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The company developing a downtown high-rise hopes a weekend open house answers potential buyers’ questions, chiefly: “What is it like to live in Center Pointe?”

Homeowners started moving in to the 17-story high-rise this past spring, but the $40 million project to transform the former Wachovia building at North Elm Street and Friendly Avenue continues. The condominiums are being built by developer Roy E. Carroll II, founder and of the Carroll Cos. and Park View Development Corp.

According to Center Pointe sales and marketing manager Amy Cronin, three furnished models were made available for viewing during the weekend open house, which ends today. Guests may come in through the lobby from 1 to 6 p.m. and register before being guided through the models. A reservation is not needed.

The furnished models to be shown:
• A one-bedroom, one-bathroom, 630 square feet.
• A two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,119 square feet.
• And a three-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,143 square feet.

Prices start in the $180,000s for the studio and in the upper $500,000s for the three-bedroom, three-bathroom homes.

Floors three through 14 have a total of 94 units, Cronin stated by e-mail. There are also two levels dedicated to custom-built penthouses by Wolfe Homes.

On the first floor are businesses, including Avenue Restaurant and Bar and Advanced Fitness gym. The second floor will eventually house Carroll’s company.

According to Cronin, common questions about the building concern parking and pets. There are accommodations for both. Each condominium comes with up to two parking spaces in the adjacent Lincoln Financial parking deck. Other options include parking under Center Pointe that can be purchased, a short-term parking lot next to Center Pointe and valet parking. And there are two fenced dog walk areas in the back of the parking lot for pets. 

Center Pointe’s location on Elm Street puts it a short walk away from shops, art galleries, restaurants, public parks, museums and a minor league baseball field.

All have been attractive to Glenn Romano and Theresa Yon, who moved in to their 2,500-square-foot home on the 14th floor around two months ago. While they don’t work downtown, they’ve been able to walk everywhere else and they enjoy being part of the city center.

“We’re kind of the in the middle of everything here,” Yon said.

But one of their favorite parts of Center Pointe is a feature Carroll also predicted would be a main attraction.

“We don’t have one curtain up yet,” Romano said. “We don’t want to spoil the view.”

— Heather L. Modlin