Complaint Review: Magellan Development

For anyone foolish enough to buy from Magellan Sales or Magellan Development, I advise you get an aggressive attorney involved early.  If Magellan won't cede to your attorney's recommendations, DO NOT BUY.  Of people who bought preconstruction from these scammers, almost all have litigated.  Take a look at EVERY project in Lakeshore East: you will find each condo board has sued Magellan development for failurer to deliver on promises, typically in the area of common area elements that impact everyone.  I was lucky enough to get the heck out of there and unload my properties, which failed to appreciate much in value at all (partly Chicago, party location, largely the rep of the construction quality).

My experience was with the Regatta, but you'll hear the same tale from Tides, Lancaster, Aqua, etc.  The fitness center was in the written pamphlet to be on par with a private club.  It wasn't: they jammed it in a near windowless room that now houses a children's daycare area.  The condo had to levy special assessments to get it into the first floor space originally promised, but which Magellan stole to put in their own sales offices for years.  Then there's the garage: leaking like a sieve because Magellan wouldn't put in proper sealing.  Then there are the buildouts: the cheapest you can imagine.  Want quality stone for your counters?  Forget it.. they come from China.  Want wide selections of install choices?  Not happening.  Want to see how your unit construction is coming along?  They won't allow it.  Want to guarantee your high end fridge is installed before they force you to close?  Get an attorney.  Want assurances about what they will build around you to block your view?  Don't bother: they'll outright lie (my view wound up having lovely mechanicals on the building next door that wasn't supposed to be there).  You've been warned.  Buy only POST-construction, so you know what you're getting, and do NOT believe them if they promise common area elements that are "in the works".  If it ain't there, it ain't GOING to be there.