Permitting Coordinator & Rain Water Drainage Re-design

ISSUE #200: Aug 3-10, 2008

2008-08-10

Permitting Coordinator & Rain Water Drainage Re-design

» NOTES

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.

»MARKETING, WEBSITE & SALES

Sales: Building 18 is nearing design acceptance.  The design will work for Bldg. 14 as well with a few modifications or we have another two unit  option.  I'm still waiting for the tree to tell me what it's going to do--live (which I hope) or die.

» CONSTRUCTION LOG

Permitting Applications Coordinator: With 74 pieces of legislation which may affect us, we have hired a consultant to coordinate all the various reports, studies, and information which needs to be gathered.  We simply don't have the knowledge or capability to do this.  We  have designed an incentive payment package which makes it in the consultant's interest to have ALL permits in hand such that we can begin site construction by April 1.  (I liked that date--it was also the date I chose for the closing on Los Jardines.)  He has been developing a schedule of required information and assigning responsibilities such that he can achieve that goal and collect his bonus.  His first meeting will be on Monday with INVU and SETENA representatives.

Well Concession:  this permit has been applied for and we are advertising in La Gazetta as required. 

» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

Website Upgrade / Marketing: Photos of Residencias Los Jardines, the Santa Ana area and some of the houses are available on line at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/gardenresidencesresort
 
Rain Water Runoff Re-design:  Two areas need modifications:  The low point in the garden is getting a 4500 liter absorption tank and two--2" pumps.  I got prices for the system and sought authorization from the Board of Directors.  The system is now being installed. If it is not sufficient as designed, it can be added to.  I am also getting a price for emergency power  for when the electricity fails and we need the pumps.  It will also be useful during those power outages when we need the gates to operate and potable water.

The second area is along the eastern roadway. We will to divert more of the excess water into the aqueduct before it gathers and one collection basin.  
 



Video: Nothing happened on this this week--Jan moved again and we have an important client in town. In addition, Jan visited Expo Casa--a large trade show for home furnishings. 

New Staff:  Favio, the maintenance person is more than doing Edwardo's job.  He's fixing things that Edwardo chose not to see.  Enrique, the new gardener is busy slashing, pulling and cutting things back that had become overgrown or not properly weeded or cleaned.  He's filled 4 truckloads of debris.  Lourdes continues to make steady progress learning and developing confidence.  While all are in a steep learning curve, I have confidence that we have a superb team in place which will stand us in good stead for a long time......

I've noticed in CR. many N. Am. seem to loose their standards for maintenance after a few years.  I'm determined not to do that. 

Units for Sale/Lease:

Sale:  The sale of Unit 114 is working it's way through the process with a closing expected Sept. 30.

Rentals:  We continue to show 121 but have had no takers yet. In many cases, they are corporate re-locations. 

Unit 114 - SOLD

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): Single Floor
Type:  Attached
Furnished: Yes
 
This 1,290 sf. (plus covered parking for one car and two lockers 67 sf.) single story, semi detached house, with garden terrace, two bedrooms is a beautiful executive style home. This home consists of two large bedrooms one with six piece en-suite bathroom with additional access to separate full shower. Each bedroom has large closets with extensive built-ins for personal organization. The vaulted living room and bathroom ceilings provide a feeling of grandeur while allowing the warmer air to rise and exit through the ceiling ventilating system. There are four TVs (one in each bedroom, one in the living room and one in breakfast / dinning room.) This is a beautiful well appointed home.







Read More

Unit 124 - For Rent

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.







Read More

Unit #121 - For Rent

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.
 

Unit #107 - For Sale/Rent

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1716
Total area (Sq M): 158
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2 Story
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

THIS UNIT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR RENT FOR $1,950 PR MONTH ON THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS:

(1) THE TENANT AGREES TO US SHOWING THE UNIT TO POTENTIAL BUYERS
(2) THE TENANT AGREES TO VACATE THE UNIT ON 30 DAY NOTICE SHOULD THE UNIT SELL TO A PURCHASER WHO WISHES TO LIVE IN THE UNIT HIMSELF/HERSELF


This 1,716 sf. (plus parking for one car) two story, detached house, with three terraces, two bedrooms (one on each floor) and upstairs master suite is a beautiful home. This home consists of two VERY large bedrooms (one on each floor) with en-suite bathrooms and a powder room, each with large closets with extensive built-ins for personal organization. The vaulted living room and ground floor bedroom ceilings as well as the master bedroom on the 2nd floor, provide a feeling of grandeur while allowing the warmer air to rise and exit through the ceiling ventilating system. There are three TVs (one in each bedroom and one in the living room.) This is a beautiful home. There is a rough-in for a dishwasher in the kitchen area.







Read More

» NEWS FROM COSTA RICA

If your browser does not support the hyperlinks below, you can view the COSTA RICA NEWS section on our website from the following URL:

» https://www.eldoradocostarica.com/English/News/index.php


August 08, 2008
Costa Rica English Teachers Need to Brush Up, Says Gov't
(The Tico Times) Costa Rica plans to polish up its English teachers' fluency after a lackluster performance by 3,200 teachers on the Test of English for International Communication.
Read

August 05, 2008
Prices Continue to Inflate, Squeeze Costa Rican Consumer
(The Tico Times) Costa Ricans continue to bow under rising consumer prices as inflation reached 8.83 percent at the end of July, compared to 5.62 percent the same period last year, according to the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC).
Read

August 05, 2008
Only One Bid for Costa Rica Cell Phone Contract
(Costa Rica Pages) Huawei Technologies de Costa Rica, a Chinese telecommunications company in Costa Rica, was the only company to submit a bid for Costa Rican Electricity Institute’s (ICE’s) 3G cell phone service contract. Their bid, however, was 159% of the asking price, and has caused several problems and insinuations by ICE.
Read

August 04, 2008
Cracked Costa Rica Bridge Cuts Off Main Route to Guanacaste
(The Tico Times)Drivers heading to Costa Rica's northwest Guanacaste province hit a roadblock this weekend that could persist through tomorrow. Road authorities closed a bridge on the Inter-American Highway North Saturday after it cracked, according to the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT).
Read

» OUR LIVES

Weather:  Not a lot of rain--fortunately. 

Health:  I'm not out of the woods yet but I'm walking. 

Peruvian Restaurant:  In the mall across from AutoMercado in Santa Ana:  We tried it out and were very disappointed--one ceviche was un-marinated and the other was just not very good but for other reasons, the calamari was not squid but very old octopus, what was otherwise described very differently was in fact, Chinese fried rice with a little sea food.  We  again write off another restaurant which had promise.  While not totally consistent, the Time Out Tavern in Escazu continues to be the fest food and reasonable prices.

Granada Here We Come: 
We've postponed this for a couple weeks until my legs heal.  However, I'm itching for some good food and margaritas...... 

Walking Hazards:  One of our tall (6'4") residents met a friend in San Jose for lunch.  While walking to the restaurant, his eye caught sight of a beautiful woman--one of many.  He smacked his head on a low hanging sign.  He bleed from the head and the heart and she was oblivious of his trouble....  He had an extra beer and a double aspirin.  In San Jose, the hazards are not limited to uneven pavement, missing manhole covers, guy wires, pedestrians, etc, but also "distractions".  He was just another hapless victim.
  
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