Progress Report

October 30-November 5, 2005  // CONSTRUCTION LOG #56 

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.

CONSTRUCTION

Weather: We've dodged light rains most of the week. One downpour occured just when we started pouring concrete on the upper floor of #122.

114, 115, and 116: Final cleaning of #115 including the hanging of curtains.We've placed some furniture there in case someone wants to lease it for several months furnished; It will be occupied Jan. 1.

We've pretty well finished the landscaping around this building.We will be adding some night lighting in the near future.

Unit 106: The final roofs are on and flashed.Also completed are soffits and facias. The terraces and the front of the building (both levels) have been boarded and covered with stucco.Moldings are being added. The structural steel framing for the upper two units is completed.Boarding is completed on C and both ground floor units have their primer / sealer coat of paint on.Tile is being installed in 106 A. I expect completion of all 4 units by Dec. 15.

Units 121, 122, and 123: Unit 121 (unstarted) has always suffered from a less than good view.One potential purchaser said he wouldchange the orientation.After several days and several scotches, I felt it was the right decision.Several more scotches later, I also realized that if I were to top the few remaining high trees along the property line, the views for all three houses would be improved considerably.I'm now satisfied that these decisions will optimize this home. We expect to start the footings this next week, weather permitting.We have one offerfrom the purchasers of 123 and I'm expecting another one from an Argentinean couple.

Unit 122: We poured concrete forthe 2nd. and ground floors on Tuesday.Forms are being removed, poured concrete is being roughed up and the one coatparging system is being applied to both the exterior and interior.

Unit 123: The ground floor exterior parging coat s finished and the interior is 75% completed.

Note: Beginning Monday, the welders should be finished on the upper level of 106 and will be transferred to work on 122 and 123.On Wednesday, we should be able to place 4 additional welders on these units.These units should show substantial change next week. Units 117-120. Wrought iron railings, rainwater gutters and downspouts are now installed.The area around the building is ready for landscaping.The valences are finished in three units.

Units 101 and 102: No progress.-the shoemaker (me) and his wife still live in the low rent district.

Electrical System Up grade: Not much progress on this.Paper work documentation is pending.

Marketing: Lots of interest in Unit 121.

The brochures are finished and I'm very pleased with them. We've begun distributing them.

The e-mail marketing campaign continues.In short, it is a bust.For whatever reason, we are getting few responses.This is very disappointing.I wish I had a better idea why.

Other

CableTica, the cable TV company :We're waiting for their response... And we continue to wait.Guess they are too busy protesting.

We've continued to work on the rainwater diversion system.Fortunately, we haven't had an opportunity to try it.Let the heavy rains wait until we are finished.(I wrote this too soon as Sat. afternoon we're having a heavy rainfall.)I've survey and some of it seems to be working;but we're not yet finished so...

Our internet service was up and down this week;very unreliable.ICE seems to be working on the lines or too busy protesting CAFTA (free trade agreement). Regardless, I believe we will be switching back to RACSA where we are suppose to get twice the bandwidth at the same price and suppose to get prompter service. I'm skeptical about the latter but we'll try.

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.It still hasn't happened.

I've been introduced to another piece of land a little west of Los Jardines towards Ciudad Colon.It looks interesting and is about the same size as this.The problem here I believe will prove to be the neighbors-they're rich foreigners and I suspect problematic.We'll see.

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

OURLIVES

We've been good to ourselves this week:We've cooked some great meals - a curry for dinners as well as shaved pork for sandwiches for lunch and dinners-both were fantastic. Stopped at the local cheese factory and got some cheap but great wine as well as a kilo of proschuto which I've proceeded to slice and am using it for a variety of flavorings and accents.

I've been plagued by computer problems.For some reason Explorer seizes my computer and does not allow me to connect or do anything.Bypassing it works but is cumbersome.The ants in the keyboard probably don't help but I believe there is some software issue because the problem only occurs with Explorer.

Saturday night we've been invited to the 15th. Birthday party of our site superintendent's daughter. The 15th birthday for daughtersis a big celebration here as in many cultures.It seems to be the age that a girl becomes a young woman (nina to senorita) and traditionally available for dating and marriage. We're looking forward to it.I'll try not to embarrass myself or Lita.

The Thanksgiving menu is prepared and people have committed;now we're waiting with great anticipation for the 20th. We're expecting around 30 people. Hope the weather cooperates.

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

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