Concord CityPlace Toronto viewer submissions

Full names abbreviated to initials to protect those who might be shy. If you prefer your name to appear let me know. For legal purposes all emails remain on file so I can prove everything on this website is true. Concord will have to sue me and even then only the judge will get a peek. We do not edit emails. Everything including spelling mistakes are the exact email we received. Want to submit your story? Email Me

   
   
Wed, 15 Aug 2007 AL writes:
in the loft building, on the 7th floor, the entire floors fire alarm would go off every 30 mins.
this started sometime mid evening on monday night (around 9?) it would be one beep, every 30 mins or so.  but its so loud there is no wa you could sleep.


this has get this: continued for 2 NIGHTS UNFIXED!

yes thats right, I've not been able to sleep in my own damn condo for *2* nights -- how is it possible that this is not a priority for the management?

one would figure this should be sorted out in a couple of hours as a high priority, and at most on night... but no, this has dragged into a multi day thing with NO COMMUNICATIONS from managment.

that's right, I have NO IDEA what happend, when its going to stop, or that I should have been prepared for another sleepless night (had i know they weren't going to get it fixed by midnight tonight -- I would have made arrangements) of course this is happening on weeknights.  I feel bad
for all of those on my floor that need to work the next day -- at least i've managed to fit in a couple of hours of interrupted sleep (I'm a super deep
sleeper, but this thing is super loud).
 

 
Fri, 17 Aug 2007 A.L. writes:
After reading several of the horror stories about CityPlace condos and ones pertaining to 5 Mariner Terrace, all I can say is that I am glad that I sold my condo unit as soon as it was registered more than a year ago.
 
I regretted buying the unit shortly after the 10 days of cooling period.  It was my fault that did not bite the bullet and got out of the deal during that time.  The original interim occupancy date was to be fall/winter 2004, but I did not get into interim occupancy until a week before Christmas 2005.  During the long wait, it was becoming increasingly apparent that Concord Adex was a cheap builder who scrimped on everything from quality of finishes to workmanship.  I had the misfortunate of dreading my own condo unit when I first-handedly observed the cheap units that had been completed previously -- Optima, Apex 1 & 2, Matrix 1 & 2.  They used cheap finishes and even the appliances were bad (anyone seen the miniature washers and dryers in Optima?).
 
The PDI was a nightmare.  I hated everything about the condo and how awful it looked.  Even the staff at Customer Care told me in secretly that they felt sorry for me and others who bought such a badly constructed building.  Even though I did not make any money I was glad to be rid of it.  I knew that once work leaked out of the builder's poor workmanship and low quality of customer service, then it would be very difficult to sell it.
 
My advice to anyone looking to buy CityPlace condo?  DON'T DO IT.  If you need some evidence, do comparison shopping, and check out some of the built CityPlace condo units that are on the market.  You will know what I mean.  The question that I have is:  In this highly competitive market where new condo projects are popping up every day and all builders are offering excellent upgraded finishes on standard units (granite counters, hardwood floors, 9 feet ceilings, designer designed lobby & unit layouts), how long will it be before Concord Adex (CityPlace builder) wakes up and realizes that the buyer is going to vote with his feet and not buy from them?  How stupid do they think people are anyway????

 

 
Feb 4 19:31:51 2007 J writes:
I would like to report occurrences of vandalism in the 5 Mariner Terrace parkade. I live in this tower. Several times some idiot has been writing on my wife’s car. They are writing sexual messages such as "I'm gonna rape you", "cunt fuck you" and "I love cock"
 
The light above the car is burnt out and we have been asking for months for it to be fixed. Maria, the excuse queen to this day has done nothing about it. She doesn’t take it seriously.
 
We have called the police who have it on file and are just waiting to find the person so we can charge them with sexual assault. Please post this so anyone who witness's this persons deeds can contact the police and report it. The next target could be your wife, sister, or mother. Do you really want this kind of person in the building? Hopefully the police will catch them red handed or a resident will know who this moron is. Please report it to the security desk or police.
 
