted 28 March 2010 - 05:53 PM
How did that unit wind up with 5 big windows in a row? ...must be an A unit, hands down my favorite layout here.
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#14
Posted 28 March 2010 - 07:09 PM
How did that unit wind up with 5 big windows in a row?
It is an A-1. My favorite floor-plan! It is a 2 bedroom 2 bath unit. With a huge living room with that rack of windows. Next time I see you in an elevator I will push you in for a look.
#15
Posted 08 July 2010 - 08:08 PM
#16
Posted 02 September 2010 - 06:13 PM
The Tower parking garage has offices on the 6th floor, deeded parking on floors 5, 4 and part of 3, public / reserved parking on most of 3 and all of 2, Fat Daddy's and a drive through bank on 1.
The Tower parking garage elevators stop on floors 1 through 6 as well as the first underground level "BL" or Banking Level and the "SB" sub basement is two floors under ground, BL and SB both are connected to tunnels that connect the Tower High Rise to lower levels of the parking garage.
The fire escape doors in the parking garage are all locked from the inside on all floors except 1, from what I understand that's so that in the event of a fire those on 6 could not accidentally open a floor other than 1 and walk back into a fire.
For those that would like to take the fire well stairs, assuming they had a key to let themselves out on the floor they park, is there a fire or building code regulation / law that would prevent them from doing that?
Better Business Bureau: A place to find or post valid complaints for auto delerships and maintenance facilities. (New Features) If you have a valid gripe about auto dealerships, this is the place to voice it.
#17
Posted 26 September 2010 - 01:40 PM
The local TV stations, primarily Channel 8 I think, showed a weather photo of mine. (like the 10th time this year)
In fact, what the heck, here is the link. (Like 30 seconds of video)
Punch-line. A guy was looking for a condo with a great view in Downtown Fort Worth. (He works Downtown, I will not name where I guess) He called his Realtor and told him to find me to see if I would sell my condo. After watching Monday Night Football (Saints) I got an e-mail that I had a Facebook message. (I check my Facebook account about once a month because I hate it) It was the Realtor. It was a pathetic random message (As young people have mostly lost any meaningful communication skills beyond Twitter) It simply stated, "U want a pic of your condo?" I am guessing he meant to say, "Do you have a picture of your condo?" As I was curious as to who he was, I just said, "yes please." The next morning I woke up to 6 messages from this guy. He was the Realtor. He stated he had a guy that wants a condo with a great view of Downtown. He currently lives in Southlake but will sell his house. He will pay cash and close in 4 days. (As there are are few condo checklists the closing got pushed back to this Friday, October 1.
Now here is the twist. I am selling my condo on 21, not the condo I am sitting in on 34 that I took the weather photo from. My Condo on 21 has as good or better view as my condo on 34. (you are looking at the city, not over it) Personally, I like the view on 34 more because you cannot see Dallas from the unit on 21. Or the Trinity. Or the Courthouse or Sundance Square. I like those things. Plus I like being further from the streets. (I hate rude, loud, motorcyclists)
We have recently considered moving into the unit on 21 just because it is really fun. (more windows in a row) Had not intended at all to sell the unit. But for a certain $ figure, the game changes. Huge profit, immediate close without any mortgage company involvement. (I paid cash, he pays cash) Just could not turn it down. In this economy. And I never did get a condo in Dallas even though I was VERY close for several weeks. Still think I will end up with a Dallas condo. Downtown, downtown where it is cheap cheap and I love the views.
I also thought The Condo Assoc. in The Tower was going to grant a Super-bowl exception to the no renting your unit for less than 1 year and I was going to rent one or both of my condos. They just decided there would be no exceptions to the rules. (I don't disagree with the decision as it would wreck our building in just a few days.) But I am a little disappointed I can't make some extra cash. But one more reason to sell my extra unit. Also, I never listed it for sale but did agree to give the Realtor 3% to bring my this cash buyer wanting immediate possession.
