The Vue at Lake Eola is one of several luxury high-rise condominiums in downtown Orlando. Built in 2007, this 36-story, 375-unit building is among the tallest buildings in Downtown Orlando, and conveniently located on the Northwest corner of Lake Eola.
As a resident at The Vue for the past 6 years, I’ve come to learn the pros and cons of living in this highly sought after residence.
Pros
Top Notch Security – From biometric scanners at every entrance, to the fully staffed security team that monitors the front desk and patrols the common areas and parking garage, security at The Vue is about as good as it gets.
Responsive Management – The Vue has a friendly and attentive management team and concierge. The building common areas are kept spotless, repairs are taken care of promptly, and the pool furniture and fitness equipment are constantly being updated/replaced.
Quiet Neighbors – Made up primarily of young professionals (late 20’s to early 40’s). Of the condos downtown, the demographic at The Vue is definitely more mature (i.e. quieter) than others. A lot of residents are owners, and the turnover rate is lower than average.
Perfect Downtown Location – Less than a 10-minute walk to Thornton Park or Church Street. Close enough to the action, but just far enough away to ensure the loud DJ music blasting from VANE’s rooftop bar doesn’t make it into your bedroom at 2am.
Unbeatable “Vue” – The View at The Vue is spectacular, especially if you’re on the East side of the building (Odd Numbered Units) facing Lake Eola. If you find yourself living in one of these units, be prepared to host 4th of July gatherings for your friends and family. You’ll have the best seat in the house for Lake Eola’s annual 4th of July Fireworks Show.
Unique Floor Plans – The Vue’s Loft units are unlike any other 1-bedroom floor plan you will find in Downtown. Approximately 1,000 square feet, with a 20-foot tall floor-to-ceiling window and a spiral staircase joining the 2 floors, these units are perfect for entertaining. The loft units are located on floors 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 14, & 16.
Quality Construction – As a self-proclaimed “Luxury” Condo, The Vue lives up to that claim with hardwood floors, granite countertops, high-end stainless steel appliances, and 10-inch thick solid concrete walls.
Amenities – This is where The Vue really stands out against the rest. It’s the only condo downtown with a Basketball/Tennis court. The Vue also has the largest fitness center at 5,000 square feet. The Olympic-sized pool is situated on the South side of the building for prime sun-bathing.
Parking Garage that beats the competition – The Vue’s 7-floor assigned space parking garage is far from perfect, but if you’ve ever had the misfortune of navigating the shared 10+ floor commercial/residential garages at The Solaire or Aspire, then you’ll know just how much of a headache a poorly designed parking garage can be.
Pet-Friendly – The Vue is Dog Central. A Dog Park on the ground floor offers a convenient alternative to dragging Buster to the park across the street when it’s pouring rain.
Cons
Guest Parking or Lack there of – The Vue has a 32 space guest-parking garage that is available for Valet parking only and costs $5/night. Spaces fill up fast on Friday and Saturday nights. Outside of that, your parking options include metered street parking (if you’re lucky), or paid parking at The Gym across the street. The closest free parking is a few blocks away in the Eola Heights Neighborhood.
Ventless Washer Dryer – One of the lesser-known consequences of living in a “Green” building is not having a decent means to do laundry. All units in The Vue are equipped with ventless dryers. For those of you who have never used a ventless dryer, it means funky smelling clothes, and 3-times the normal drying time. Dry-cleaning is a very popular, but pricey alternative.
Parades/Road Closures – It’s great being in the middle of the action, but sometimes the road closures & heavy traffic for parades, running events, festivals, and early morning concerts at the bandstand across the street can get tiresome. But this is just a small price to pay if you plan to take advantage of the many conveniences downtown-living has to offer.
With all things considered, The Vue at Lake Eola remains one of the best places to live in Downtown Orlando. As a long-term resident and unit-owner, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this building to prospective residents.