I have lived in Skyline for over 9 years now, and the reason for that is partially down to the size of the rooms, the location of the building and the fact that I have too much stuff to move now.
The onsite amenities are a happy extra, though most new complexes are looking to offer something similar these days, and can’t really appeal to the wider market without at least a gym.
The apartment layouts work well (mine does at least) and the storage I have available is key for the amount stuff I’ve collated over the years. However; if you were hoping on getting parking allocated with the price, think again. Better to get a bicycle if you are going to remain in the city for a length of time as the parking costs are not cheap.
I have seen the design of the building change somewhat over the years and have can say that things have improved since the last takeover, with the onsite staff, aiming to please where they can and refreshing tired/dated communal areas to appeal with the new competing market. They also invested a considerable amount in making the outside cladding of the building safe and replacing glass bricked areas with an actual window to the world. Living in the building whilst it was being completed, was an experience I’d have rather missed.
And if they want to make the building feel like a community; (apart from the gym and pool, there are no real social spaces for interaction) they would need to consider how this could be done without interrupting the day to day running required. However, with town on your doorstep, its not a huge inconvenience.
The concierge are and always have been second to none!! Terrific team that make you feel like you are at home. They go the extra mile and quite possibly a HUGE factor to why I have never left yet.
However; there is still work to be done to improve the apartments. The internal storage heaters are rubbish and not cost effective, and a lot of the heat appears to get lost through the windows and balcony doors. The soundproofing internally is somewhat to be desired, and at times can add to comedy genius, but feeling like the windows are open when they are closed (noise) isn’t funny at all. The building in general (communal spaces / storage / carbon footprint)could also do with a rethink if they are still to stay in the game.
So I guess the question is, can I see myself staying here…for now…yes! If Moda’s apartment bedrooms and living area sizes were better and more cost effective, I would switched after I attended a viewing. The lifestyle they are offering is impressive. The apartments let them down slightly in my perception. Depends on what you value more.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
The location is superb!! Just a short walk from Victoria Station and the Northern Quarter and about a 20 min walk to Piccadilly. It really does have it all for placement. As we are ‘not’ smack bang in the middle of town, you don’t get the higher banded Council Tax either. But I suppose that could all change with the building work that has been occurring of late.
With the introduction of newer apartment blocks in the area such as Moda, this has prompted the convenience of even closer shops (Co-Op Local over the road) and new bars attached to hotels. There is also the added value to know that once it has all been completed, it will be a nice, safe, well lit area.
The downside to all of this regeneration in the current sense, is that you do feel like you are living in a worksite. Also; the back of the building is in desperate need of this to be completed as it doesn’t look appealing to more timid individuals on a dark night.
The design of the 2 buildings is also something to be desired in relation to sound. On a late night, a whisper downstairs (if your apartment is situated in the central area) can sound like a full blown shout-fest. So when there is a group who have congregated just outside the entrance, you can be tempted to lose your s**t if you have to get up early for work etc… And this can occur on a regular basis as it is a well known pick-up location for Uber and you can usually flag a black cab with ease before it hits the centre of town.
I assume this is nothing compared to if you resided in the town centre but does solidify my argument for better sound proofing on the windows and doors.
If you do have a car…you are perfectly placed to be able to escape on the main feeder roads (Oldham / Rochdale) out of the city straight to the motorway.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
1. The heaters – they are rubbish and you only feel the heat if you are stood over the top of them. They take a lifetime to heat a room and by then, you will have killed yourself with a HUGE electricity bill.
2. The temperature – I moved in in the summer and whilst the weather was reasonable, it wasn’t too hot. However in subsequent years I have realised that the apartment is like a greenhouse in the summer and an icebox in the winter. This is down to poor insulating windows, doors and other components.
3. Gym Timing Flexibility – I always hoped that there was a more flexible option once you were a resident to utilise the gym. When you work really early and late, you can’t always take advantage of them. If they were 24 hours, it would be better.
4. Gym Lockdown – There should be different options to enter the gym area other than biometrics (iPhone etc…) my hands / fingers don’t always register and then you can waste time trying to contact concierge to let you in, and they could be on break.
5. AirBnB – Though a great source of income to the building, the introduction has meant that we are sometimes faced with weekend parties of people who do not respect the fact that people live in the building full time.
