A Brief History of Tapestry On Central, AKA WilloWalk.
Tapestry on Central Condominiums in downtown Phoenix has seen more that its share of ups and downs. Those of us who hung out in downtown Phoenix back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s remember a courageous development called Willo Walk. It was a large condo project that loomed west of central on Vernon and now stands as Phase 1 of Tapestry on Central.
WilloWalk was touted as an urban loft project even though the units were condos not lofts. Ron and I were performing a market study for a local development company at the time and couldn’t understand why a condo project was being called a loft development; perhaps they didn’t know the difference.
WilloWalk ended up failing and was bought by a Canadian firm (GDC Development) who contracted with Scottsdale-based Starpointe Communities to finish and market the 107 unit project; GDC renamed the project Tapestry on Central and created a 3 phase development with 280 condo units plus street level retail space in the building that fronts Central Ave. GDC ran into problems when the market tanked in 2007 and ended up bulk selling a bunch of condo units to an investment firm who sold some and has converted many others to rental units.
Tapestry On Central Today:
As we’ve said, Tapestry on Central is comprised of three buildings, one at 17 W. Vernon, one at 24 W. Encanto Blvd., and the final one, a mix use retail and residential structure at 2302 N. Central Ave. Tapestry on Central has a variety of floor plans including two story units on the 1st, 5th and 6th floors and one story condo homes on the 3rd and 4th floors.
Tapestry on Central wasn’t one of my “you got to see this place” communities when it came out of the ground as WilloWalk and it still not. The original builder finishes, cabinets and floorings were nothing to write home about and the floor plans, especially the two story units, lacked a sense of flow. My favorite condos units were and are the larger single story plans, especially the south facing units on Encanto where you can get some epic views. One final note, Tapestry does have some nice amenities that we’ll discuss later.
A Bit About The Floor Plans and HOA Fees
- Single Story units come in 1 bedroom/1 bath to 2 bedroom/2 bath + den condo homes with square footage ranging from 837 to 2120.
- Two Story units come with a variety of 2 bedroom floor plans with optional dens and up to 3 bath. The sizes range from 1514 sq.ft. to 1743 sq.ft.
- The penthouses are all 2 bedroom homes varying in size from 1470 to 2390 square feet and include a rooftop terrace. Some units also include a den/office.
- HOA fees vary based on the size of the unit. The latest numbers show HOA fees ranging from $237.72 to $577.26. HOA fees can change so make sure and find out what the current numbers are at the HOA web site!
Tapestry on Central offers the following amenities to homeowners:
- Lap Pool
- Spa (it is non-operational as of this article in February 2012)
- Fitness Center
- Club House with Theater
- Large Sauna
- Underground Gated Parking
- Located On The Encanto Light Rail Station
Conclusions about Tapestry on Central:
The best part of Tapestry on Central, in our opinion, is its location. The light rail is just a moments away and homeowners have easy access to the Burton Barr Library, Phoenix Art Museum, The Heard Museum and lots of local restaurants and pubs.
Although the original design elements were uninspired, a spiffy remodel and décor can make these condo homes shine. Plus, the amenities are pretty darn nice.
At this time we do have two concerns. There are a fair number of rentals at Tapestry on Central and it feels like the HOA is playing catch-up on maintenance. The spa has been closed for several months and some of the hallway carpets look like they could use a deep cleaning or replacement. We recommend buyers explore the financial health of the HOA during their due diligence and be aware that the plethora of rentals may reduce financing options. We hope the new HOA board, with the help of a more vibrate real estate market, will succeed in making Tapestry really shine.
Virtual Tour of Tapestry on Central
Condos Currently For Sale at Tapestry on Central
Below is the latest information from ARMLS about condos for sale or rent at Tapestry on Central. If you see something you would like to take a look at, please let us know. We will make it happen. The Urban Team can be reached at 602-234-5777 or Gene@UrbanTeamAZ.com
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