[esquire1113]

Hi all,

This is my house hunting week in HK. We've viewed at least 15 flats over the last 2 days and have narrowed down to two places that we like, Taikoo Shing and Hong Kong Parkview.

We are going to see more flats in these two areas so we can choose a nicer apartment, but we would appreciate any feedback from anyone living in these places.

We are leaning towards parkview, simply because it's beautiful up there. But one concern is really traffic and commute time to central for work.

Any comments would be really appreciated.

Thanks

[PDLM]

Unless you have kids and no desire to eat/drink away from home I would caution against Parkview. It's a real trek out there after a night on the town.

It also spends a significant proportion of its life in clouds.

[applefan]

I thought Parkview is only about a 15-minute cab ride away, certainly not any further than Taikoo Shing.

[HKFella]

Very unusual choice - Parkview and TKS are like chalk and cheese.

Here goes (from a Parkview resident of 8+ years). TKS is on MTR and in a crowded part of town. Parkview is not. Shopping plazas are within easy reach of TKS, not so with PV.

Mist does surround the PV complex on certain days. but the incidence is much less than people allege. PV has big country parks and trails next door. It's got about 1000 flats among all those towers, but if you're living there - other than when you're in the parking lots you don't feel the numbers at all (a remarkable thing about its design). Yet many of the facilities arising from critical mass are availabe - school buses, very frequent shuttle bus service to/from Central (but HK$15 a ride), pre-school, a very popular big Park'n'Shop, pre-school, clubhouse and extensive sports and fitness facilties (need membership - and I find the get up a bit yuppie - but that's HK). Air is clean - one can see it's way above the brown haze that hangs over the whole northern corridor of the island which TKS is also immersed in.

PV is extremely kids-friendly - instant playdates, sleepovers, play areas, safe, etc - if you don't have any kids (unless you have big dogs), it's less of a reason to live in PV.

PV very well maintained. Interior is over-landscaped in my view (but many, esp. Chinese, think otherwise).

Downside: PV is not directly on public bus routes. However, many buses and minibuses ply on Wong Nai Chung Gap Road below. It's quite easy to get a cab up the hill from the gas station next to HK Cricket Club - $15.
Journey time to/from central: 15-20 min mostly (by car at 2 a.m. it'll be less than 6-7 min without busting speed limit). About $42-50 by cab in regular traffic. Not everyone is sold on it, but many are - I wish less would be, so rents won't get hiked up as much and there'd be more vacant flats on offer.

[esquire1113]

Thanks HK Fella,

We have negotiated a great lease for a 2 bdrm at Parkview. The landlord and my company are in the process of finalizing the tenant agreement.

I can't wait to move in.. eta end of July.

I don't mind the 20 minute travel to work cuz my commute in NY is 3 times as much... When we drove up there during rush hour, it wasn't bad at all..

I love the facilities and hope to find tennis partners that live there.

Do you know of anyone?

[HKFella]

Congratulations and welcome to the neighbourhood! Tennis - you a regular player?

[esquire1113]

Thanks.

Not a regular player, more of a casual recreational one.

You live at Parkview?

[HKFella]

Right. Will PM you mid-Aug on return from vacation.

[colleenfleisch]

We are headed to HK sometime in Sept. We have 2 children and were assured by friends and business contacts that PV would be wonderful. My mother-in-law who lived there for several years and lived in the mid-levels has told me that we will NOT be happy there.

We will only be there until April so we're in a maintenance free unit. The stated sq. footage is 1,290 but my mother-in-law insists that it is really only 900. SHe has also told me that I will not meet anyone since we will be in the "hotel" portion and will not meet people with children.

The leasing agent has assured me that this is not the case but I am beginning to panic.

Any advice for sending my 3 y.o. to school? How is the pre-school there? We have the forms but we were not sure if we should wait until we actually see it.

[HKFella]

Originally Posted by colleenfleisch

We are headed to HK sometime in Sept. We have 2 children and were assured by friends and business contacts that PV would be wonderful. My mother-in-law who lived there for several years and lived in the mid-levels has told me that we will NOT be happy there.

We will only be there until April so we're in a maintenance free unit. The stated sq. footage is 1,290 but my mother-in-law insists that it is really only 900. SHe has also told me that I will not meet anyone since we will be in the "hotel" portion and will not meet people with children.

The leasing agent has assured me that this is not the case but I am beginning to panic.

Any advice for sending my 3 y.o. to school? How is the pre-school there? We have the forms but we were not sure if we should wait until we actually see it.

The service apts are hardly that isolated from the regular residential towers. Shouldn't be any problem meeting people with children. Plus renting a service apt will give u access to clubhouse where there are play areas for kids. Actually, one of main attractions of PV is its environment for kids. Re the pre-school, PIPS, very convenient - just a stone's throw from the svc apts. Don't know currently how good or bad it currently is (6-9 yrs ago found it not exactly top notch, but still good enough for a preschool - not cheap though), but many expat parents send their kids there - even those who don't live there. Still, unless they indicate it's going to get tight for admissions, may as well wait till you get to see it.