DEL.ICIO.USCondo of the Week: Luxe
Amazing Midtown location for high-rise living at its best
For the AJC
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Early February found Dan Normandin, 46, general manager for the Four Seasons hotel, moving into his new home at Luxe. Four Seasons had transferred Dan to Atlanta from San Francisco last summer, and he immediately started looking for the right home in the right neighborhood. “I’ve always had a bit of a passion for interesting neighborhoods,” said Normandin, “and I was surprised to find that Midtown had so many amenities including the most amazing park I’ve ever seen short of New York’s Central Park. There’s no car required. I think there’s not a better place to live in Atlanta.”
Photos by Christopher Oquendo / AJC Special
Dan Normandin and partner Glenn Heuser were attracted to Luxe because of the intimate scale of the building.
Luxe, a condo community in Midtown, features stainless steel Bosch appliances, custom cabinetry, granite countertops, 10’ ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood floors and private balconies.
Directions from downtown Atlanta:
Take I-75/85 north to Exit 250 (10th Street) and turn right. Travel to Piedmont Avenue and turn left. Turn left onto 12th Street and Luxe will be on your right.
A bit of a wait: Normandin and partner Glenn Heuser found Luxe within the first three weeks of their search for a new home. “It was a long wait between when we signed the contract and when we moved in, but it was like waiting for an extended Christmas present and well worth it,” said Normandin. “We were attracted to Luxe because of the intimate scale of the building. We saw a lot of attractive condo projects but this reminded me of a small New York-style apartment house. With just over 100 neighbors, it’s just the right size.”
The view: With a condo on the 20th floor of Luxe, Atlanta’s weather swirls around them. “Atlanta has the best skies,” said Normandin. “I don’t always love the weather, but I love the way the sky looks. You get caught up in it.” The decision to buy a home on one of the top floors was a quick one. “You get the best impact either from being a tree-level so you feel you’re a part of the streetscape, or being as high as you can go. We went high to get the city views.
A change: The condo is completely different from their home in San Francisco. “We were in a loft which was wonderful for that time and for that neighborhood and for that city, but this is an evolution for us. It’s high-rise living at its best and very, very different.”
A great investment: The condo is two blocks from Four Seasons so the location was certainly one factor in the decision to buy. But Normandin says it was easy to see the long-term investment as well. “When we saw the opportunity to own property within close vicinity of the city’s major park and Four Seasons, we were very excited about being here. In every other city I’ve lived in this would not have been a realistic financial goal. We are excited to be here and to have this piece of real estate. We see the tremendous long-term value of being a part of this neighborhood and a part of this building.”
At a glance: Normandin and Heuser bought a three-bedroom two-and-a-half bath condo. They converted one of the bedrooms into a media room just off the living room to provide a little extra public space for entertaining, augmenting the entertainment-size terrace. The floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the skyline view and the black-finished hardwood floors anchor the space. The couple customized their space with additional stonework in the bathrooms, hardwood floors in the bedrooms and custom cabinetry to maximize storage. There are two fireplaces - one in the media room and one in the master bedroom.
Luxe
Address: 222 12th Street, Atlanta
County: Fulton
Information: 404-347-2223; Luxe
Price range: $249,900-1,549,000
Year built: 2008
Standard features: Stainless steel Bosch appliances, custom cabinetry, granite countertops; 10’ ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood floors; private balconies
Amenities: Pool and sun deck with views of Piedmont Park; club room, catering kitchen, steam room, fitness center, spa treatment room; 24-hour concierge services; WIFI in amenity areas; furnished resident guest suite; controlled access building security
Number of units: 112 condos, 5 penthouses
Square footage: condos: 900-1,800 square feet; penthouses: 2,000-3,000 square feet
Association fee: 30.8 cents/foot; covers insurance and general maintenance, gas in your home, sewer/sanitation, landscaping and amenities.
Broker: The Marketing Directors
Builders: Paces Properties and Trammell Crow Residential
Public schools: Morningside Elementary, Inman Middle, Grady High