December 17, 2009 – The circular corridors and elevator lobbies of Marina City’s residential floors are getting some upgrades, starting with the 53rd floor of the east tower.

Residents of the floor have been told to expect improvements soon. Marina Towers Condominium Association wants to turn the floor into a “model floor” to show what future improvements would look like.

Carpeting, doors, and lighting will be upgraded, according to a letter to residents from property manager David Gantt. Doors will be painted gray. Door knockers will be installed – replacing doorbells – along with a new door numbering system based on a “star map” buried in the foundation of Marina City in 1962.

The celestial map shows the position of stars and planets on November 22, 1960, the day of the groundbreaking ceremony. (You can read more about the buried star map in our history section, City Within A City.)

To accommodate shorter residents, peepholes in doors will be re-installed at a lower level.

Owners of units on the 53rd floor include MTCA president Donna Leonard.

In his December 7 letter, Gantt also mentions “big improvements” coming in early February to the concourse level.

“We have come to terms with the commercial owner with the installation of a new vinyl backed carpet tile, new porcelain tile for the State and Dearborn [entrance] vestibules and new soaker runners [carpet mats].”

Owners who attended the November 19 MTCA board meeting say they were told the commercial property owner was going to contribute $20,000 toward new carpeting of the main lobby, less than what the board had been expecting.

New carpet has critics

It’s believed the carpeting planned for the 53rd floor is the same as a charcoal gray, patterned carpet that was installed in early December on the 20th floors of both towers. Laundry and storage facilities are located on the 20th floors, along with a fitness room in the west tower and a new MTCA meeting room under construction in the east tower.

Over the past week, about 35 opinions on the new carpeting, mostly negative, were shared on the Marina City resident blog, Marina Watch Dog Sound Off.

“The carpeting on 20 made my head spin and that’s only after two martinis,” wrote one blogger.

Another summed up the majority of opinions that the carpet is poorly matched. “To me the only problem with the carpet is the sloppy installation. I like the design and color, it looks very good when you look at it down the hallway at a distance.”

And some are concerned that owners were left out of the decision to do the upgrades. Mark Ulaszek, a former MTCA board member who operates Marina Watch Dog, says he is not aware of the carpeting being discussed at any committee meetings. “There has been no decorating committee meetings to approve colors or designs and there has not been a budget for said work adopted by the board.”