Progress Report
October 23-29, 2005 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #55
Contact phone numbers
Internet Phone:
New York 315-279-6711 // Toronto 416-907-5758
Costa Rica:
Cell 506-305-3965 // Land 506-282-4142 Ext. 101
NOTE: our land line in CR has changed;
we are now integrated into the compound network.
Pictures: misc. of all areas under construction.
This Week's Top Story: Wilma's effect is gone but not
before problems!!
CONSTRUCTION
Weather: No rain and glorious days all week. An
insight into what lies ahead and a welcome relief from
the previous several weeks.
114, 115, and 116: Unit 115 is now done with the
exception of final cleaning. The area around all three
homes is now landscaped. . There are still some
exterior things to be finished but they will have wait
until we move the warehouse so we can extend the roof
for covered parking. Fortunately, we have a surplus of
large plants which we can harvest and relocate to
these new areas.
Before reaching this stage, however, we had
problems!!! Saturday evening after a week of very,
very heavy rain, the drains in all three houses backed
up causing flooding. Fortunately, four painters had
remained to finish off 115; They got seconded to more
urgent matters and for the next 4 hours we swept not
very nice water through three houses. The problem?
We had not completed the rain water management system;
a number of drain connections had not been made and
this building sits in the pathway of the natural
runoff. We have been busy this week making the final
connections which will divert water from the natural
pathway and we have extended other drain lines. We
aren't yet ready to test it again and don't yet know
IF we have solved the problem but we will-we have to.
Unit 106: The drywall and white coats have been
finished on the two ground floor units. Unit 106 A
has it's first prime coat of paint. Ceramic floor
tile are on site and we will begin installation next
week. The two upper units are framed structurally,
braced and the exterior cladding is going on. It's
beginning to take shape. The area around the
building continues to be cleaned up and learning from
our recent experience, we are preparing to connect the
drains.
Units 121, 122, and 123: The forms for 123 were
removed and the laborers have completed roughing up
the poured concrete to make it ready for the parging.
This is a laborious, mind numbing job but one which is
considered necessary here. The exterior of Unit 123
has been parged with the new one step system; it is
virtually ready for stucco. The welders will begin
framing the 2nd. floor this next week.
Unit 122: gained some ground this week; we took
advantage of the good weather and framed the 2nd.
floor floor which includes an extensive wrap-around
terrace. We are now preparing for the concrete pour
which we anticipate to be on Wednesday.
Unit 121: no progress but that should change this
next week. We will have people freed up from 106 and
122.
Units 117-120: All units are dry walled and taping is
substantially advanced. Windows are 70% installed and
the white coat is on the interior cement walls. The
welders are preparing to build the valances and
install the railings made earlier.
Units 101 and 102: No progress.-the shoemaker (me)
and his wife still live in the low rent district.
Electrical System Up grade: We're still inching along
on this but some manpower got re assigned to rain
water diversion.
Marketing: Units 107 and 108 closed as anticipated.
The paperwork and funds to secure the purchase of 123
also occurred and the same people are looking at 113
for their daughter. The mortgage on the property we
assumed from Scotiabank was been paid off.
There continues to be a heightened level of activity.
Several people have returned for second looks. We'll
see.
The brochures are finished and I'm very pleased with
them. We'll begin distributing them locally and
through contacts in N. America.
The e-mail marketing started Thursday; we are sending
1,000 mailers per batch over seven nights. This
schedule is designed to allow me to respond in a
timely manner. I have no idea yet as to the response
rate. It will be interesting. This is all new to me.
I would like to think the leads generated from this
might transcend Los Jardines into the next project.
Other
CableTica, the cable TV company: We're waiting for
their response...
Next Project: Re. the 2 hectares in Escazu: The RE
agent continues not to return my calls. I've told
the absentee owner and the ball is in his court.
Useful Websites on Costa Rica
http://www.therealcostarica.com/default.html
http://groups.msn.com/CRLeBoard
http://www.arcr.net/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CostaRicaLiving/
http://welovecostarica.com
OUR LIVES
Lita almost had a new parrot-actually a parakeet. On
Thursday, the German residents saw a yellow parakeet
in the garden. Since parakeets are not native to this
area, we think it was someone's pet who escaped. I
pulled Lita off the keyboard (she's learning how to
type); she organized a dozen workers to catch this
little guy. Everyone had great fun! When caught, we
put him in one of Vicka's cages where he stayed for
about 5 min. before squeezing thru the bars. He
remained free within the house despite our attempts to
coax him down. The cat was salivating and watched
every move. In the morning he was still there; we went
off to get a parakeet cage and by the time we returned
he was gone. Where? Don't know but since we didn't
see any feathers on the floor and Hugo was sleeping,
don't think he's a suspect. I think what happened was
the little guy squeezed through on of the many holes
we have in our "home". So now we have a cage,
parakeet food and no parakeet.
The boat: the sale is now completed and the boat is
moved by the new owner. A sad day for us but we have
our memories; it just isn't part of our future.
Lita is back to her gym routine hoping to drop another
few pounds.
Brian, Lita, Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon
toed parrot.
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