The Collection at Playa Vista - A Mockery Rejuvenated
http://brookfieldsocal.com/shared/2017/05/TheCollectionPrelimHandout.pdf
So, since Everly sold only 10-11 condos of their original 55 condos planned, and since Marlowe sold only 6 of the 30 condos planned, Brookfield is attempting to hide their losses by merging the remaining homes from both developments into a new collection. Thankfully, it's new floorplans with elevators. Other than that, there is nothing much else positive that I can say...
(1) Since the remaining Everly homesites can fit only Residences 1s and 1Xs (both of which have the same exterior), all 42 of The Collection homes plotted for those homesites will be identical from the outside. Having only 2 or 3 different exteriors is monotonous enough, but imagine walking down your paseo to your home and seeing 42 identical homes! Talk about living in a bird cage... Similarly, all 24 Marlowe homesites are planned for Residence 2 homes at the Collection. Thus, driving down Millennium Drive to get home will be very monotonous. Shame on you Brookfield for maximizing profits!
(2) The homes are plotted on top of the methane fill (the incline you drive up when entering Playa Vista from Jefferson Drive is literally dirt piled on top of the methane-affected areas). Also, the Collection homes are within the same subarea as the Everly, Marlowe, and Jewel homes. Thus, trying to find your home, on top of being hard from the front, will be nightmarishly difficult from the back as you snake through the labyrinth of alleys...
(3) Brookfield has yet to learn their lesson in terms of pricing. Originally, the Everly homes were planned to start from the mid-$1 millions! However, a few weeks before the release, they literally changed their website and boosted pricing by nearly $1 million. When they didn't sell fast, they waited. When not enough homes sold in 2 months, prices tended to drop a little. However, if one person bought a home, then pricing would either remain as that or be raised. Think about this: would you buy a $2 million tri-level home identical to 41 neighbors' homes and with no driveway and with no ownership of the land it sits on (it is written in the books as a detached condominium) when you could have bought an Icon home in an arguably better location in Playa Vista (across the street from the bluffs and within walking distance to the elementary school) in 2011 for about $1.1 million with 3-car garages, almost as much square footage as Jewel? Please say no. Also, your home is not zoned to Playa Vista Elementary School (900+ API)! You have to request for attendance and if there is not enough space for your child, they will have to attend a school across Jefferson from the apartments!
(4) Even if you love Playa Vista and want to pay about $1.5 million extra, there are so many other options outside of Playa Vista! Consider, Row2 by Intracorp, the NuParc residences in Mar Vista, or potentially homes in Orange County (Echo56: homes on Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach a block from the iconic beach or larger homes such as the Indigo homes at Sea Summit - beautiful 5,500 square foot estate homes with some of the best views in Southern California next to trails which are within walking distance from coastal access - or homes in gated neighborhoods in Irvine, etc.) The list goes on and on...
Brookfield does not care about you the homebuyer! They care about profits. Don't be fooled!