Condo Considerations
05-27-21, 10:48 AM
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Condo Considerations
We currently live in a 2BD (rented) townhouse in Portland, OR. It has a massive basement/garage that has allowed my ... collection, to grow unchecked. We are looking for someplace to own, and even the smallest houses are out of reach, unless fixer-uppers or foreclosures. My bike collection is shrinking fast, but still large at three tandems, one of them a double recumbent; three single bikes, one of those a recumbent; and two folding bikes. All of the Condo's we have looked at have huge bike rooms that have space for way more bikes than are actually there, but I get the sense that most units control only one bike at most. Maybe there will be the singular exception of a three or four bike family controlling four spaces.
We are taking a second look today at a unit in a residential tower that I estimate has 60+ units. Coming from houses and townhouses all our lives it looks to be a huge culture shock. We would get a parking spot that we don't need. Has anyone here ever tried negotiating away the parking space for another bike rack? They don't currently have a bike rack. Bikes hang from hooks, and I only saw 10 or 15 bikes total and no spare hooks. There is no way to secure the bike against theft when it is on a hook. The recumbents and tandems are not exactly hook friendly in any case. I've given away four bikes in the last month to get to the present eight, two of them certified C&V worthy. I could let one of the folders go. I don't know whether to wait until, or if, our offer is accepted, to raise my issues with the bicycle storage infrastructure, or raise them now, and to whom? Or maybe someone in the 97232 zip code knows of a small house or townhouse for under $350K. Finders' fee gladly forthcoming.
We are taking a second look today at a unit in a residential tower that I estimate has 60+ units. Coming from houses and townhouses all our lives it looks to be a huge culture shock. We would get a parking spot that we don't need. Has anyone here ever tried negotiating away the parking space for another bike rack? They don't currently have a bike rack. Bikes hang from hooks, and I only saw 10 or 15 bikes total and no spare hooks. There is no way to secure the bike against theft when it is on a hook. The recumbents and tandems are not exactly hook friendly in any case. I've given away four bikes in the last month to get to the present eight, two of them certified C&V worthy. I could let one of the folders go. I don't know whether to wait until, or if, our offer is accepted, to raise my issues with the bicycle storage infrastructure, or raise them now, and to whom? Or maybe someone in the 97232 zip code knows of a small house or townhouse for under $350K. Finders' fee gladly forthcoming.
Last edited by Leisesturm; 05-27-21 at 10:51 AM.
05-27-21, 04:02 PM
#2
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Portland has a great bike parking ordinance. You might be able to find it online or call the city. I have reviewed it for a project but do not live there. It may or may not apply to the property. But, perhaps worth checking out.
05-28-21, 11:35 PM
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We currently live in a 2BD (rented) townhouse in Portland, OR. It has a massive basement/garage that has allowed my ... collection, to grow unchecked. We are looking for someplace to own, and even the smallest houses are out of reach, unless fixer-uppers or foreclosures. My bike collection is shrinking fast, but still large at three tandems, one of them a double recumbent; three single bikes, one of those a recumbent; and two folding bikes. All of the Condo's we have looked at have huge bike rooms that have space for way more bikes than are actually there, but I get the sense that most units control only one bike at most. Maybe there will be the singular exception of a three or four bike family controlling four spaces.
We are taking a second look today at a unit in a residential tower that I estimate has 60+ units. Coming from houses and townhouses all our lives it looks to be a huge culture shock. We would get a parking spot that we don't need. Has anyone here ever tried negotiating away the parking space for another bike rack? They don't currently have a bike rack. Bikes hang from hooks, and I only saw 10 or 15 bikes total and no spare hooks. There is no way to secure the bike against theft when it is on a hook. The recumbents and tandems are not exactly hook friendly in any case. I've given away four bikes in the last month to get to the present eight, two of them certified C&V worthy. I could let one of the folders go. I don't know whether to wait until, or if, our offer is accepted, to raise my issues with the bicycle storage infrastructure, or raise them now, and to whom? Or maybe someone in the 97232 zip code knows of a small house or townhouse for under $350K. Finders' fee gladly forthcoming.
We are taking a second look today at a unit in a residential tower that I estimate has 60+ units. Coming from houses and townhouses all our lives it looks to be a huge culture shock. We would get a parking spot that we don't need. Has anyone here ever tried negotiating away the parking space for another bike rack? They don't currently have a bike rack. Bikes hang from hooks, and I only saw 10 or 15 bikes total and no spare hooks. There is no way to secure the bike against theft when it is on a hook. The recumbents and tandems are not exactly hook friendly in any case. I've given away four bikes in the last month to get to the present eight, two of them certified C&V worthy. I could let one of the folders go. I don't know whether to wait until, or if, our offer is accepted, to raise my issues with the bicycle storage infrastructure, or raise them now, and to whom? Or maybe someone in the 97232 zip code knows of a small house or townhouse for under $350K. Finders' fee gladly forthcoming.
I have a good friend who had a condo. He hated the HOA, and he was on it.
Its along the idea of the people who yearn for the powerful positions invariably are the people who you don’t want to have any authority over you.
05-30-21, 02:34 AM
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Turned out the tower had 88 units, not 60 like I guesstimated. All bikes in the basement have to be locked securely. Locking facilities for 30 bikes, all accounted for. I was told they had plans to put in a rack for 10 more bikes and no more and there was a waiting list for the 10 spaces. "If you can't keep your bike (emphasis on the singular) in your unit, maybe this isn't the place for you ...". Good to know. Found a place this morning on Zillow, and our agent had sent me that exact listing to our other e-mail address that I never check. She had already obtained access. Looked at it this afternoon. She wrote up the offer this evening. Fingers crossed. Garage and NO HOA.
05-30-21, 06:18 AM
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been living in a condo complex since 1990. there really isn't any "negotiating" about anything. one must conform. good luck w/ your home search!
