Fortune Plaza
hi there,
Am moving to Beijing shortly and was considering fortune plaza as a reasonable and central new home.
Yesterday, however, some local client starts telling me that the building leaks some dangerous chemical and is too toxic to live in - he claims he knows several expats who have moved out for this reason..... something to do with a setting agent they used during construction?
Any truth to this story - has anyone heard similar?
thanks!




lodgerly
Re: Fortune Plaza
Didn't find any such kind of information about Fortune Plaza.
More than 15000 RMB/sm, the quality of those buildings can't be that bad.
What's your Chinese clients' suggestion then?
Show Oligarch
Skipinbj
Re: Fortune Plaza
Hey, I just thought that this could be some wacky attempt at guerilla marketing.... Don't buy the fortune plaza laowaimen!
I love China! 一切反动派都是纸北京猫!!!
stvs51
Re: Fortune Plaza
i've lived here for 2years. no problem whatsoever. same as my friends who live in the building.
Good service. Friendly staff who greets u everytime. Chinese loves to gossip.
taireinbeijing
Re: Fortune Plaza
have to agree, i have only been here 4 months, moved over from central park. Build quality here is better, management time just as friendly and the view is better (although being north of the 35th floor helps there
only thing i have to moan about is the lack of axn... which was a bizaar conversation with management.. apparently i am th eonly laowai to ever ask if they have that channel
clearview
Re: Fortune Plaza
thanks guys,
actually heard from another friend that it relates to Amonia used during winter setting of concrete on lower floors - has no impact on higher levels and only noticable in the summer months...
will keep my options open - central park seems nice, if expensive. The few places ive seen in Fortune seemed rather dark with low ceilings and strange lay-out.
snickers
Re: Fortune Plaza
Ahhh....now i know why there's a funky smell coming from the guest toilet. No kidding. Always speculated that it's probably bad air filtration system carrying stale cigarette smoke of other apartments to that toilet. By the way, I live on a low floor in Fortune Plaza.
Lived on a high floor before too, and funky sewer smells emanated from the toilets.
One major problem I've encountered time and again is piping problems. I've had water leaks in the toilet, in the kitchen and the worst case was a burst pipe over the dining area, which left massive holes where the false ceiling gave way, and flooded the entire area.
Good thing that management repair response time is quick, though they don't always seem to get the problem right the first time round.
dingdang
Re: Fortune Plaza
if you need my help please feel free to contact with me. I can check information for you
caro-italy
Re: Fortune Plaza
Hey there,
I've been living here for over a year, and never noticed any strange smell...you said it only affects the lower floors, so that would that be anything below 10/15/20? Just checking as i'm on the 22nd
However, i am now planning to move to a hutong, so can i ask you if you have already visited any Fortune Plaza's apartment? Would you be interested in a 1BR 90sqm on the 22nd floor, facing West? I've actually added quite a few stylish decoration to it..
If so, please do not hesitate to contact me at carolina.marenco@gmail.com or call me at 13621144244
Carolina
bigsisjiejie
Re: Fortune Plaza
This is actually correct as to what happened. Though as this building has now been up for 5 years, the outgassing of the urea chemical has probably lessened greatly. At any rate, just look in the upper half of the tower and you should be OK. I also agree with the observation that apartment layouts in Fortune are a missed opportunity--definitely have a lot of odd layouts that don't appeal to foreigners, and dark halls. I would disagree with build quality being superior to Central Park and management quality also. But for Beijing, FP is adequate and it is a convenient location for many people.
The sewer smell likely coming from the floor drains and is an entirely different issue and is due to the fact that most buildings in BJ (even "high class" ones) don't use P or S traps on their plumbing fixtures and drains, which allows sewer gas to backwind into the apartments. It is not unique to Fortune Plaza--in fact, it is the rule in BJ rather than the exception--and is a personal pet peeve of mine. It can be solved temporarily (assuming you are a renter not an owner) by removing the drain cover on the floor and placing a barrier over the drain hole (I use thick styrofoam which can be removed later). Of course, you will not be able to have your ayi pour buckets of water on the floor to clean it, as the drain will be inoperable until de-plugged. But the smell will stop.
(from a construction professional with years of experience in BJ)