Future Development on Condado - a report from Skell

Fozzer & All

We returned from Condado yesterday.  I tried to get an update from PW on the current plans for the future.  We too got an enthusiastic lad - Sergio -from the Sales dept who told us the following based on his understanding & the direction he has been given from PW HQ:

1) Foro - Target is May, but expectation is March (working on it 24 hrs / day under floodlights).  The plans are still to provide "some" services (shops / sports) in both of the original locations too.  Those areas cannot be used for more dwellings, decreed by authorities.

2) Clubhouse - Work will commence in Jan.........PW forecast Aug '09 (Yes '09) for completion.  Sergio believes this optimistic (Not Half!!)....but the logic he used was sound.  In trying to attract any new buyers in the current climate PW need to demonstrate a clear committment of it's intention.  He stated there will NOT be a temp clubhouse, but straight to the permanent one.

3) Tennis courts are also planned as a part of the Clubhouse area.  Basically just off the road that serves the Penthouses

4) Big Villas & Golf suites (phase 1) to commence in Jan.  No further building will be started until all remaining properies are sold - as previously reported.

5) Course is looking a belter -  a real Links feel to it on some holes.  Work is focussing on 9 holes - particulalry the ones close to the Penthouses & Club house.  Penthouses from Blocks 12~16 are very close to the course & I am sure will get some small round white visitors from time-to-time.  A duck hook on the holes there will cause some damage I think.  Massive amount of work is being undertaken now - there must be 200 workers - with their equipment on the course all day long

6) Qasis - Site is cleared & levelled.  The work will be completed in 3 phases.  Phase 1 will commence once La Isla is completed.  The lakes that surround  La Isla will then be flooded, as it is part of the same lake on Oasis.  Phase 2 & 3 will then follow.

7) I had a really good look at the land reserved for courses 2 & 3 yesterday morning.  The boundry road extends the full length of these courses - with some drainage work completed.  I have no doubt that these are still part of the grand plan - but when work will commence is anybody's guess in the current climate

Please remember that all of the above was from a PW Sales person & as such must be considered with a large sack of salt.  But he knew we are an exisiting owner & certainley not giving a hard sell. His explanation was that PW recognised that a new direction is required in the current climate, to prompt new sales.  In the short-term all the building labour will be put to good use on services, infrastructure & development of the golf courses.

My view is that if only 50% of the above happens as stated, then I will be very pleased.  Everything I heard & saw with my own eyes was very, very positive.  Any doubts I had previously heldon the future of Condado have ben laid to rest.  I believe we have a fantastic site with some really exciting developments ahead, that as a Bizzare effect of the credit crunch, will now probably come on stream much earlier than expected or forecast.  VERY GOOD NEWS for all current owners / buyers I think.

Couldn't finish this post without mention of the surgical bar on Jardines.  I had seen Herbert get some stick on the forum, but he was fine by me on the few times we where in. The first night the bar was manned by some rather nice Spanish Totty, but Herbert was back the following night.....sadly!!

Hope the above helps.......

Regards

Skell

very similar to news i am hearing skell.good report.thanks.if anyone has any spare cash or knows someone then i think the non completions are a steal.with no new building in the whole of spain once these go the prices will soon start to return to normality.base rate ill be cut again as the govt attempts to restart the housing market.

i am taking  a buyer out thursday but will be returning again once a month.if anyone wants to be shown around please pm me.

Thanks Skell - great news - especialy that Golf Suites are due to start in Jan as we will be owners there when they are completed - what do you mean by (phase 1) ???? due to commence,  I would have thought that they will build all 246 apartments in G.S once they start - did they give any explanation ? - thanks 

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your report. I've got to admit that over the last couple of months i've been a bit (well a lot) worried over much earlier completion dates, negative reports on other forums, economic climate and pw changing plans etc.... but I feel much happier now with various positive reports coming through on EOS.

Congratulations to you both on your completion and all that furnishing !!!!!!

Lisa

Hi patony,

I got the impresion that the full 246 GS will be buils as Phase 1, but hat more are planned at some future point.  I can't be 100% certain if this, but when he showed us the layout, he suggested that more suits were planned between existing position 7 the Jardines

Nick

Hi Skell

Thanks for that positive report!  What you have said runs consistent to what the reports have been in the last month or so!

They are going to build all what has been planned i.e. isla de Condado, 1st phase of golf suites, and some villas.  But more important they now concentrating on the needs of the people who have already committed!  Slowly slowly it seems they've realised this new Foro the one between jardine 13 and Noranjos is not going to be adequate for the next  'blurr years' !! 