The Toronto Police crime prevention department has stated they will deal with the building directly about the burnt out light they refuse to fix. Maria once again is causing more trouble to the building then needed and being paid to do it. I really do not want to add to all the negativity on this site but the situation is pretty stupid. Management can’t stop idiots from being idiots but they can fix a light at least to help prevent it.

 

 
Wed, 20 Dec 2006 J.E. writes,
Hi there,

I have a comment to make regarding City Place and the "concierge". I am disgusted by the way I have been treated by a couple of the security guards. Most of them in my building are quite nice and helpful but a couple are really really rude. The company seems to fire employees that are kind & considerate, which was demonstrated when Paul left. I pay good money to live there and it's not too much to ask to be treated with respect and civility. I am renting and glad that I'm leaving in a year to a condo that is being built, right by George Brown College. I am sure my new condo will be much better quality & workmanship than 3 Navy Wharf Court. Great website, I'm glad I know I'm not the only one who is disapointed with living here.

Ticked off

 
Sun, 19 Nov 2006 "LostSoul" Seems to be obvious who wrote this (Originating IP 74.107.79.254 )
Hi,

you must be the most pathetic person alive! First of all before you make a statement saying your stories are 100% fact make sure they really are.
First of all the security you are talking about her name isn't spelled Debbie. Funny how people like to blame things on security guards, whatever is wrong with Concord City place, its the place itself, it has nothin to do with the security guards, the whole place is designed cheap, guards are getting payed $10/hr don't expect them to make to much effort. The home invasion too, once again Security gets blamed when it wasn't Security fault, the people who did the invastion was people within the condo itself and they entered through the underground where there is absolutely no camera's once again its Concord City who are being cheap asses and can't afford to purchase more camera's. You people must have nothin better to do with your life but complain. You don't like the place just fuck off to somewhere else, instead of crying about stuff like bunch of babies.
 

 
Wed, 8 Nov 2006 anonymous writes

Hi,

I have been living in Cityplace building D for almost a year and I am utterly appalled by the service I have been receiving thus far. Where to begin, Sigh! The first matter of concern has been the film of grim which has accumulated on my windows for the past year. I have spoken to Maria twice and her predecessor once, both providing me absolute dates for when the windows would be washed. However, all the dates have come and gone and the windows still remained unclean. It has been exactly 8 months and 8 days since I have moved in and the windows have never been washed even once during my tenure in ‘shittyplace’.  I know this seems like a minor incident, but I am only getting warmed up. Next, came the broken air conditioning during the single hottest week of the summer. Not only did my air conditioner stop working, but I experienced some electrical troubles afterwards. The air conditioner was fixed after 6 days, but it took approximately 5 phone calls and 5 weeks to have someone come look at my bad wiring. The property management company kept suggesting that my electrical failure had nothing to do with their systems failure. It took me calling PLC, the builder, for them to come look at it. They were much more helpful than the property management company!

Last, but not Least, the clincher. Last month my girlfriend booked the guest suite for this upcoming weekend.  Now in order to pay for this you must supply cash or a guaranteed cheque between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm to ‘Christine’, who refused her last name during our lovely phone conversations. I understand these are the procedures put in place, but after 3 phone calls, one of which ending after ‘Christine’ telling me “too bad, these are the rules and I could care less”, my issue is still not resolved. I mentioned on the phone that My girlfriend and I work between those hours and we could not meet her to give her the cash. I really didn’t want to certify a $150 dollar cheque for $25 dollars to submit to the concierge, but that is the only way they can accept payment. She was extremely rude and unwilling to share any information at all about this procedure or any other alternatives to make the payment. And after I had suggested that they accept credit cards, she simply laughed and said “that’s tough”. I had asked for her superior’s name, Maria, who I had explained my situation and how her employee, who also is paid by the fees generated from the building, of which I pay, treated me. Again, I heard “that’s too bad and you have to speak to Christine about her poor attitude”. I understand that all of these can be viewed as meager examples of poor customer service, but when I am paying to live in a building, I would prefer not to have each and every experience with the management company to be a negative one. I am a huge proponent of ousting the management company, replacing them with a much more experienced, efficient company.

