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: "setbacks"
Pictures: none
CONSTRUCTION
Architect: a little progress but not much. We have
now —more or less— completed the set of floor plans
we expect to offer. Renderings and detailing needs to
be done. There are still a couple special case lots
for which we will have to design specific houses.
The floor plans will show locations for optional built
in furniture-entertainment centers, kitchen pantries,
bar, credenzas, etc. I've asked the manufacturer of
our built-ins at Los Jardines to design and price a
number of options such that would be purchasers can
choose at the time of purchase to include them or not.
Quebrada: our application, like so many applications,
languishes in the bureaucracy but we seemed to have
received the tacit approval of the City inspectors.
Setbacks: the minimum distance required by law
between the edge of something, eg. a building or
structure and some other reference point. This has
never been a well respected or enforced aspect of CR
building. On the road connecting Santa Ana with Belen
in the area now referred to as the "Golden Mile," the
government is attempting to widen the road for the
2nd. time in three years. Several major businesses,
El Lagar, the new AutoMercado Shopping Mall and a
number of others, are using government land for their
parking and access. Consequently, they are fighting
the roadway widening.
Fence: We staked out our interpretation of the
location of our western fence based on the information
we had-ie. 2.3 meters back from the City road and we
had the survey of the width of that road. This is
easy stuff! But experience told be to confirm with the
City before we did any excavating. The inspectors
gave us totally different information. We asked
another department official what the setback should
be, and he gave us a third ruling.
We asked for a meeting with the City such that we
could get one voice, one set of rulings, that someone
would put their name on and be held accountable for.
That meeting will be held on Tuesday, 11am. Given the
worst case scenario, Paul and I focused on the west
side lot design. We had not given this area as much
though as it was always to be dealt with at some time
in the future. We've substantially changed our
thinking re. the best use of land. Before we proceed,
however, we need to know what the fence setbacks are
as well as the setback requirement from the fence to
the building.
River: we are required to respect a 10 m setback from
the high water line of the stream. Who says and how
does that someone determine what the high water mark
is. Again, in practice, this is an defined location.
Well Application: Paul now believes that around
three months will be required before we are given
permission to drill. Drilling and finding water,
however, doesn't necessarily mean that you can
actually use the water-another "study" has to be done
and more applications, and more waiting until an
answer is received.
Web site: we are awaiting two more proposals. We
have one from our current designer and maintenance
people in Argentina. They have been excellent to date
and will be hard for others to knock out. The longer
they take to respond, the lower they drop on our list.
On a separate initiative, we now have a rough draft in
English of CR condominium law.
RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES
Article in Tico Times: the pictures for the article
were taken on Monday. I don't know the timing of the
article.
RENTALS:
We've signed one long term lease (Unit 115) and have
two parties interested in 125.
Unit 119:
1,300 sf, 2 bedroom, two bathroom, single
level with vaulted ceiling, open concept
living/dining/kitchen area. The 300 sf terrace faces
the garden and has a dining table for 6 as well as
casual lounging chairs and side tables. Nicely
furnished throughout and well located near the small
pool and waterfalls. $1,300 mo. Non-smokers only.
Unit 125:
2nd. floor, one bedroom (620 sf), fully furnished with full wall bookshelf/display unit with computer desk,
TV, large kitchen with all the kitchen appliances,
pots, cooking / serving and eating ware included. The
cabinets are made of stained "cedro"; the counters,
including the raised breakfast counter and full
backsplash are granite. There is valence lighting,
The bedroom has a matrimonial and a single bed (if
desired). There is a matrimonial size pull out sofa in
the living room. The living room overlooks the large
pool and faces west. The bedroom faces east and has
views of the mountains. $850 mo. Non-smokers only.
Residencias Los Jardines is a secure, gated, tranquil community with on-site satellite and / or CableTica TV, high speed internet, VOIP phone capability, 2 swimming pools each with waterfalls, 2-bar-b-qs and social areas, extensive manicured gardens, English / Spanish / German / Dutch / French spoken.
OUR LIVES
Weather: mostly clear mornings with overcast
afternoons and a short rain followed by clearing.
Texas Hold-em continues to the fun and entertainment
of a dedicated group plus newbies.
Brian, Lita, Hairless Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the
pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies - Chico and Chica.
Overlay of Version 1 of the master plan. There will be some minor changes to it but for the most part, it is a reasonable starting point. The picture with the yellow dots represents trees. One swimming pool will likely be eliminated in favor of houses (the large one near the 2nd. pool (bottom left hand corner) This area will likely become a condominium within a condominium having it's own direct street access.
