Progress Report
April 23-29, 2006 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #81
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.
Pictures: house 101. lockers, and mosaic mural,
Note: Last week Yahoo instituted new software (in
their quest to reduce spam) which had not been
perfected. It made mailing difficult. We'll see how
it goes this week.
The Story: Marketing-lots and lots of activity, new
possibibilities and the sale of 124.
CONSTRUCTION
Weather: calm, sunny with daily overcast and
periodic hard afternoon rains-hot for us.
Units 101 / 102: Block walls on the ground floor are
finished; collar ties are in place and forming is in
progress. Most all columns are poured. Steel for 2nd.
floor has started. Most of the substrate has been
added and compacted. We expect to pour the ground
floor slab on Thursday next.
Lockers and Locker House: Collar ties are nearly
framed-given the number of walls, this was a
tremendous amount of work. Steel is being added to
support the 2nd. floor. This is definitely going to
be the strongest structure on the site.
Landscaping: We're still working on it. We've acid
washed the slate walkways and are sealing them with a
color enhancing sealer.. We had some major repair and
mtnc. Work to do on pool equipment-pumps and filters.
They run a lot so take continual maintenance.
We also found ourselves with several rain water drains
which are plugged; so far, they are still plugged.
We also didn't have the grade 100% on some of the
curbs and found water sitting-not good as it can breed
mosquitoes. We we've been grinding some high areas
down so that the water drains completely. We also
built and painted open drain registers and covers to
buried vaults-all necessary but not exciting-these are
some of the clean up items which also exist.
Electrical System Upgrade: ICE's bureaucracy is
incredible. No visible movement. I don't know where
we're at on it; It just seems like endless BS!!!
Mosaic Mural: Only the grouting remains. We've built
a canopy over it with recessed lights so it is visible
at night. They guy doing it is definitely happy; he
often times has admirers watching him.
Water reservoir tank: This is now finished. It
seems to work.
Transition: no problems-and that is progress!
Internet: Where as this dominated last week, we have
spent absolutely NO TIME on it this week. It's been
rock solid, running like a well design and executed
system.
Dog: Mack's training is progressing well. He now
knows how to heel, sit, lie down, and stay. He's not
yet perfect at all but he's well on his way. Canuk is still with us but is a sorry sight.
Marketing: This has again been the story this week.
Lots and lots of lookers for leasing as well as for
purchasing. If we had had two more two story units,
I'm sure we could have sold them. As it is, we did
sell one of the 610sf. 2nd. story houses we are
building.
We had a RE broker from Miami with a staff of 90
agents who is set to open a variety of offices here
and wants to market CR to Floridians. We'll see.
One of the people I met this week is a builder from
the Washington DC and Maryland area. He seems to be
looking for a person to partner with in CR; he liked
what we have done. We had numerous discussions and he
took us to "Bachus Restaurant". We'll see.
Scott Oliver of www.welovecostarica.com did a feature
article on Los Jardines. We got a number of referrals
and have started discussions with several.
Next Project: No progress on this-some thinking and
some number crunching.
OUR LIVES
I'm happy to report that this was a tranquil week.
Reasonably busy but tranquil.
I've spent several evenings at the pool reflecting and
chatting with residents. I've even found my box of
cigars. I had a chance to focus on a number of
personal things.
Reading over this, it seems like a really boring week.
It wasn't or if it was, I'm definitely ready for
"boring.
Lita now baby sits the parrots with cartoons.
Whenever there is a loud scream/screech on the TV,
Vicka responds. When Vicka is not watching TV you
can find (hear) her somewhere on the porch harassing
walker's by or looking for attention. When we've all
had more than enough, Lita puts her in the bushes and
lets her roam around. She is naturally camouflaged,
but usually responds to Lita's calling with a squawk.
Eventually Lita finds her and sticks out a long pole
and with guidance for others eventually gets it close
enough for the parrot to climb onto. Neither Hugo nor
I are helping in this.
Brian, Lita, Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon
toed parrot.
Top
|