So I have mixed feelings. I love the condo I am selling very much. It has been very fun since I bought it in March. But I am not so rich that I can turn away a good year's wages for holding (and loving) this condo for 6 months. Just a gift, all of it really. Between HOA dues, property taxes, utilities, lost interest etc... it cost me quite a bit to sit on it. I just did not want to let it go. I realize now that without a huge profit I would not have sold it. The only really bad part of this deal is that the IRS is going to get 35% of my profits. (As I did not hold it one year for long term Cap gains.) Oh well. Easy come, easy go.
On Wednesday night after I had an executed contract in my hands I went down and took a few pictures. (after the rain stopped)
Yes, you can see the reflection of The Tower's TCU Purple crown on the Omni!
#18
Posted 26 September 2010 - 07:40 PM
Sounds like a good deal if you can turn a profit on it. Rats to having to pay the 35% to the man. Stay in your 34th floor unit, we need the picks to brighten our day.
Mike
#19
Posted 27 September 2010 - 01:41 AM
The only really bad part of this deal is that the IRS is going to get 35% of my profits.
Well, look at it this way, unless something is done to stop it from going into effect, had you waited until January 1st to sell it, you would have had 39.6 percent confiscated instead of the 35 percent. So whoever you ultimately end up spending and/or investing the 4.6 percent difference with (and the employees who work for them) should be glad that you did so before it was too late and the money was flushed down the bottomless sinkhole which is Washington.
You see, people like you have to be punished. Some people don't even have a house or a condo - and here you have two. And you actually have the nerve to want to take advantage of that situation and make money off it. You ought to consider yourself lucky that they didn't just seize the condo from you and give it to a homeless person and, while they are at it, punch you in the face just because. That would help spread the wealth around - and give you a fat lip and a black eye as retribution for having made something of yourself and being successful.
#20
Posted 27 September 2010 - 06:41 PM
#21
Posted 27 September 2010 - 07:28 PM
And Dismuke, you have the same sense of fairness that I do. I had to earn $1.54 for each dollar I paid for the condo. (I bought the condo with what was left after paying income tax at the top rates.) Then to tax me on the gain for selling it seems pretty stinking greedy. Then they will want to tax my estate one more time after I fall off my balcony taking shots off the Parade of Lights. (Let's assume for the tax argument that the fall of 400' was fatal.)
I am wondering if the condo market is turning North just a bit or I got lucky. I do know there will be one less vacant condo in town. (as well as one more employed person with a fat wallet in town, and that can only be so wrong.) I am thinking of going down there this evening and taking photos until my trigger finger is blistered. It was sure fun while it lasted.
I was disappointed that I couldn't get any family and friends to stay in it. It is as though they were put off by the Coleman© air bed. (I kid not, but I love an air-bed.) The only person I got to sleep in the condo was my niece and her husband coming back from a trip to San Fransisco... A district attorney and her attorney husband (and son a judge), 2 counties over) Don't think I didn't shove my crack pipe behind the refrigerator.
And of course my wife is nervous that I think I have a magic tough with Real Estate as I am looking for my next victim... (She reminds me of that one time I had a stock go up and thought I was a warlock only to go on to lose a fortune in the 2000 tech bust)
#22
Posted 27 September 2010 - 07:55 PM
(Let's assume for the tax argument that the fall of 400' was fatal.)
...not if you landed on your wallet!
Better Business Bureau: A place to find or post valid complaints for auto delerships and maintenance facilities. (New Features) If you have a valid gripe about auto dealerships, this is the place to voice it.
#23
Posted 28 September 2010 - 08:16 AM
Was it John Lennon or George Harrison who yelled "I got blisters on me fingahs!!" after concluding "Helter Skelter"?
So go trigger happy in 21 and let us see your blistered finger results.
#24
Posted 28 September 2010 - 10:09 AM
Thanks KP. And in the interest of full disclosure it is only the second time in my life I sold a piece of real estate for more than I paid for it. The other time was my first house in Grand Prairie. (Bachelor boy student/ tire buster)
And Dismuke, you have the same sense of fairness that I do. I had to earn $1.54 for each dollar I paid for the condo. (I bought the condo with what was left after paying income tax at the top rates.) Then to tax me on the gain for selling it seems pretty stinking greedy. Then they will want to tax my estate one more time after I fall off my balcony taking shots off the Parade of Lights. (Let's assume for the tax argument that the fall of 400' was fatal.)