Glad to hear they are looking at the the 2nd and 3rd golf course too, never had time to look further than the oasis last time!

One of the things I like about  PW  is their flexible, approach to their own dream! 

Skell,

Great report there - like you say, if we get 50% of that it will be great for now. Even in the midst of this credit crunch we are in a fortunate position here in some ways in comparrison to the other Polaris resorts in that:-

La Torre, Hacienda, El Valle, Terrezzes have all suffered from delayed completions. OK La Torre is now just about there with the town centre and hotel and looking great for it. Hacienda unfortunately has had no positive movement on it's town centre for months & months with no real sign of light at the end of the tunnel due to it being a conversion of a listed building. El Valle also waits in vain for town centre movement although it does have a nice clubhouse in place. Terrezzes is in the full throws of building works at last after taking deposits & subsequent payments at least a couple of years before Condado (re-release).

What you have to remember here is that we are at the lowest end of Polaris price scale across all the resorts and fortunately for us we seem to be getting the benefit of the majority of Polaris resources being thrown at our development because it appears to be the one that they want to use as the magnet to atract further sales. El Valle has the most up-market properties so far but they are frustrated at not being any nearer getting the town centre kicked off. Part of the reason for this must be the sheer numbers of properties that will eventually make up Condado swinging the balance our way for the need to have facilities in place quickly. They can fob El Valle off by putting on the bus service to the near-by La Torre facilities.

I can see the sense in relocating the football pitches, tennis, bowls etc up alongside where the foro is now being built because the original location was right at the bottom end of the site where no further building work is now to be carried out for a while. What would be the point in having these pitches well away from the hub of all the existing completed development ? I do think though that these sports facilities will be a scaled down version compared to the original plan. In conclusion, all I can say is if the Foro is up and running with shops and bars by the MIDDLE of next year ,never mind March, I will be well happy. Folowing on from that, roll on completion of La Isla to get that lake filled an Oasis phase one up and running.

Looking forward to going out Nov 23 to commence furnish & fit-out.

Regards,

Take one sack of salt

Direct from PW's own updated website............... (so it must be true) - obv the timings between locations are by helicopter !!

The following are already available in Condado de Alhama:

- Supermarket
- Bar El Manzano - Located opposite the sports area in Jardines de Alhama this bar is the perfect place to relax and recuperate after doing exercise. It provides a comfortable atmosphere and is a fun place to be both day and night. It offers soft drinks, Spanish and international beers, spirits, the very best cocktails. The wide variety of snacks available includes sandwiches and hamburgers and ensures there is something for everyone. Opening times: Every day from 19:00 to 00:00
- Sports facilities: 6 paddle tennis courts, 2 tennis courts, 3 squash courts
 

The Foro Town Centre, measuring 8,500 m2, is currently nearing the end of the construction phase and will soon be offering the following to the public and residents:

- Restaurants and bars
- Bank
- Supermarket
- Shops
- Crèche

Condado de Alhama will soon be opening a whole host of sports facilities: a gym, children’s play area, a football pitch, two 7-a-side football pitches, a bowling alley, etc.

A wide variety of shops and services to meet all leisure and day to day needs will complete what’s on offer in Condado de Alhama.
 

Condado de Alhama is in the Region of Murcia. Located in the magnificent, virgin area of Valle del Guadalentín, Condado de Alhama is to the south of Alhama de Murcia between two Regional Parks: Sierra Espuña and Carrascoy-El Valle. It is a strategic enclave in the south east of Spain, between Andalusia and the Autonomous Community of Valencia, which boasts an advanced road network ensuring you reach the beaches of Águilas and Mazarrón on the Costa Cálida in only 15 minutes. It also has excellent links to the beaches of La Manga and the Mar Menor. Wherever you are in Spain or Europe you can reach Condado de Alhama easily; just choose how: Madrid 3 ½ hrs away approx by car. Granada 2 hrs away approx by car. Valencia 2 ½ hrs away approx by car. Oslo, London, Dublin, Cologne, Stockholm and Amsterdam 2 away by plane approx.

Distance to... Km. Min. Alicante International Airport   45 San Javier International Airport   25 Corvera Airport (Under construction)   20 Murcia   25 Mar Menor   5

mar menor 5 mins-it takes 5 mins to get to the polaris front gate!

I know, that is sooo ridiculous. I have seen this stated in other PW literature. We should challenge them to telling us their route!!

Probably as the crow flies using your Polaris Challenger Tank to drive unimpeded through trivial obstacles such as walls and rivers