Progress Report

February 20-25, 2006 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #72

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: locker bldg. / covered parking / 101/2 house razing

The Story: meeting deadlines and developing management systems.

CONSTRUCTION

Weather: boringly beautiful and windy.

Units 117-120: Unit 119 will be finished this time next week. Unit 120 should be finished in two weeks.

Units 121, 122, and 123:

121: the floor and wall tile are now finished and grouted. I've begun working with the client re. decorating it.

123: Doors and cabinets are now installed. The final coat of paint the other finishing items followed by clean up will follow this next week. This unit will be completed this time next week.

Units 101 and 102: This house is nearly demolished. We will start anew next week.

Landscaping: We've purchased and planted 300 pinzel plants as borders and fillers under and around larger plantings. No progress on the irrigation system. The new gardeners are working well.

Electrical System Upgrade: we are going through the process of getting the paperwork in order. The original contractor????????

Warehouse: It's gone an in it's place is the beginning of four covered parking spaces.

Lockers and Locker House: We've started digging the footings.

Gas Hot Water Heaters: no problems

Marketing: We are working on closing three units next week and three the following week.

Transition: We continue to work on this. Paul is a great help - he knows who to do and how to do it and has picked up the ball on this and is advancing it. We will get there and the end product should be an easy management job for us and the benefits will be reflected on all those living here. We've added record keeping space to the office and will be putting in a wall to enlarge the telecommunications wall space. Keys, files, revised contracts, written orientation information, etc. will all contribute making life easier.

Next Project

No progress. The land Paul had identified as possible, doesn't catch my imagination. We're still looking and we continue to believe this is the best area for our next project. Construction has started on two new 6 story office towers next to the AutoMercado mall. I doubt that it will stop at two towers. My understanding is that it is the same people / money that is behind The Forum.

Raffle: There were a number of items which were salvageable from our previous home-doors, sinks, electric light fixtures, kitchen cabinets, etc. We held a raffle amongst the employees. The first attempt saw that a number of them had forged their numbers to correspond with the items most prized.. We abandoned the raffle that day and reinstituted it with a more sophisticated numbering system. Not everyone got what they wanted but all saw that it was fair.

OUR LIVES

I spent the first part of the week furnishing the unit to be occupied by boating friends who arrived on Thursday for a two month stay. Others will be leaving this coming week. They were here two years ago and are amazed at the changes-not only at Los Jardines but in Pozos / Santa Ana as well.

Lita is back to her regular exercise schedule. She's not making much progress but continues to maintain the progress she has made.

Hugo has settled into his sleep routine; Vicka squawks all the time (normal) and the parakeets put up a continuous chatter. I continue to be behind on paper work. Life has returned to normal.

We will be going to Granada, Nicaragua, next weekend; we already have one person who will be joining us.

Oscar Arias is the new president. The narrow margin by which he one, may make his administration more problematic and the government less effective. Some say the two parties have similar positions on a number of issues. Perhaps if Arias can work on those issues which separated them, an effective government might evolve.

Brian, Lita, Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot.

Top