The inside scoop on skyhouse channelside!!

The team over at Skyhouse Channelside sat down to give us the skinny on the new development. They outlined the completion schedule, gave us a peek into pricing expectations and revealed details that you will only read here first. If you are thinking about packing up and moving to the Skyhouse Channelside, you'll want to read on!

The project got off to a bit of a rocky start with the neighborhood when they first started construction. Those followers of our Channelside Residents Facebook Page may remember some upset neighbors complaining about loud sound and bright lights shining into their windows from the construction crane all night long. Once the construction project leaders at Batson-Cook heard the complaints they made several changes to the schedule that relieved many of the concerns. We could tell they genuinely wanted to be a better neighbor while building this huge building.

And now for the details and some inside scoop

Basic Specs

• This is the first high-rise in 5 years to break ground in downtown Tampa
• It will have 23 stories
  
• A total of 320 units from studios to 3 bedrooms
• All units are rentals
  
• The pool, clubhouse, and gym are all located on the top floor. They feel that every resident should get to enjoy penthouse views!
• There will be 3 spaces for retail. 2 off of 12th street and 1 off of 11th street. (Rumor Alert: One of the businesse may be a bar/restaurant...and yes, they plan on delivering.) Those spaces vary from 900 - 2,900 sq ft.
  
• They will have a 24 hour Concierge
  

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28 different layouts

We don't know a ton about residential construction, but having 28 different style units seems like a lot. This breaks down to 5 styles of studio's, 12 for one bedrooms, 3 for two bedrooms, and 8 different three bedrooms.

Some of the layouts vary only slightly, but all units have a balcony.

Studios Pricing: $1,185 - $1,683
One Bedrooms: $1,295 - $2,634
Two Bedrooms: $1,867 - $2,358
Three Bedroom: $2,395 - $2,930

                                                                                                       Parking

The parking garage is also detached from the building. This means that everyone needs to get to the ground level of the garage, walk under a covered walkway to the first floor concierge entrance to the building, and then take one of the 2 main elevators up to your floor. 

The parking garage seemed to be built at lightning speed. They used some type of modular garage that came in really large pieces that were assembled together. It only took a few weeks.

They will have 567 parking spots and the parking costs are interesting....

• 1 bedroom units will have a fee of $15 per month for 1 parking spot. A second parking spot is an additional $75 month.
• 2 bedrooms have 2 spots available for a total of $30 month.
  
• Now, both of the above options are unassigned parking spaces. So it's a general first come/first serve basis to find a good spot daily. If you want an assigned parking space, that's going to cost you a whopping $100 month.
  

pet policy

Anyone that lives in Channelside or has spent any time walking around our streets, knows that the majority of residents have a pet. Dogs are frequently seen walking the streets and using our dog park. So, what kind of rules will they have for pets?

• The weight maximum wasn't 100% confirmed yet, but it looks like it will be 60 lbs or less
  
• No aggressive breads of dogs will be allowed
• 2 pet maximum per apartment
• The leasing office will keep a copy of the pets records and also a photo of each pet. So, if your beautiful Great Dane is leaving little poop presents behind for the other neighbors to step in, you may just get reported!!
• When I asked if they would be adding on a pet rent, I was told no. They stated "Pets don't have jobs to afford pet rent." Funny!
• However, you can count on a one time non-refundable pet fee of $500.
  

utilities

It seems like each building in the Channel District has a different take on what they charge for utilities and who they have for Cable/Internet.

• Water/Trash - Directly billed to the residents of each unit. They actually have sub-meters to gauge water usage. The building will also utilize trash shoots versus the valet trash some building have. 
• Cable/Internet - They have no restricted providers. Brighthouse has configured service; Direct Path can be hooked up, but dishes cannot be affixed to the building; and Verizon is more than welcome but the good folks at Verizon don't seem to have much interest in actually hooking up the building for service. If you know someone that works for Verizon...ask them what's up with that?

want a tour of a unit?

Tough. They cannot give tours until the entire building is finished. Actually, they wont even begin moving people into the building until the ENTIRE BUILDING is complete. The builders plan on handing the keys over to the management team sometime in June. 


However, they have a very nice sales location set-up right behind the building on 11th street and have a kitchen set-up for you to see and touch, and a really cool huge interactive TV that walks you through the whole building. The team was extremely accommodating to my one million questions and couldn't be nicer to deal with. When we went by to see them, they gave us a nice portable doggie water bowl and a poopie bag holder for your leash. Go by and say hi and I bet you get some of the same swag!

other random things to know

Renter's Insurance

• This is an absolute requirement and proof of insurance is needed before move-in. 
  

Income Requirements

• They require 3 x's the monthly rent.
• They will perform both a credit check and background check. And if you have something weird in your history and feel like disclosing it in hopes you have a better chance to get accepted...don't bother. They use an automated system that either approve's or deny's you. 

Rent-able Storage Space

• Yes they will have some. No, they don't have any more detail than that to provide. I understand they have a waiting list and will rent space on a first come basis.

Granite

• Yes, they have it. Bathroom's and kitchen's are granite and if your unit has a kitchen island that will be granite too.

Sounds/Noise

• This is a huge concern of ours. But with a concrete structure and hurricane impact glass, hearing your neighbors shouldn't be a big issue.  
  

Security

• We found it interesting that each elevator will have a FOB reader and if you live on floor 11, then your FOB will only get you to floor 11 (and also the top club level floor as well). I just wonder if you had friends living on floor 18, how would you get up to see them??

Final thoughts

The building looks like its going to be gorgeous. The roof top amenities are surely going to be the envy of the other buildings in the area, and with 12 other "Skyhouse" buildings in cities around the country, it seems like they know what will work and what won't.

The units come at a top tier price range and the square footage for the price seems smaller than other options in the neighborhood. So, the question is...are you thinking about moving to the first Channelside highrise, or are you happy staying put where you are now?