I am wondering if the condo market is turning North just a bit or I got lucky. I do know there will be one less vacant condo in town. (as well as one more employed person with a fat wallet in town, and that can only be so wrong.) I am thinking of going down there this evening and taking photos until my trigger finger is blistered. It was sure fun while it lasted.
I was disappointed that I couldn't get any family and friends to stay in it. It is as though they were put off by the Coleman© air bed. (I kid not, but I love an air-bed.) The only person I got to sleep in the condo was my niece and her husband coming back from a trip to San Fransisco... A district attorney and her attorney husband (and son a judge), 2 counties over) Don't think I didn't shove my crack pipe behind the refrigerator.
And of course my wife is nervous that I think I have a magic tough with Real Estate as I am looking for my next victim... (She reminds me of that one time I had a stock go up and thought I was a warlock only to go on to lose a fortune in the 2000 tech bust)
In a bizarre coincidence, when I woke up this morning I read my new Autoweek magazine. (Sept 27 issue) There is an article about a guy that tried to commit suicide on August 31 in New York City by jumping from a 40 story skyscraper and falling 400'. He lived. He hit the back of a Dodge Charger, went through the back window (at 126 mph) and broke a leg and injured is lung. I could not believe what I was reading after my comment above. Of course I was joking as I stated, assume I would not live the 400' plunge. Too crazy. And that I said 400'! Not 360 or 410. Nuts.
#25
Posted 04 October 2010 - 06:26 AM
As I figured there was not much in the way of a cash deal and the sale would go through, I went back in the unit for some last photos. Funny, as you get older, and more financially secure, you have to sell things you like. Or love. My first junk car and house I was thrilled to sell. Selling my townhouse overlooking Eagle Mountain lake made me cry. This one was sad but like I said, for a certain amount of money I could not say no even though I surely wanted to keep it for another year or so. I am looking for another condo. I think the market has bottomed. The photos...
#26
Posted 04 October 2010 - 06:53 AM
...as inspections go, small holes from mounts would not hold up a sale, from my past experience anyway, they might note it. Sale stoppers are something that breaks code or would make the place uninhabitable, like no working toilets or something.
I could be wrong and rules in high-rises do seem to be a little different, I sometimes think a little more strict, as I think they should be.
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#27
Posted 07 May 2011 - 08:01 AM
Now it happened again. Except this time the person wanted the condo I was (am for another week) living in. My home on 34 here at the Tower. She is a big time executive for a big company in Dallas we all know. (Senior VP) She liked the same things I did, primarily the view, the 12' foot ceilings and the few large condos on the floor. (5)
I just got a letter in the mail. Like all of us, you have that brief moment of "should I open this or throw it out." I opened it and it was this person saying she is looking for a condo in downtown Fort Worth up really high with few bedrooms and baths. I have the highest 2 bedroom condo in the Tower. I did not want to sell this place but being the capitalist that I am, realized everything is for sale. So I sent her an e-mail with a price that was too high for her. I was thinking, I did not want to sell, but what is the lowest price I would sell for. I gave her the "too high of price" and she said she wanted to come look at it. I was surprised. She fell in love instantly. Like I did in January 2006. The next day she offered me 5k less than I told her I would sell it for. I told her no. Need exactly what I said. She said, "You got it."
So in a pretty bad market, I just sold my second condo at a great profit. (at least a very good profit) She takes my home on June 1. I had to find a new home.
I love the Tower but figured things had changed since I looked last, and with an open mind started a search for a home for my wife and I. We knew we loved downtown but considered moving out as far as Montgomery Plaza. I had never been in the condos. I was very impressed. I was only interested in a condo up high with a view of downtown. (only a few of those left) in the 700k range. (they had some much nicer ones over a million) I will talk more about those condos in the Montgomery Plaza thread.
