Picnicing in Botanic Square means constantly being on the lookout for uncontrolled dogs (who also overrun the children’s play areas), speeding cyclists and fast food delivery drivers. Although promoted as a pedestrian-friendly development, cylists, illegal e-scooter riders and even motorbokes constantly ignore the pedestrians only notice and prsent an extremely dangerous hazard for children, older and disabled residents.

Rather than being a “thriving square” Hopewell Square is a desolate concrete expanse populated with dead trees and caravan park benches used by non-residents as a drinking place. The setting is anything but “magical”.

The Clubhouse might once have been an “elegant, stylish place to meet with friends” but in reality it is just one big home office. People slob around with dirty shoes on the sofas and tables, leaving a trail of empty cans, coffee cups and food containers. Furnishings are tired and grubby, games are broken and lying in pieces on the shelves, plants are dying and soft furnishings and decorative items disappear with alarming regularity. Smaller foyers, such as in Java, are bereft of any decoration and look spartan and unwelcoming.
In an apparent slap in the face to residents affected by the current electricity price rises, Ballymore leaves all the GLH pool lighting ablaze in the sunlight, ticking onto the service charges. I would like to see revenue be directed at the basics rather than vanity projects.

The Island Grocer, such a great initiative when Il Bianco occupied the space, was swept out with no consultation with residents to give way to replacement operators who failed to engage with their customer base.

Safety mechanisms put in place (speed limits/pedestrian only zones) are constantly ignored and are not monitored. Security needs to be more of a presence: would like to see patrolling officers, not just their empty golf cart.

On a brighter note, the Lockdown Room is a great social space and the operator friendly and generous. Residents orgainse social events and events to raise money for charity and are active in attempting to beautify the immediate area. There is a residents lending library. Concierge service is mostly excellent as is the Post Room service. The riverside spaces and gardens are well tended but much needs to be done to raise the Island to the standard presented in the advertising and glossy LCI coffee table book.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

Good aspects: Proximity to Canary Wharf shopping, River and East India Basin. Reasonable transport links via bus and East india DLR, although Canning Town Station is overloaded (both Tube and DLR). Proximity to City Airport.
Poor aspects: lack of restaurants, shops and green spaces in the immediate area / grounds of LCI, litter problems, anti-social behaviour in some areas including on City Island.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Some residents have scant regard for their neighbours and can be excessively noisy and disrespectful of the common areas.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

As Managing Agents, Ballymore are slow to react to owners and residents concerns; sometimes ignoring them completely. More often than not, when residents raise an issue BAML refuse to communicate. With Ballymore being both a freeholder and manager, it is difficult to obtain any satisfaction when issues arise.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

There is enough of everything one might need in the area. London City Island (LCI) is surrounded by the river Lead, which makes it incredible to watch the sunset reflected in the water at dusk, or to wake up with the water beneath you. The development is also very close to the Thames, which makes it great for a stroll along the river. Otherwise, the Penninsula Ecological Park across the river Lea also provides the perfect space for a lovely short amongst greenery, not to mention that the Royal Victoria Docks are only but a short walk away. There are a variety of shops within walking distance, and a new shopping centre is currently being built within a 5min walk from LCI, which means that one does not need to go far to procure what they need. LCI itself hosts a little Sainsbury gorcery shop, which is immensely useful for emergency purchases, as well as a trendy bar, a photography studio, an art gallery, a nursery, a mini cinema, a clothes shop, and a restaurant. In theory, you would never even have to leave the island 🙂

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Some people get surprised when they come at a certain time of day and they see a big “pit” where the river should be – the river Lea rises and falls several times a day, so while at times it is completely full and beautiful, when the water gets drained, it may look somewhat unappealing because of all the emptiness and the mud beneath it. This is not a problem for me at all, if anything, I am a huge fan of the water, and I find it a huge privilege to be able to wake up and look at the sun reflecting at the water beneath me, but I think it may be worth mentioning for people who are unaware of this daily phenomenon and who migtht have certain expectations from looking at photographs of LCI or looking it up on Google Maps.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

I have asked management a variety of questions throughout my time here (over two years now) and they have always managed to give me a quick and helpful response. One time, I also came to them in a panic after I thought I had lost my keys and I had to rush for a flight! They immediately responded to the situation and sent someone to help me look for them by tracing my steps back. Overall, I think they are all extremely professional, very helful and super friendly!

Issues include but are not limited to: constant heating / hot water outages, AC system failure, leaks in the gym, swimming pool closures, hot tub closures, car park closures, etc.

Some of these issues have been ongoing / unresolved for months (the hot water issues and gym leaks are two examples).

Communication around these issues from the building management is typically very poor and misleading. For example we received a message the other day that the hot water works were complete. We then received a message saying the next phase of the hot water works was starting the next day. I bring this up because we have had hot water works ongoing for months now.

The building management have typically been very poor and hard to reach. You get the sense that they don’t really care about the Wardian being a first class building. Recently the management did conduct resident surgeries – any changes from these are TBD.

The opening hours of certain facilities makes little sense. A good example is the business lounge which is only open 8am-10pm, this should be 24/7.

Additionally the outdoor patio is still not complete despite assurances that this would be ready last summer. It would be great for this to be opened in time for summer this year.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

The local area is generally very safe. The Wardian is located right next to Canary Wharf which has great shops, restaurants/bars and transport links. When the new Elizabeth line is opened the transport links will be very good. There are however constant construction noises from Canary Wharf.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Overall it is pretty good. Issues however either take a long time to resolve or are ignored completely

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

To my knowledge there is not a way to raise issues directly with management.