 
Sun, 17 Sep 2006
Smell from Ventilation System in Building C [3 Navy Wharf]
There are concerns about the strong and overwhelming smell of fried foods in the lower floors, inclusive of the 7th floor. Apparently the smell is entering units which in turn makes the air unbreathable, via the air vents. It would be interesting to determine if the source of the smell is most likely from the new restaurant and bar that is situated on the street level of the building.The restaurant and bar in question had a private function on Friday, September 15, 2006. The official opening of this place is on Monday, September 18th, 2006. Will observe and monitor to see if this is an ongoing concern.
 
Thu, 14 Sep 2006 (name withheld by request) writes:
Yesterday I found your website and was shell shocked to see such the common theme experienced by other residents at CityPlace.  We moved from overseas into Building D in January.  We've had so many problems I could not possibly list all of them but I will give you a sample of the issues we've encountered in just 9 months. When our concerns are raised to customer care we get the revolving "pass the buck" response.  Here is a sample of our experiences (please do not publish our names for privacy reasons):
 
(name withheld by request), Building D
 

Date(s)

Description of Incident

24-July-06

13-Sept-06

On two occasions the ropes from the window cleaners were left dangling and were banging up against the south side of Building D. This happened in late July and again mid-September.  The noise was so loud, it gave us a headache.   A call to Maria at Customer Care resulted in her passing the buck, saying it was the builder who subcontracts to the window cleaners (in other words, customer care could do nothing to help us). Several hours passed with more phone calls and chasing by us,  the tenant, to get somebody to fix the problem.  We also advised the landlord of this problem and followed with a visit to customer care in person.   There we found a line-up of people complaining about various issues in their units.  

On both occasions after several hours of nothing accomplished, the problem was fixed by us tying up the ropes with duct tape to our balcony.   Shocking.

 Every month

Gym equipment is often not working.  The golf simulator, karaoke, and bowling alley are frequently unavailable because they are broken. Each of these has been out of order for weeks at a time.  Gym rules are not enforced by gym staff (such as swimming caps to be worn in the pool, children playing on gym equipment).

18-May-06

27-June-06

18-July-06

02-Aug-06

Air conditioning 3-way solenoid valve that was replaced multiple times in both A/C units. We were without air conditioning for weeks.  The problem was rectified only after the valve was physically removed from the line and the debris (which was not allowing the valves to seat and thereby causing it to burn out) was flushed from the cooling system.

01-Feb-06

24-July-06

Tradesmen scheduled by customer care to repair problems in the unit do not show up when they are scheduled to and no call is received to say they are either late or are not coming at all.

01-Feb-06

27-March-06

Following initial move in, it took numerous visits to patch and paint the walls. These repairs were promised to be completed prior to our move-in date. When it was finally completed, we ended up removing paint from the carpet which was splashed by the painters.  They had removed the splash guards before they painted the baseboards.

Feb-06

We had to ring a gas fitter one Friday night at 9PM to repair a gas leak from the stove. It turns out the contractor did not properly connect the gas line from the wall to the stove.  

Feb-06

The light in the ensuite bathroom was installed incorrectly so it was relocated to centre over the mirror.  On day one, an electrician moved the light junction box.  A week later a drywaller finally arrived to patch the whole.  Then there was two more visits from the painter and a final visit from the electrician... 5 or 6 separate entries to do a simple task.  Each time, was an interruption and several weeks to complete.

 March-06

Following installation of the divider on the balcony, the contractors left a mess of rubbish behind.

 

 
Sun, 03 Sep 2006 anonymous writes
I have read your website with great interest and would like to add a few situations that I saw/observed [do not publish my name on the site].