They now have some cheaper Le Bijou condos in the price range we are selling our condo for. 3200 square feet or so. Palaces to us. Very nice. Quality. But not us. We don't need that much space. And we are too spoiled to living up in the sky. My wife even has security apprehensions to living at ground level. (We watch too many "Who dunits")
The last place we considered was the toughest competition. The Omni. No secret, I love the Omni. So does my wife. We had not been in the condos for a year so we set up an appointment. They have some 2 bedroom 2 bath units at a price we are comfortable with. The best finish out. To me, the best view. Like 12% have been sold. Still. A little troubling but I like the thought of it not being crowded. I like quiet.
Of course we looked at other units in the Tower. We did not see what we were looking for. (High and nice. But not TOOO nice.)
We were at a stalemate. Then I decided to do what the woman buying my condo did. I sent letters to my 7 favorite units.
"Dear Sir, would you be interested in selling your condo. We want a condo like yours." I got back 4 "I will never sell, thanks", one "yes I would sell for a fair price", but was on 23 and turns out too low to clearly see over Tandy Centers, one I would sell for WAY too much money. (I thought he was kidding at first, but we talked on the phone and he would not sell for even 10k less). We were back to the Omni. Then 2 weeks later I got a call at work. "I am Ms. XXXX. I am the personal assistant for YYYY. He would like to sell his unit as he is never there. This guy has been the president and CEO of a "Fortune 500" company for many years. (You should be able to guess now, but I think I will not say his name.) His assistant let us in the next evening and we fell in love with it. It is an F unit on 28. (BTW, for those of you that guess who this guy is, I would rather us keep it a secret.) Any way, it was pretty expensive as it was perfect. But worth it to us. We closed on it yesterday at 3pm. We will move into it in the next few weeks. Have to be out of my current place by June 1. It is around 1600 square feet. (we have 1100 now.) So it gives us some room. Also, we love the row of windows in the living room and bedrooms. Our current unit has 2 balcony's which hide a bit of the view and take away a bit of the sense of height. (5 years ago my wife did not like high, so she took that as a bonus.)
So we are moving from 34 to 28. (A bit sad there.) but a bigger unit with a better floor plan. Of course the dues are higher by a couple hundred bucks a month. And taxes, of course. But we love it. We could have got unit the same size in the Omni for the same price. It really came down to loving being in Sundance Square. We think we would miss it too much. Plus, the people in the Omni are mostly rich. (we have some rich people at The Tower, but we also have Nurses living in a tiny condo just barely making their payments.) The Omni is grand. But they have valet parking. I am not that kind of guy. And would not really want my dues to go for such things. I saw myself as not fitting in. No use going in to something knowing you are odd guy out. Frankly, the next time we move will likely be to the Omni. Would have this time had Mr. X not agreed to sell his unit. We do love living at The Tower. (Dah, this is our 4th condo here.) We love the location, the views, the amenities, and even the history. We also have a lot of great Friends here. Of the 50 great people we have ever known, 46 live in The Tower. I think we will be very happy in our new home. Good friend and Forum member David Love is my new neighbor on 28!
Went down this morning for a few photos before Dawn. (my first photos of the place as the asked us not to take photos when we looked at the place 2 weeks ago.)
Shot from the balcony with my 400mm.
We are going to remove that wall to the right. (Convert the place to a one bedroom unit) It will make the wrap around view really great. I am thinking we will wind up with the most expensive 1 bedroom home in the County. (Will likely cost 20k and make our home worth 20k less)
#28
Posted 07 May 2011 - 10:25 AM
Will be a perfect view for the lake, if it ever happens, and you should be able to see the Cowboys' stadium if it's lit or at least see where it sits since it's in a slight depression.
Guess I won't be doing any more late night laundry...
Better Business Bureau: A place to find or post valid complaints for auto delerships and maintenance facilities. (New Features) If you have a valid gripe about auto dealerships, this is the place to voice it.
#29
Posted 07 May 2011 - 04:11 PM
#30
Posted 07 May 2011 - 04:35 PM
Congrats to you and the Mrs. I am going to miss the views to the east, but know you will not disappoint with new views and photos.
Hopefully someday, I can make my way back from Coppell to my beloved Fort Worth and be downtown. Fort Worth is such a great city.
best,
Mike
#31
Posted 08 May 2011 - 05:58 PM
Brian,
Congrats to you and the Mrs. I am going to miss the views to the east, but know you will not disappoint with new views and photos.
