Paramount - again!!

This appeared in a newspaper a few months ago

I thought this might made some interesting reading,

2010-02-27

Murcian Regional News, Minister in talks with Paramount Studios project team

The Minister of Culture, Pedro Cruz , and the President of the region, Ramon Luis Valcarcel, have returned from meetings in Dubai with the interesting news that feasibility studies are to take place into the construction of a massive theme park, on a level with Disneyland Paris here in Murcia..

Whilst it is too early to get overly excited, the new park could create 20,000 jobs and bring 3 million tourists a year more into this region, should the project go ahead.

The two have been in discussions with Michael Bartok, Executive vice president of the licencing division of Paramount Pictures and Ruwaad Holdings CEO Hayan Merchant who are said to favour the region because of it's climatic attractions, over and above other regions including Catalunia and Andalucia, both of which have been considered for the project.

A site is being sought in Spain to create the largest theme park in the country, of a size and sophistication to rival Disneyland Paris, together with film studios which will be the centre of Paramount filming in Europe.

Executives from Ruwaad, together with technical staff, are to travel to Murcia and carry out the technical and feasibility studies, and the regional executive will begin the drive to attract investors for the scheme.

At this stage several locations are under consideration for the construction of the site, but Murcia is considered to be ideal due to the location of the new Corvera Airport, recently completed motorway links, the new high speed rail lines which are currently under construction and the fact that the region is the warmest in Spain, with an average 300 days of sunshine a year.

The project investigation team are moving fast and will be in Murcia within the next few days, hoping to complete the initial assessments within a month, with all viability studies to be completed by the end of April.

Should this project go ahead it will certainly be a massive stimulus to the employment prospects within the region, although other theme parks already in place, such as the local Terra Mitica in Murcia and other major parks throughout Spain have failed to perform financially in line with projections made.

Cruz spoke tentatively about investments of  1.800 million euros being required, and the region itself will be required to cede land to the project and invest financially if it wishes to hook a big fish

Hi Dakey

I hear what you say and respect your opinion and as I say if done in a sympathetic way could be fine. I know the good and the bad of this sort of thing as I own a share of a property in Orlando next to Disney.

 However if when I was buying this was on the cards I probably wouldn’t have bought at CDA but Hay Ho we are where we are.

For me rental income isn’t relevant as we don’t rent our property but I do understand the benefit to those who do.

I didn’t make comment about Gated Community and any affect this development may have internally, however you are correct in it would depend on the renters attracted what affect this would have internally.

Phil

not sure if anyone else has seen the below article

http://www.hrgr.es/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=201%3Aparamount-coming-to-murcia&catid=60%3Anews&Itemid=2&lang=en

I am concerned about this, not matter how well they build a park it is still a theme park, gates do not stop noise and rubbish, don't forget Disney world have a huge firework display every night at midnight, and I don't want to be stuck in traffic jams just trying to get to our apt, I know people are seeing pound signs, especially those who bought to sell on at a profit, and those who need to rent, but for us who bought a holiday home I do not think it will do us any good, I cannot think of anything worse than living next door to Alton Towers!!!

Andy,

I cannot believe the attitude of some people, I mean you say " Disney have a massive firework display every night at midnight" as if that is a bad thing! Most people would see that as a brilliant spectacle to watch nightly. With the greatest respect I think you should buy something on a hermits conclave somewhere and celebrate your quiet solitude every night.

Dakey

I personally welcome the chance of paramount being close...a park in 5-6 years would be fine for us with kids currently 4 & 2..

I can also see why people who bought for a place to get away from the more commercial holiday areas of spain may not be so positive.  They may have wanted more of the small town vibe than big city.

I chose CDA because it wasn't one bar after another on your doorstep...obviously didn't expect there to be only one bar!!  But  I don't expect a paramount to change CDA so much that it would eclipse the original plans. 

I'm hopeful any development will allow CDA to progress whil retaining the charm I think it has.

Dakey - I don't think that commenting on Andy's 'attitude' is fair.  The man is simply presenting his opinion - to which he is perfectly entitled.  I am sure there will be a fair few people on La Isla who have, for example, young children and the last thing they would want is fireworks banging loudly every night.  I guess, though, that if anyone is extremely put out by the resort happening (if it is sited at CDA) then the increase in property values and/or rental income will allow those people to up sticks and find a nice wee finca in the hills????

O well another thread starting down the road of personal insults when someone offers a different view. Aren’t we all entitled to our opinion?

Phil

I wasnt aware that I had insulted anyone and would have no wish to do so, in my post I mention with the "greatest respect" It just appears that no matter what positive things transpire then someone will always see the down side. I suppose we will all have to learn to get along with differing views.

Dakey

It is desperately sad to see a thread starting with a potential multi million euro investment degenerate into..........there might be loads of rubbish &......there might be a noisy firework display at night!!!!

Like others below, I bought for family holidays, not for flipping & enjoy every visit to Condado (roll on Halloween).

However, I cannot escape the fact that we have a golf course with no clubhouse, a restaurant about to close, 1 bar & a bucket load of empty units........surely some sort of investment in or around where we are is good news!

