The Travis at Katy Trail –Bustier Explained, LeCorbusier To Blame
I am just so dumb! Now it all makes sense — the outfit, the mood, the corridors. Wonderful Kyle Crews and team from Allie Beth Allman called to alert me to the fact that the corridor configuration that so confused me last night at the Travis At Katy Trail — it was NOT the Sake — was inspired by Le Corbusier, who designed many pre-war Parisian apartments that way. The homes inter-lock like bottles in a rack with common corridors every third level, resulting in a building that is less expensive to maintain. The Travis was built this way, originally as a condo hi-rise by GDA Architects, but the original developer, Robert Shaw, opted to lease rather than sell them. So what is on the market now is two-story condos that were built as two-story condos, just leased out. And of course, DUH, that’s why there were these lovely young ladies around last night in scantily clad, um, outfts. Bustiers. I get it!
(I’m just glad my husband stayed home.)
Update: The furnishings and Chance Handbag Trunk Show started last night goes on today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 1-5, at The Travis.
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We shouldn’t have to resort to weak marketing ploys like this to sell condos. Not only would the average Dallasite have no idea who Corbusier was, the leap from that to bustier is even greater. My plea: can we not just have scantily-clad nubiles at marketing parties because they are hot and I am a red-blooded American male? Why all the intrigue?
So this layout is supposed to save on OPEX, huh? Candy (or Kyle or whoever), what are the PSF HOA dues per year? Surely they have a very specific $ in mind bcs this has been operating for years now…
Hi How Very,
This “ploy” actually raised a lot of money for Friends of Katy Trail and Texas Next Top Designers, two great non-profits that The Travis supports. The bustier was the design of Megan Summerville of Sew Sister Lingerie, a soon-to-be-famous designer, thanks to TNTD,(a sort of incubator for up and coming designers).
And yes the efficient design saves on HOA costs — The Travis is only 29 cents psf — about half what comparable highrises charge these days that have comparable amenities.
I’ve been told Hall ended up with the property through default. Looked at it, I thought they layouts leave a lot to be desired, the finish outs were incredibly inconsistent, amenities were mediocre, not even someone at the front desk full time or a spa.
As for the 29 cents a psf I find it very hard to believe it will stay at such low levels after Hall has unloaded their units, although they should remain lower than average because of the low amount of common property (Good and bad, the low amount of common space goes both ways, no club room, small pool, no private yard space. As far as comparable ammenities, I can’t think of another high rise condominium in Dallas lacking valet, a 24 hour concierge, a spa, a private yard, and I may be wrong with this, but I don’t believe Travis has a chilled water system. Granted some of these could be positives to some people, given the lower HOA fees that come with them being lacking but it hardly seems like and apples to oranges comparison with other buildings.
All that said the location is great and the views are spectacular. I understand you can get some great deals and I would buy there at the right price and I understand the right price is very possible.