Hopefully someday, I can make my way back from Coppell to my beloved Fort Worth and be downtown. Fort Worth is such a great city.
best,
Mike
That's the great thing about living on the corners, you get East and North exposures. I kind of like Brian's a little more than mine, albeit I have more of Sundance Square down past the convention center but I get the summer sunrise bright and EARLY EVERY MORNING, which is not that bad on a day shift schedule, but still not much for sleeping in on weekends.
Better Business Bureau: A place to find or post valid complaints for auto delerships and maintenance facilities. (New Features) If you have a valid gripe about auto dealerships, this is the place to voice it.
#32
Posted 09 May 2011 - 09:26 AM
#33
Posted 25 July 2011 - 09:31 PM
I call this, Fat cat inspects construction. Now when I talk about the fat and lazy, I only have to look to this critter. She is kinda sweet.
#34
Posted 25 July 2011 - 09:53 PM
What is missing overall from the trades is the time honored master/apprentice system. When trades used to pay well, this system was intact and healthy. Now that many trades do not pay as well as many white collar jobs, those in the trades are often thrown to the wolves to learn their craft. I've been in that spot one too many times. Now, whenever I have opportunity, I mentor those entering my trade so they can benefit from both my wisdom and mistakes. This is how it should be, and if it were more common, you would not only not have to beg and plead to get people to work on or finish your condo, they'd do good work and make it look easy. Your flooring looks pretty good from what I can tell in your photo, but there are plenty out there who would charge you the same or more than what you may be paying above, and do lower quality work.
P.S. That cat has it made.
#35
Posted 26 July 2011 - 10:18 AM
Better Business Bureau: A place to find or post valid complaints for auto delerships and maintenance facilities. (New Features) If you have a valid gripe about auto dealerships, this is the place to voice it.
#36
Posted 18 August 2012 - 09:41 AM
This article is in the Star Telegram today. Sure enough, condo sales are picking up. Great news for Downtown and surrounding areas.
Here, in The Tower, only 18 condo's are currently for sale. (out of 290) Pretty amazing. The fewest number since the building was finished in 2005.
http://www.star-tele...adlines-default
#37
Posted 18 August 2012 - 11:49 AM
#38
Posted 26 April 2018 - 12:49 PM
Bumping this thread as it's the first one I could find on The Tower.
From the WFAA archives, here's the topping out ceremony from 45 years ago today. I'm guessing the time capsule is still up there? Doubt the tree is. Footage starts at the 6:40 mark.
https://youtu.be/5feaaTMUewI?t=6m40s
#39
Posted 26 April 2018 - 08:58 PM
They usually remove the ceremonial trees shortly after the topping out. The time capsule may or may not still be there, since the mechanical equipment inside the well in the center of the building was moved on top of the roof. The space inside the well was filled in with concrete. Since there was a lot of construction on the roof, it may have been removed. On the other hand, it may have been forgotten about.
#41
Posted 16 April 2019 - 01:43 PM
This was a pretty silly article as this building is not for sale. (I know that because I am not selling) It is just the commercial space, or a very small part of the total building. And this is not the first time in the last 8 years it has sold to new owners.
#42
Posted 16 April 2019 - 01:49 PM
I thought the same thing given the deceptive title and the fact that they wait 5 paragraphs to say that it's just the retail/office space for sale.
- Brian Luenser, youngalum and BlueMound like this
#43
Posted 29 April 2019 - 11:41 AM
The Tower building was the world's tallest skyscraper when it opened in 1974..... (sarcasm font)
According to the Dallas Business Journal.
https://www.bizjourn...fort-worth.html
#44
Posted 29 April 2019 - 12:27 PM
#45
Posted 29 April 2019 - 10:17 PM
The Tower building was the world's tallest skyscraper when it opened in 1974..... (sarcasm font)
According to the Dallas Business Journal.
https://www.bizjourn...fort-worth.html
Whoops!
-Dylan
#46
Posted 21 June 2022 - 08:10 AM
This is sort of an odd remodel permit at the Tower. Was there a flood or just sprucing things up?
https://accela.fortw...ShowInspection=
- Brian Luenser likes this
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