It was hot, rainy and humid in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, today, while here in Albuquerque it was sunny, cool and breezy. Most people would happily opt for the latter weather-wise, but George and I don't. There's something about Loreto and Loreto Bay that has captured our hearts in a way we never thought possible. We were totally smitten the first time we laid eyes on Loreto Bay, despite the heat, dust and construction chaos. The contrast of those stark mountains and desert vegetation against the calm shimmer of the blue waters of the Sea of Cortez took our breath away. Wham! It was love at first sight.
Both of us have lived and traveled all over the U.S. over the course of our lives. Neither of us on our own different paths finding a place that suited so well we thought to stop for long. But the wanderlust that has plagued us both for so many years seems to have found an end with our discovery of Loreto Bay.
And finally, after months of uncertainty, it seems that our dream of living in Loreto Bay may actually come true.
As of today, there are more than 330 construction workers assembled and ready to resume construction (as soon as the aforementioned rains stop!). Homes that were very near completion when Citigroup gave us the finger and so nonchalantly walked away from this development are being completed and turned over to jubilant home owners.
This resumption of construction and hope is due to the efforts of Beck International and Stan Barton, as well as home owners and others in Loreto Bay who never lost the faith and continue to work tirelessly to make this project a viable and livable reality.
Here on our current home front we're preparing for our move. The house is finally on the market and an estate auction this weekend will take care of all the superfluous "stuff" we've accumulated over the years. Sorting through our lifetimes of possessions has made us teary-eyed and stressed. What to keep? What to leave behind? The memories that have been evoked during this process have been powerful and poignant. It's been scary but also very liberating and exciting. Our decision almost two years ago to make our home in Loreto Bay is almost a reality. And whether our home is completed by Christmas or not, this will be the best Christmas we could imagine because we know our dream of living Loreto will soon come true.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Hospitality house is a hit!
The best part of every trip to Loreto Bay is the opportunity to meet fellow home owners, but with the Inn and its restaurants closed we didn't have any real options for informal gatherings during this last visit. Until Founder's home owner Susan Hill came up with the ingenious idea of opening her casa and creating a hospitality house - the Founder's Club - for all of us to enjoy.
She opened her lovely casa to any and all home owners from Loreto Bay and administrative staff members from 7 to 9 a.m. for coffee and rolls and then again from 5 to 7 p.m. (but often later!) for wine, beer and snacks and great conversation. It was a relaxing and enjoyable way to get to know our future neighbors. Susan also made her computer with Internet access available to those of us who weren't hooked up, a real bonus as we were able to check our email every time we visited.
We met so many interesting people, some who already have their homes in the Founder's Neighborhood and many, like us, who are anxiously awaiting our homes in Agua Viva.
What's most striking about all those we met is the shared vision of Loreto Bay and how drawn we all are to that magical place. Whether from the cold climes of Alaska or the more temperate environs of Southern California, we all share a love of Loreto Bay. We were also lucky to meet a couple who make their home in Nopolo, which is the original development created by Fonatur just down the road. They offered some invaluable tips on living Loreto and funny anecdotes about life in Baja and it's just that kind of information we crave.
Another bonus we experienced was meeting an almost year-round resident of Founder's who happens to be a member of the Master Condo Regime. Colette was a font of valuable information, which can only help Agua Viva home owners as our casas near completion. Colette and her friend, Robert, shared a tremendous amount of detail about what we can expect. Gracias, Colette and Robert!
But the best part of the whole experience was meeting Susan, who is as charming as she is inspired in setting up this venue. Her hope is that others will follow her lead by opening their casas to fellow home owners. As she said in a release, "I am definitely on the lookout for others to carry on in my absence and for Paseo residents to offer their homes. This enterprise is available for take over by anyone wishing to do so."
She certainly inspired us! Thanks, Susan.
She opened her lovely casa to any and all home owners from Loreto Bay and administrative staff members from 7 to 9 a.m. for coffee and rolls and then again from 5 to 7 p.m. (but often later!) for wine, beer and snacks and great conversation. It was a relaxing and enjoyable way to get to know our future neighbors. Susan also made her computer with Internet access available to those of us who weren't hooked up, a real bonus as we were able to check our email every time we visited.
We met so many interesting people, some who already have their homes in the Founder's Neighborhood and many, like us, who are anxiously awaiting our homes in Agua Viva.
What's most striking about all those we met is the shared vision of Loreto Bay and how drawn we all are to that magical place. Whether from the cold climes of Alaska or the more temperate environs of Southern California, we all share a love of Loreto Bay. We were also lucky to meet a couple who make their home in Nopolo, which is the original development created by Fonatur just down the road. They offered some invaluable tips on living Loreto and funny anecdotes about life in Baja and it's just that kind of information we crave.
Another bonus we experienced was meeting an almost year-round resident of Founder's who happens to be a member of the Master Condo Regime. Colette was a font of valuable information, which can only help Agua Viva home owners as our casas near completion. Colette and her friend, Robert, shared a tremendous amount of detail about what we can expect. Gracias, Colette and Robert!