1. Broken Door to the Loading Area to the moving and deliveries area at 5 Mariner Terrace

On Wednesday August 30, during the lunch hour, a truck [lic# xh3738] completed deliveries and the driver was attempting to exit the moving and deliveries area and hit the door completely damaging the door. Up to this day, Sept. 3, the area leading to the service/moving elevator at 5 Mariner Terrace is completely open since the door is broken. I listened to the conversation between the driver, the security [Bernie], and property management [Maria]. The Driver stated that the security told him that the door is opened, and he hit the door as he was exiting. Apparently the security [Bernie] has a practice of not completely opening the door [reliable sources states that he opens it just a little over 7' instead of fully opening it]. To blame the driver for security error is irresponsible.

2. Feud between security staff and residents

One security staff [Debbi] at 5 Mariner Terrace and tenants of 2 units have an ongoing feud [i know the tenants and their addresses]. The tenants are concerned that she disclosed confidential information about them to their landlord/owner and the police. In that case, the landlord/owner who is not a resident comes to the building and hangs around the security desk when this security staff is working, sharing and receiving information about the tenant. Now the relationship between the security and the two tenants has soured and the police were at the building on the evening of Sept 1 following an ugly confrontation between the above stated security and the resident after the resident's vehicle was ticketed.

3. Security Turnover [5 Mariner Terrace]

On or around 3 security staff at 5 Mariner Terrace are openly planning to leave employment within the next few weeks because of poor communication between management and residents of changes which in turns causes residents frustration to be directed towards the security. Here are 3 instances:

i. The air conditioning fiasco during the heat wave in July. Property management placed a note on the elevators that falsely stated that the problem was rectified when it was not. A representative of the builder asked that the noiced be removed from the elevator [as it was untruthful or he would blow the whistle to residents/owners]. The temporary solution was that the connection is now bypassing the sensors in the units so that only the AC units is on. The problem will arise when the temperature drops and we need the heat turned up.

ii. Fobs were deactivated for many residents at 5 Mariner and two contradictory notices were posted. The property management notice stated that it was an error, while the notice from the chair of the board of directors stated that it was because fobs were unregistered.

iii. Parking deposit [5 Mariner Terrace]

There is confusion over the $10. deposit. Here again poor communication is causing undeserved stress and frustration.

The lack of respect for residents and owners by property management is a cause for concern. Posting notices on elevators and bulletin boards is a poor way to inform residents/owners of things that are happening. Residents have asked that important notices be placed in their mailboxes or sent to them electronically and their requests are not address/ignored.

4. Fobs for elevators - after midnite etc... [5 Mariner Terrace]

Poorly communicated and possibly poorly implemented.

Action Plan

1. Your website can serve for us to organize a concerned residents/owners group to voice collective concerns to a higher authority as the ones who proport to serve us are unresponsive.

2. We need a new property management as the current one do not respect the owners/residents.

3. Perhaps we can send these concerns to the ombudsman ontario office and have them investigate
 
 
Thu, 24 Aug 2006 FM writes
Hi,

I was searching on "cityplace toronto sucks" and I found your site!

I just recently purchased a resale condo at 35 Mariner and found several major problems already which without talking to other owners, I don't know if it's only my unit or if it's a common problem... I had been warned that the workmanship of the cityplace condos is bad but I didn't know it's this bad!

I have pictures of my flooded locker. Do you post pictures too? (Apparently the lockers above mine are also flooded - something to do with cracks in the ceiling but I haven't seen them.) The property manager's solution is for me to put a tarp warp to cover the top and elevate my stuff with crates!! I got to find out whether there is any locker maintenance fee that I am still paying!

The cold water pipe underneath the sink is leaking. I know the owner's document said plumbing within the unit is owner's responsibility but a broken pipe in a 1 year old condo already? This I should have caught before my closing but the seller never disclosed it.

I have moles growing in the bathroom on the side of the sink cabinet (in the non-leaking bathroom). I am just wondering if other unit owners have the same issue - maybe just issues from my seller's carelessness?

Unfortunate, I had a bad agent that "advised" us there is no need to do a home inspection because it's an almost new condo. My fault for cheaping out. My advice is for other people to do a home inspection even if the condo is brand new.

