Progress Report

 June 12-17, 2006 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #88

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 / 102 and 124 / 125

The Story: Ciudad Colon Property returns to life and preparing for surgery

CONSTRUCTION

Weather: partial overcast, some rain but we haven't been held up.

Units 101 / 102: The roof is on 2/3 of the upper level and we now have a dry place to work. What will be the terrace is yet to be roofed. They are working on filling in the partition walls and finishing the structural bracing. The interior and exterior walls on the lower level are being parged.

Lockers and Houses

Houses: The first coat of the exterior stucco is finished. The floor tiles in 125 are installed. The staircase is roughed in and the handrails are as well. All the windows are installed.

Lockers: the doors are being installed. Painting of all surfaces will follow. They turned out really great and should provide lots of useful, dry, secure space for people.

Preparing for the completion: We've started to begin the clean up of debris and discarding of surplus items. We have little space to work in so it's necessary to consolidate and to move things -but where. We've let the contract for the paving of the east lane and parking areas as well as the small area at the front of the west side. We will probably buy a shipping container to move our wanted items into there and then move this container onto the next project.

Electrical System Upgrade: We are told that the "faulty" switch is being repaired. We're supposed to see some evidence of movement at the end of next week.

Marketing Units 110 and 112: To complete the sale, we're waiting for the paperwork to be accepted and the funds to be released. When that happens this coming week, this deal will be closed. Unit 115: we've received the deposit and are tidying up the paperwork.

Some people I met from Hawaii several months ago have returned for more looking and checking out of Costa Rica. We had a nice meal at a restaurant where we could see the greater San Jose area at night.

One of our purchasers is arriving with 5 other people on Sunday. Some of them are looking to buy. We'll host them on site. We'll see what happens.

Next Project

The vendor of the land near Ciudad Colon has re-thought his position on our offer and has initiated discussions again after having made a concession. We're playing hardball and want the deal sweetened for "aggravation". We'll see what happens -it is still the best piece of land we've seen since it holds so many possibilities based on it's natural topography, location and ease to find, and the views which are available from it. The possibilities for house designs are endless-back splits, side splits, two story up, two story down, single family detached, multi-family. All are possible and will probably be built.

Surrounding area: The new commercial development near the AutoMercado supermarket is back into full swing. The two office towers now under development are only a small part of what looks to become a multi-office / business center.

The 6 hectares immediately east and contiguous to Los Jardines sold several months ago to a Costa Rican builder of good quality homes. One of the two lots is now being marketed as a residential development consisting of 85 houses in the 2,500sf -3,200sf size and selling for about $100 sf. Construction is scheduled to start in October / November. This quality of development is good news for the purchasers at Los Jardines.

OUR LIVES

My world is mainly filled with preparing for surgery. This operation is one I've expected for several years and has now developed to the point that intervention is necessary. I'll be going under the knife next Thursday (June 22). I'm told there will be there for several nights followed by three weeks for initial recovery period and another three months before I approach "normal" -or as "normal" will then be. This will be the last log for several weeks. I've had the opportunity to begin experiencing the medical system here and have to say I'm very impressed. I'm confident of the facilities and the team who will be doing the surgery. This past week has involved a number of tests to gather data for the surgery. Very helpful people have done all effectively and efficiently. All the doctors are located within two floors in the same building and the clinics and testing areas are in the main building next door. It couldn't be simpler. Appointments are either walk-right-in or are scheduled and the schedule is usually pretty reliable. I got two volunteers from the work force to donate a couple units of blood in order to reserve what I might need. I get their sweat and now their blood; what great guys!!!!!!! Most all the doctors speak perfect English. Not all the lab technicians do but there is usually someone around who does. Language has not been a significant barrier.

Three weeks from now, our house will require some specific decisions. Most of them have now been made but there will always be specific site issues which have to be dealt with and it being our house, I hope to be up to the task. I expect to be living in it by the end of July. I hope my recovery is on schedule.

Lita would rather not know what is going on. She resorts to prayer and tries to consol herself. We each have our own way of dealing with situations.

Paul continues to pick up many, many items. He just knows what to do. I don't remember working with someone who is as motivated as he is and is competent to do what needs to be done. I don't spend a nanosecond second-guessing him. It's really wonderful and I am now realizing one of the reasons why I selected him as my partner and the purchasers have every reason to believe that my temporary outage will be seamless.

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

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