But the best part of the whole experience was meeting Susan, who is as charming as she is inspired in setting up this venue. Her hope is that others will follow her lead by opening their casas to fellow home owners. As she said in a release, "I am definitely on the lookout for others to carry on in my absence and for Paseo residents to offer their homes. This enterprise is available for take over by anyone wishing to do so."
She certainly inspired us! Thanks, Susan.
AV home owner meeting, parte dos
Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. Our Internet time was limited to Beck’s office hours as we didn’t have access in our casa.
One of the most surprising revelations at Monday’s Agua Viva home owner meeting was the statement by TSD’s representative, Hector Medina, that construction monies were put into areas “where they shouldn’t have gone.” Medina , who was responding to a question about where all the money had gone, also acknowledged that TSD had been having cash flow problems. Gee, who knew.
He told home owners that TSD has already reached agreements with contractors and is now in the process of executing those agreements, which involve paying the contractors and in some cases that payment is in the form of land.
As for the estuaries – an important feature of the Agua Viva (Living Water) phase of the Loreto Bay development – Medina said the estuaries have been placed on hold, adding there is no plan in place to finish the canals.
Regarding the infrastructure, Stan Barton of Beck offered some numbers, but acknowledged those costs are uncertain. He said Beck has had substantive meetings with TSD to get detailed information on the cost to finish the utility infrastructure and based on conservative numbers from contractors that figure could be around $1 million. Worth noting is that there is a huge discrepancy between the numbers that Beck has been given for utility costs and the much lower numbers that former TSD employees are putting out as the actual remaining costs.
Also worth noting is that those former employees and TSD are not providing the documents to prove their numbers. At issue is whether the monies paid by home owners and held in escrow by Stewart Title for those utility costs were released before the work was completed.
Other expenses cited by Stan include paving for the walkways, based on the same materials in the Founder’s Neighborhood, which he estimated at $1.7 million. Landscaping is estimated at $600,000.
However, he did say the cost for walkway paving could be substantially reduced by using different materials.
The good news as reported by Stan is that he expects around 40 homes will be completed in the next month or so. Stan is also trying to reduce home owners costs in a number of innovative ways, so keep checking the Beck Web site for details!
On a personal note, George and I have confidence in Stan Barton and his ability and desire to finish this project. George has had a number of conversations with Stan, both before and after this meeting, that lead us to believe that he and Beck are our best hope for living the dream of Loreto Bay.
Next up: Hospitality House is a hit!
One of the most surprising revelations at Monday’s Agua Viva home owner meeting was the statement by TSD’s representative, Hector Medina, that construction monies were put into areas “where they shouldn’t have gone.” Medina , who was responding to a question about where all the money had gone, also acknowledged that TSD had been having cash flow problems. Gee, who knew.
He told home owners that TSD has already reached agreements with contractors and is now in the process of executing those agreements, which involve paying the contractors and in some cases that payment is in the form of land.
As for the estuaries – an important feature of the Agua Viva (Living Water) phase of the Loreto Bay development – Medina said the estuaries have been placed on hold, adding there is no plan in place to finish the canals.
Regarding the infrastructure, Stan Barton of Beck offered some numbers, but acknowledged those costs are uncertain. He said Beck has had substantive meetings with TSD to get detailed information on the cost to finish the utility infrastructure and based on conservative numbers from contractors that figure could be around $1 million. Worth noting is that there is a huge discrepancy between the numbers that Beck has been given for utility costs and the much lower numbers that former TSD employees are putting out as the actual remaining costs.
Also worth noting is that those former employees and TSD are not providing the documents to prove their numbers. At issue is whether the monies paid by home owners and held in escrow by Stewart Title for those utility costs were released before the work was completed.
Other expenses cited by Stan include paving for the walkways, based on the same materials in the Founder’s Neighborhood, which he estimated at $1.7 million. Landscaping is estimated at $600,000.
However, he did say the cost for walkway paving could be substantially reduced by using different materials.
The good news as reported by Stan is that he expects around 40 homes will be completed in the next month or so. Stan is also trying to reduce home owners costs in a number of innovative ways, so keep checking the Beck Web site for details!
On a personal note, George and I have confidence in Stan Barton and his ability and desire to finish this project. George has had a number of conversations with Stan, both before and after this meeting, that lead us to believe that he and Beck are our best hope for living the dream of Loreto Bay.
Next up: Hospitality House is a hit!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Updated update
In our post on the AV home owner meeting Monday, we incorrectly stated that Hector Medina, TSD's representative at the meeting, would not allow a co-advisor to serve along with him in sub-regimes K and L. He did agree to accept home owner advisors. Medina/TSD holds a majority of votes in both those sub-regimes.
As these positions are in an unofficial advisory capacity to Master Condo Regime administrator Bob Toubman, we're not sure how much weight they will have. But, then again, it doesn't sound as though anything of substance is expected to be decided before the meetings in February.
We'll try to post more on the meeting later today, but because we're having to use the Beck offices for Internet service we can't make any guarantees!
As these positions are in an unofficial advisory capacity to Master Condo Regime administrator Bob Toubman, we're not sure how much weight they will have. But, then again, it doesn't sound as though anything of substance is expected to be decided before the meetings in February.
We'll try to post more on the meeting later today, but because we're having to use the Beck offices for Internet service we can't make any guarantees!
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