Cascades Gardens
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CloCkwisefrom topright
Astriking designby architectCZWG; this flat is currentlyon themarket; 20 floors above Docklands the views are spectacular; Cascadesfrom the Thames
developerKentishHomes. Itwasthe first privateapartment building to be completed on the Isle ofDogs as the regeneration of this previously run-downpart of thecapital took shape and the block remains an enduring
landmarkontheDocklandsskyline.Today theIsleofDogsisathrivingareawithsomeof theworld’sleading finance houses locatedat nearby CanaryWharf - also amajor shopping destinationand transport hub. The luxury apartment blocks that dot the skyline are now hometo thousandsofLondoners. With 165flatsover20floors,Cascades,
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together with its sister blockQuayside, sits right on thewater’s edge, giving residents stunning views across the River Thames to the city of London. The block contains a range of one, two and three bedroomapartments,many featuring balconies looking out across the river. The development has secure parking, a 24-hour conciergeservice andgreat leisure facilities including a gym,swimming pool and sauna. Thecommunalgardens also contain tennis courts andabarbeque area. AllthisaddsuptomakingCascades
consistently popularwithbuyersand renters butaccordingtoTusharWadhwanifrom estate agentChestertonHumberts thismeans that flats at Cascades don’t comeonto themarket very often. “It’s a very popular block,” he confirms, explaining that once peoplemove in, they don’twant tomove out again.Heputs this downto thefactthat“theblock is in afantastic location,iswellrunandhas greatfacilities”. Of course noneofthiscomes cheapand although thegroundrentcomes in at arespectable£125 perannum,service charges foraone-bedroom
Flat Living Issue 13, Winter
OneOfthemOsticonic of London Docklands’ apartmentbuildings, Cascadeswas designedbyarchitect CZWGandcompleted in 1988 by
flatcurrently standat£4000 perannum.Tushar doesemphasise that the communal areas of the blockhaverecentlyundergoneamajor facelift with theswimming pool refurbishedand plans in thepipelinetoexpandthe
gymfacilities.So at leastresidents cansee exactlywheretheir money is going and reap the benefits. Isle ofDogs estate agent Alex Neil has
recently soldapairoftwo-bedroomapartments in Cascades- one for £394,000 and the other for £429,999, confirming Tushar’s comments about thepopularityofthe blockwithprospective purchasers. FlatsatCascadessellquickly and command a good price, says Lourdes estate agentswhichcurrently hasanewly refurbished twodoublebedroomapartmentinthe blockon
Theblockis inafantastic location,iswellrunand hasgreat facilities
itsbooks.The property is locatedonthe fifth floor andcommands“astunningview”from its private balcony across the CanaryWharf skyline. Theapartment boasts twobathrooms and a secure allocated car parking space and is on themarket with a £429,999 price tag. Thereseemsto beageneral consensusthat
Cascadesisawellrunblock. Propertymanager Joanna Bilesfrom Rendall&Rittner is pleased to hear that the hardwork put into the block by herteamisappreciatedbyresidents andis obviously somethingthattheyare keen to pass onwhen trying to sell theirhomes. Rendalland Rittnerhas beenresponsible
forpropertymanagement at Cascadesand Quayside
since2006.The companyprovides acomprehensiveservice forresidents that
includespreparing andhandling service chargeestimatesand accounts,collecting reservefundcontributions andground rent andmanaging expenditure within set budgetsaswellasdealing with day-to-day management issues. Jo andher teammanage andsupport Cascades’ conciergeteam, dealing with allmatters relating to theiremployment andthe servicetheyprovide to residents. In additionRendall andRittner is responsible forarranging buildingsand otherinsurance policies anddealing with anyclaimsthat
aremade.Themanagement teamenters into andmanagesmaintenancecontracts forthe twoblocks(Cascadesand Quayside)aswellas organising periodic health and safety checks andensuringthatappropriatemeasures andriskassessments
areinplace.Joand her colleagueshaveastrongworking relationship with the resident’s committee, liaising with themon a regular basis, providing themwith quarterlymanagementand financial reports andkeeping residentsupdatedonany worksor other issues relating to the building. To-datethe relationship betweenresidents
andtheir propertymanagers has run smoothly,saysJo. Theonlyissues that are sometimes thrownup relate to the building’s location.“Otherthanthe generalwearand tear createdbythe elements as aresult of being next to the river there are sometimes issues when groups of revellersoryouthscollect on theriver path,” sheexplains. Despiteits age,when compared to more
recently completedblocks, Cascadesremains an arresting building with an innovative design. It stands outamongthe post-modern architecture that characterises theIsleofDogs andinthe last25years has becomeariverside landmarkaswellasbeing popularwith residents and locals alike.●
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