Right, Im being boring again, but last time

fc123

Just to add to his confusion (sorry!) as I have lived near the area most of my life...it has been an area of high unemployment/social exclusion, for at least, 2 decades.

Unemployment figures aren't the real amount of unemployed...others on here know how the official numbers are worked out........I know from living in the area.

Loads of households live on IS and aren't available for work. It is that type of suburb.
I am not judging it (I lived nearby long enough...still do part of the time) just saying how it is. Some were my friends, some are on OH side of the family.

The swishy bit along the river may develop into a different type of neighbourhood...the Arsenal is..tho' they lock the gates around the devt. most of the time.

TBH...if he dosen't have to worry about schools and stuff...can't be worse than any other more affordable suburb really.

Can he afford the mortgage without a permanent lodger?

hethmar

Hi, he rang earlier getting into a bit of a fuzz. Says he cant understand why when everyone says its a buyers market they rejected his gazunder. I think he is going to ask them to go half way and then walk.

Yes, he can manage on his own, but he likes to have company and he has known this girl since he was 5, so would be comfortable with her. Her contribution would pay the service charges and the council tax so it would make things more pleasent for him all round.

hethmar

Penguine, how did you get the arrangment fee back please?

geoffky, appreciate what you are saying, but its a very small development compared with most. In fact, only 16 flats altogether in his section (2 storeys)

neverdespairgirl

My view is that it is still an awful lot of money for a 2 bed flat in an iffy-ish area. But I could be wrong!

hethmar

Well, thing is NDP, he (and I!) cant find anything better or anything in a better area either.

neverdespairgirl

What are his criteria?

hethmar

Well, he would go for Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove or Putney but if you check them out he couldnt even get a bed sit there.:)

I think he wants modern - or nothing to do on it - he wants 2 double beds and he likes the fact this place has a fairly swish en suite to the main bedroom. It also has private sheltered car parking and security and is walking distance to shops and the station.

He also likes "quirky" - he likes the view of the crappy north bank - lol - he loves the tired old ferry he can see, he likes the London ring way path which is right on his door step, virtually literally. He has already got a local charity clammering for him to do some vollie work for them ( a friend mentioned to them he may be moving there - he has specific skills which would be very useful), so really some ready made circle of friends locally. He swims every day and the swimming pool is again 2 minutes walk. He likes the view of O2.

Hmm, Im talking myself into this ...............

fc123

It's so impossible .....:rolleyes: BUT if I wrote down my absolutely, most, perfect home, it is deff NOT in my salary range nor in my fave location......would have to be HPC of 90% to get what I want.

Life is just one long compromise

Here are the plusses...The Waterfront centre is probably The Best centre I have ever used in 30 years...fab pool (I swim a lot).....I use a cruddy, overpriced D Lloyds at the mo at the marina...would swap it for Woolwich centre tomo.
Voluntary workers...he will make a difference in an area like that for sure....esp if youth related.

The DLR sounds great and the ferry....I confess to watching it too when kids were small after a swim....a bit hypnotic.

Shopping/Market...adequate and nearby too.

Short trip to Greenwich. Good for eating out and weekends.

The river walk starts further along near the barrier I think..good for cycling.

If it's affordable and right for his life now.....why not?

fc123

Dead handy for City airport and Excel too...if those things are applicable to his life/work.

hethmar

Bless you fc.

No, the walkway is right next to the flat - I guess its been extended since you were last there?. I took my dogs for a walk along it whilst his father was looking round the flat. Have to say I met NO hoodies or gangstas, just very middle class ladies walking their mutts, an elderly gentleman taking photos of the swans and a diving bird (cant remember its name now! but first time Id seen one), a chap doing the walk around the ring thingy and another chap just moving into the centre block who works at Canary Wharf. May be I was just lucky that day. (may be they thought they werent, this middle aged lady with a disabled dog asking them about the area). Its a great shame about the current situation in the town as there is so much going for the area. I mean, it has some beautiful period buildings - albeit, as you say, many of them apparently behind secure gates? I understand there is already a deli/restaurant in the arsenal and plans for a further restaurant and cinema complex there? And the river bus leaves from there? Which would be too slow for every day commuting but I should think very pleasant on nice sunny days.

He is in broadcasting - and yes, probably it will be of benefit to the youth of the area. He has always given some of his time to volunteering. He has a couple of friends in the same business living in Greenwich, one just across the river too. Its not going to be an easy journey to work but certainly not the 3 hours he has had to do some days (one way) from where he lives now.