Progress Report
February 12-17, 2007 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #123
Contact phone numbers
Internet Phone:
New York: 315-279-6711
Toronto: 416-907-5758 // 416-461-2203
Costa Rica:
Cell: 506-305-3965
Land: 506-282-4142 Ext. 101
NOTE: the New York and Toronto numbers are "local calls" for people in the area codes; calls from outside the area code will be billed at the normal rate from the caller's area code to either the "315" or the "416" area code.
NOTE: NOW THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIALLY FINISHED, THE LOG WILL FOCUS MORE ON THE RIO ORO DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL BE INFORMATIVE TO THOSE PLANNING ON BUILDING, THOSE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PURCHASE OR TO LEASE, AND FOR THOSE WONDERING WHAT EXPATS DO IN COSTA RICA AND THE LIFESTYLE OF TWO ORDINARY PEOPLE.
The STORY: Rio Oro update and the Rental/Sales Market
heats up!
CONSTRUCTION
Rio Oro Development: Still cleaning debris but nearly
finished. Prepatory work-shelving, lighting,
electrical outlets-in the construction site warehouse
area. We've measured some of the interior fencing
areas and expect to begin on that next week. Still
waiting for permits.
On Tuesday we met with the architect and reviewed some
of the changes we had discussed. We confirmed that we
could get 40 parking spaces into an area which now
allows us to contemplate about 20 houses in that area.
The architect advanced some ideas re. housing design
and footprints: I had some issues with some of these
and we are now awaiting some revisions.
RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES
Satellite TV: I still don't receive a signal in the
evenings; only during the day. This remains a
mystery. Others are receiving fine even though DISH
continues to scramble their signal.
Irrigation System: We have now completed all of
these. Certainly the finished product is much more
extensive than originally contemplated. Reason: it
was simply cost effective. We now have about 80%
coverage. What's more, the gardeners like them and
use them.
Games Rancho: Still awaiting direction from the Board
of Directors on this.
Rentals:
Unit 124: (Beginning May 1): one bedroom, 620 sf;
2nd. floor, sleeps 5 (1 double and 1 single in master
bedroom / 1 pull out sofa (double); full kitchen with
eating counter. Full display
cabinet/bookcase/computer desk. Home theater system
with 42" plasma TV and 2nd. TV in bedroom.
Beautifully decorated and fully furnished. On site
satellite TV, CableTica TV, high speed internet, 2
swimming pools each with waterfalls, social areas,
mainly expat community, security, extensive manicured
gardens. Separate storage locker Shorter term (less
than 6 months) preferred.
Resales:
Unit 108: 2 floors, 2 bedrooms (one on each level),
2 1/2 bathrooms, Jacuzzi, walk-in vault, executive
class furnishings including a 42" plasma TV, east
facing terrace looking over the large pool and
mountains and a ground floor back terrace for outside,
private dining - $270K.
Unit 120: single floor, 1,300 sf, 2 bedrooms, 2
bathrooms, executive furnishings throughout,
beautifully decorated - $190K. We have an offer on
this unit but the offer hasn't yet been accepted.
Note: Same owner for both 108 and 120; the owner
wants to sell one of the two units. |
OUR LIVES
We had the hottest day in the Central Valley in the
past 10 years; it was 28 C or 85 F. For some reason,
there hasn't been much of a breeze this past week
which is normally the middle of the "windy" season.
It's been beautiful here while areas of the U.S. and
Canada are in a bitter winter spell.
Friday I spent actually looking for things to do.
This hasn't happened in the past 5 years. I kept
walking the garden wanting to give instructions for
some undone thing or waiting for someone to need
something. The only thing productive that happened
was a party got planned (and this time not by Lita nor
me) with contributors and contributions identified-and
it was a good one!. At the end of the day, I realized
that I hadn't given any instructions and no one really
needed anything.
Friends arrive next week for their first visit with us
and to CR. During the summer they are party people;
I expect the warm weather here will thaw them and the
ice in their drinks. My bar is empty and my cupboards
are bare-thanks to my friends, their appetites and
good stories: I'll have to go shopping.
One of our residents saw a beautiful blue butterfly.
It might have been a "Blue Morphis". They are rare
in this area-I don't remember ever seeing one -but
the butterflies love the lantana plant which I've used
as hedges.
Kids: Los Jardines was designed to be primarily an
adult community in that mostly two bedroom units were
built. We anticipated that residents would have their
grandchildren to visit but we didn't expect that many
younger people with children would reside here. Our
experience is a bit different. We currently have 4
children -2 about 12 years old; 1 at 8 yrs. and one at
18 mo. old. In the past we've had others. The common
denominator is that they are with their working
parents and are being exposed to a foreign culture.
Looking at these kids, I cannot help but remember one
of the best things that happened to me when I was
growing up -I traveled Europe for 3 months in 1958 with
my parents when about 12. Even that short experience
gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation that
I would not have had except for that experience. At
Los Jardines, we see adults coming here who have
traveled very little; they are lost and so much like
a fish out of water. They don't know the first things
about survival let along how to really enjoy a foreign
country -after all , it is different than their block
back home. This is not their "fault" it's simply lack
of experience, exposure, and opportunity. Kids of
these parents are getting an education that FAR
surpasses whatever book learning happens.
All in all, a bit of a quiet week with time to watch
the butterflies and enjoy the garden and friends. Next
week will, I'm sure, be filled with sounds of
laughter and clinking glasses. This will be followed
by Lita's son, his family and friends...
Brian, Lita, Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon
toed parrot.
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