When I started Residencias Los Jardines, I started writing a weekly news letter —determined to tell all the good, bad, and the ugly. I knew some readers would be interested in the construction process. I expected others might be interested in the lifestyle of two people who had decided to live outside the box. For others, the adventures of lita, the parrot and the cat took on an entertainment saga all its own.
Residencias Los Jardines is finished. We periodically have resales and rental availability. Some readers may be interested in this information.
More and more, the content will be dominated by events of our new project, "El Dorado" for short. While the future is always uncertain, I again aim to tell it like it happens —the good, the bad, and the ugly, and that is what follows.
In an effort to make the format more interesting and visually appealing and to field inquiries re. El Dorado, the news letter is now being distributed by Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager, Hacienda El Dorado. I will remain the author.
Brian C. Timmons, Author
Residencias Los Jardines/Hacienda El Dorado - Developer
E-mail: brian@eldoradocostarica.com
» CONSTRUCTION LOG
Uso de Suelo--Land Use Permit: Before buying the land, we checked the "plan regulador" or master zoning plan for the area and determined that the land was zoned residential and provided small lots for moderate priced housing. One of the last documents we need issued by the local municipality of Santa Ana is a simple letter stating that the proposed use of the land is consistent with the City's plan. This has been held up for reasons we didn't understand.....we were led to believe that some study needed to be done and seem to have been given various stories. Now pressed to get the "uso de suelo" we again approached the City.... We are now told that because our original surveyor labeled a two block long area OUTSIDE but contiguous to our property as a "Public Roadway" (which does not exist nor ever existed nor ever will exist) INSTEAD of "Public Right of Way" a study had to be done... Evidently the Spanish term is very similar and seems to be subject to interpretation. The current status is that the Sr. Consultant is to meet with the City officials and review the original, historical plan regulador and hopefully this "confusion" will be cleared up and the City will issue the letter--uso de suelo--we need to give to INVU. How many more stupid roadblocks will there be?????
Environmental: The agreement with SETENA did not arrive as we were led to believe. Next week is another week..
Timing: We don't know if INVU will require the final agreement before processing our paperwork. We are advised that it normally takes a month once the paperwork is complete to get the approval.... We'll see.
» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES
Internet Woes: AMNET has been better this week but still not 100%.....that's life here.
Dogs!: I've contacted several agencies and universities to study some of our Los Jardines dogs because I'm told they don't poo.. this must be a new species of life form.
Bar-B-Q: We replaced one of the two public bar-b-qs. It was getting a bit long in the tooth and one of the two valves was not working correctly. We'll have to assemble it and then modify the built in space where it is to fit but when completed, it should last a long time.
Rentals: 124--Immediately; 121 beginning June 25
For Sale: 109 only.
Unit 108 closed after numerous difficulties because of their being three purchasers including two IRAs which complicated the process and then the current difficulties in CR trust accounts requiring incredible information disclosures to ensure the funds are clean. To their credit, the new owners were very, very patient and persistent through this whole process. I think they will survive in CR.
107 is scheduled to close June 9. In this case, the purchaser is bringing money from Europe. We'll see how many roadblocks banks put in his pathway. Now he has to make certain disclosures to Ireland before the funds there will be released to CR.
Units for Sale/Lease:
Unit #109 --For Sale $214,900 - FURNISHED (Leased until August 1, 2009 - $1,550 pr month)
Total Area (Sq Ft):1506 Total area (Sq M):140 Bedrooms:2 Bathrooms:2 Floor(s):1 Story Type:Detached Furnished:Yes
This single story home (1506 sf. + parking for one car) is detached, has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, home office, living room wall / entertainment center along with a built in office and a semi-private terrace. In addition, it has a vaulted ceiling in the “great” room and two skylights. The covered entrance way is suitable for two chairs located next to a covered garden area. Once through the impressive front door, you enter the “great room” which houses the kitchen, dining room, office and living room. Upon entering, there is a built in wooden hutch surfaced with granite—it matches all the built-in furniture in the great room. There is a clothes washer and dryer off the 2nd bedroom. It may also be used for storage.
Total Area (Sq Ft): 662
Total area (Sq M): 61
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms:1
Floor(s): 2nd Floor
Type: Semi-Detached
Furnished: Yes
This 662 sf, + covered parking for one car, is a one bedroom home on the 2nd floor overlooking the large pool. It is ideal for a single person or couple.