FM
 
Mon, 21 Aug 2006 LJ writes

Hi there,

Well, out of the top of my head - the external windows at our suite STILL haven't been cleaned. (They were never cleaned since the construction of the building.) We've called many times and everytime they have us a different date which long has passed. They blame the builder as they are supposed to do the cleaning. The cleaning ropes are there for a month now, but nobody is doing anything.

I have to change my light bulbs in one of the bathroom every couple of weeks because they burn out. I had electrician come to change it and curse at how purely the electricity was set up and that these bulbs are really bad.

The entrance door is howling but they claim that it is due to air pressure and is supposed to be like that. And if I try opening all the windows in my apartment it should reduce. Ridiculous.

Good work on the site and good domain name!

LJ

 
Mon, 21 Aug 2006 MA writes
Hi,

As a cityplace resident I just wanted to cheer you on with regards to your site. It's good to see someone is willing to take some time and rant about cityplace issues in the open, even if it is painful for everyone involved. It takes guts to look back at such a huge purchase and admit it didn't turn out well, too many people are willing to accept what they get.

Anyway, I have some comments:

1) party room, noisy people, etc:

You should mention something about the issues that cityplace has with noise, parties, people dealing drugs out of their suites and so on. For me this is the issue that bothers me the most out of any other issue, and I feel it's closely linked to the recent home invasions. People who live at cityplace who aren't acting in a civilized and friendly manner are -- well, in Toronto, a given -- but security and management should (and seem to) have the tools at their disposal to do something. They just don't seem to do much about it except note down the incidents. I'm not sure which of the buildings you reside in but for those of us over at Matrix 1 and 2 (buildings A and B) who are within line of sight of the party room, this is a huge issue -- the rules are clearly violated at times (sprawling parties at 3:30am on monday, for example) and the management has been unwilling to call the police to do anything. We could easily get this solved with a bit of effort.

2) Security presence / attendance / vigilance

The matrix buildings have a revolving door policy. While I haven't necessarily seen the same things you have, you and I both seem to
understand that _security through obscurity is no security at all_. Now that it's common knowledge that Cityplace is trivial to invade, we can't rely on our security guards as a mere "intimidating presence" -- they actually have to be effective and interview and identify every person that comes into the building -- as is done in condos that have "real" security.

3) Garbage Smells

There are serious garbage smells in some of the buildings. It sucks. Please mention it on your site. It is really embarassing to have guests over and have garbage smells wafting all over the place because improper procedures are in place. This can't be something they can't solve, as I have never witnessed it elsewhere.

4) Your website and Cause:

- With all due respect, you should make your site less tabloidy/rhetorical and a bit more professional. I think the first reaction of most people when going on this site is probably to chuckle and to say "wow this person is really nuts" or something to that effect. Maybe you're going for this effect, but if you're also going for a reputation of verifiable information, standing behind facts, etc, you should try to keep the rhetoric low and the facts/evidence high. Let readers make their own informed decisions, and above all, inform them.

- site goals. Have you given thought to the achievable goals of your site? You might also wish to consider that not everyone who comes to your site who lives at cityplace wants to "storm the castle with pitchforks and torches", but at the same it is VERY likely that you will find very few residents with zero complaints. This means that while 99% of cityplace residents might identify with your cause, they might back away slowly from this overly dramatic treatment of the issues. If you want to bring people on your side, I would suggest toning down the personal crusade part of your site and instead try to form a solidarity amongst the consumers of the cityplace
product. This way, we could all work together to get some of these issues solved, or, hell, even get the current management company thrown out and replaced with one that can be held accountable and Do The Job Right. There used to be another company doing the management here and they had this guy running everything who was very strict with building entry and made an effort to know who belonged and who didn't -- we could go back to them and have this solved.

I point this out because some of us at cityplace would rather fix the problems by using our power in numbers rather than watch you get
dragged into a silly court battle. Some of us are stuck here and can't just buy another place.

I hope that helps. Please keep my comments anonymous if you mention them on the website.

Thanks
 
Mon, 21 Aug 2006 JR writes
Hi,

I just wanted to commend you for putting together a great website.

Best,

JR
 
 
 

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