Progress Report
September 19-24, 2005 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #50
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: (10 pictures in all) 114-116; 106;
117-120, and 121-123.
CONSTRUCTION
Three weeks now of firing on all cylinders and with 60
people working, progress is being made.
114, 115, and 116: Units 114 and 114 are nearing
completion. Ceramics, granite, cabinets, doors and
lighting fixtures are installed and being finished
off. Final finishngs and cleaning will occur next
week. Appliances have been secured and those which
are not none site, will be on Wednesday. Occupancy is
expected by this time next week. Unit 115 is
advancing but will not be ready for occupancy for
about 3 weeks. We continue add some of the finishing
details. Some people will be working on Sunday to
ensure the completion of these units.
Unit 106: The concrete is being poured as I write for
the ground and second floors and collar tie. Set up
started at 6am with the first load delivered at 7.
This is a significant step; we've been preparing for
it for the past 7+ days. The staircase is roughed in.
Next week we will begin with the 2nd. floor which
should go quite fast. We will be using a N. American
method of interior finishing which we expect to go
much master than the traditional parging.
Units 121, 122, and 123: All the block and structural
columns are poured. The collar tie is framed. This
comng week, we will work towards putting in the
structural steel perlins to support the 2nd. floor,
the floor decking and rough in the electrical and
plumbing. Hopefully, we will be ready to pour 123
next Saturday as we are now pouring 106.
Units 122 and 123: we've backfilled and compacted the
substrate. The footprint for each is staked out and
ready for footing forms.
Units 117-120: We're still repairing the "miracle"
parging - you win some; you loose some. We lost on
this. We are beginning to frame and board the
soffits and facias. They are stuccoing the denzglas as
soon as they have it installed. This work will go fast
as there isn't much of it. We've started the cana
brava on the terrace.
Units 101 and 102: No time to focus on this other than
to visit an aquarium to begin thinking about building
in the things necessary for easy mtnc. Lots of
research yet.
Problems: Last week I wrote that we were having
problems getting appliances. I've solved it
temporarily and what we have secured are fine; just
not what we had before.
Price Increases: I'm still considering increasing the
price of the remaining houses.
Marketing
We closed on 106 A and will close on 116 next Friday.
We have sent the rough draft to the brochure to the
printer for polishing. I was able to get the input
from a friend who I consider to be an expert marketer
in time to incorporate his suggestions. Those
comments were helpful and greatly appreciated. I hope
to have 3000 brochures printed and available for
distribution by the end of this next week.
Telemarketing campaign: no progress. This continues
to be discouraging. I think this initiative is dead
for reasons only the Florida end knows.
OUR LIVES
Weather: We've had a lot of rain this week but for
the most part, it's come in the evening so it hasn't
hampered us that much. Yes, it's muddy in areas but..
Having Fun: Paul, my partner, is having a ball
finishing off his house just the way he wants it.
He's getting the opportunity to find out the
similarities and differences in construction and
suppliers here-he's got a few stories for the guys
back in Toronto.
A Trip: we are going by bus to Granada, Nicaragua
Sat. midday. We'll pack a lunch-roast chicken, fresh
San Francisco sour dough bread maybe a bottle of wine,
enjoy the scenery with someone else driving, watch the
movies if they are any good, and relax. This is an 8
hr. ride for $10 with hotels around $30 a night.
We'll return here Wednesday after having sampled more
of the restaurants there and having explored the area
a bit more. We've been there before and liked it. We
have to leave the country for 72 hours so are going to
make a holiday of it.
Wedding Anniversary: It was Thursday - our 19th. We
celebrated with friends and the trip to Nicaragua will
be reminiscent of our honeymoon when we first came to
Costa Rica.
The parrot: it's still alive and well-this is a mixed
blessing. Lita and she are currently having a
fight!!!!!! I think the parrot is winning! Hugo is
in my lap ignoring the whole kafuffle.
Brian, Lita, Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon
toed parrot. ^ Top |