Unit #121 - For Rent - $1,650 - (STARTING DECEMBER 2, 2008)
Total Area (Sq Ft):1423
Total Area (Sq M):131
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2.5
Floor(s):2 Story
Type:Detached
Furnished:Yes
This two story, detached 1,423 sf home + parking for one car has two bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms and a 2nd. floor covered terrace.
The open railed wrought iron cement stair case leads to the 2nd. level where the master bedroom with en-suite master bathroom as well as 2nd. bedroom and en-suite bathroom are located. Also accessed from the 2nd. floor hallway is the covered terrace.
This is a very nicely furnished home with a good floor plan for those wanting two floors.
May 31, 2009 Concept of Family in Costa Rica Is Changing The number of births to single mothers is on the decrease, as single women between the ages of 15 and 49, are having less children today than six years ago. Read
May 31, 2009 Costa Rica Increases Marketing Spending To Attract C&I Business Costa Rica Tourism Board's global marketing budget increases to US$20 million this year. Costa Rica has increased its global marketing budget to promote the country as a C&I destination this year. Read
May 31, 2009 PAC Party Makes Political History Tomorrow Tomorrow, Sunday, May 31, will be a historic day in the politics of Costa Rica, when the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC), created in 2000, will hold its first open convention to choose their candidate for the 2010 presidential elections. Read
May 30, 2009 Legislators Demand Caldera Highway Be Finished Before Charging Tolls A group of legislators of the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) and the Movimiento Libertario (ML) are demanding that the ministerio de Obras Publicas y Tranportes (MOPT) refrain from charging tolls on the new highway to Caldera, until the road is completely finished. Read
May 30, 2009 Costa Rica Offers Tax Incentives The Costa Rican government is trying to lure overseas nationals into buying and developing property in Costa Rica by introducing various tax breaks and trade agreements, reports Overseas Property Professional. Read
May 30, 2009 TACA Offers Flights To North America For Only us$89 Want to fly from San Jose, Costa Rica to Miami, Florida for only us$89 dollars? TACA has this and other super special offer this weekend, with special pricing online for only two days. Read
May 30, 2009 Cellular Telephones With Connection Problems If you don't hear your cellular phone ringing, don't rush to the doctor. If you friends and family complain that you never your cell phone or are avoiding their call, blame it all on the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). Read
» OUR LIVES
Weather: Afternoon rains and sunny the rest of the time.
Cigars: I ran out of cigars so again went with friends from Los Jardines to my favorite cigar factory in Puriscal. This time, we took a tour of the facility. About 30 people work there -- caring for the imported Ecuadorian and Cuban tobacco leaves--which are aged on site and continually re-arranged in the curing process over a 3 year period--rolling and packaging the various quality and different types of cigars. It was quite a place to see and a fun place to visit--and of course, the cigars are superb in my opinion. I've had the best Cuban which are ridiculously expensive and now prefer these at $0.90 each.... Virtually all their product is exported since CRicans don't much like cigars.
Time Out Tavern: I stopped by there on Thursday to see how they were coming along. They are working on it. I was given a tour of what is to be.....an expanded eating area, new and improved bathrooms, an new and larger kitchen area, more TVs for sports, etc. About the only thing which will remain is the bar which will be expanded a bit.. I can hardly wait for them to open... They estimate about another month but with construction, it's best not to hold your breath until closer to the appointed date.
Roadway to Pacific: On our way to Puriscal, we had to pass the turnoff point to the new roadway. 95% of the toll booth area is now completed and as far as I could see, the new road to the beach is paved.....Along all the roadway from San Jose to the turnoff, finishing touches are being put in--lighting, barricades, median fencing and landscapping, signage, lining, etc.
Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies — Chico and Chica.
Brian C. Timmons, Newsletter Author
Residencias Los Jardines/Hacienda El Dorado - Developer
E-mail: brian@eldoradocostarica.com
For inquiries about availability of residences at Hacienda El Dorado or Residencias Los Jardines, contact:
Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager
Hacienda El Dorado
Rio Oro, Santa Ana
Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Cell: (506) 8-455-59-35 Land: (506) 282-4142 Ext. 101
NOTE: Toronto number is "local call" for people in the area code; calls from outside the area code will be billed at the normal rate from the caller's area code.