I guess what is 'lovely weather' for some will always be 'far too hot' for others.

Cheers,

Peter

I can only say, that all the Disney, Universal & Sea world parks I have ever visited in Florida are some of the most pristine, well maintained litter-free environments I have ever witnessed anywhere in the world.

This forum makes me laugh......

The first bit of encouraging news regarding a possible major financial investment into Murcia and the NIMBY's are out in force.

The site for the proposed Paramount Studio's Theme Park hasn't even been disclosed yet but the whining has started already with regards to imagined firework displays, increased noise and excessive traffic etc etc

Have some of you actually heard yourselves???

Now I've nothing against someone having an opinion on something, but at least have an opinion on something when all of the facts are known as opposed to whining on about some imagined infringements, which may or may not happen around Condado at some point in the imagined future.

I bought a place on Condado for the sunshine, the relaxation and plenty of wine,

I just didn't realise that there was a silent h in the latter*

*Any hint at sarcasm is purely intentional

I think that people are seeing this theme park- if we get it- starting on the edge of the lake surrounding La Isla. I dont, I think it will be as far back as possible on the Condado ll land and so it would interfer very little with Condado other than bring in investment.. Easy access to Corvera would be from that point anyway. I note that a couple of other regions of Spain are also in the mix, although I suspect the plot has already been chosen. I'm also not expecting it to look like the fairground at Blackpool- absoloutley no offence to Blackpool Fairground, the area known as Blackpool or any person who comes from Blackpool, intended. I'm just not expecting the Paramount Theme Park to be in that style. It'll be modern for a start and in the genre of American theme parks and so hopefully pristine.

I also think that people have forgotten just how enormous Condado should have been and the quiet resort we have been left with is nothing like the sprawl of properties and facilites many of us thought we were buying into. There were to have been at least 15,000 properties- a town in fact ,with firestation and school and hospital. This was just in the 10 year plan and  further development was to be proposed after that. So, originally Condado wouldnt have been a quiet little back water and would have changed the local area forever, its difficult to be saying we dont want this change when our own resort would have created just as much havoc locally.  Therefore a theme park on the very edges of the resort probably wont make any more difference to what we all bought into anyway- other than give us all a financial boost.

However, I'm probably in the group who wouldnt have bought on Condado if I'd have known there was to be a theme park next door. I'm happier with the idea of a sprawling metropolis and three busy golf courses  than Disneyland next door. But, I hope it goes ahead from the finacial point of view.

to dakey, if that is not a personal insult what is, if you can learn to read and understand what I am trying to say if you are living out on CDA  would you want to be living next to a theme park with the potential of all the noise etc associated with it. A firework display is brilliant as i have seen at disney world, but to listen to that sort of thing every night all year round would not be brilliant. If you cannot accept other peoples opinions it you who should be a hermit, holed up somewhere, and never speak to me like that agai9n, I am sick to death of people hiding behind there keyboards and slagging off other peoples opinions, I do hope I get to have a chat with you about this at some point!. To everyone else lets keep an interesting discussion going and respect other people views.

Hi Tony, I agree with what you have posted, I was looking forward when I bought' to the town centre and all the properties etc, it would have made a wonderful and exciting town with loads to do especially all the sports facilities, which now look quite a long way off. If this park is built it will hopefully encourage investment onto CDA, but if it is built on that land that is the end of CDA developing into the town etc that it was, and the end to another golf course. One thing does anyone know who the investors would be as I see that Paramount are only putting there name to it, the rest has to come from other investors. On simply networking they talk about Murcia town being in the running , will be interesting over the next year or so.

Andy,

I apologise to you personally if you have taken offence at my reply to your post, I just get frustrated by negativity, but with hindsight I accept that a minority of people will be against this project and you are obviously one of them. What I take as offensive is a veiled threat of physical violence offered up from,in your words, behind a keyboard. I will not speak to you again in the manner that you found offensive as you request, but on the other hand dont you ever make threats, veiled or otherwise to me again or you might not like my response.

You say you live on the resort, I will PM you when I am next over and we can meet up for a chat, neighbourly drink or anything else you have in mind.

Dakey

I had made up my mind that though I would continue to read the threads for Condado, I would not participate any more.

However I feel I need to just say a few words.

In the earlier days of Condado there were numerouse moans and groans about the "Surgery" in Jardin 6 & how grumpy Erbert was. Now it has closed there are still moans & groans because of its closure.

I always found the staff there, great.

The atmospher was always good & though not a minamalist I  did like the all white interior. At least you could see that it was extremely clean & you could actually see what you were  eating.

Dont  go for the resturants etc  that are so dark they didnt have to clean for a week & I doubt if any one would be able to tell.

So what am I getting at ?

Be greatful for what we have & dont knock it until you have tried it.

We can insult each other on EOS  till the cows come home but until we find out for deffinate where the

suposed theme park is going to be built, why fall out.

It still may not ever happen

 Jan

Hi  Dakey, thanks for that we will forget all what was said thanks for the apology and likewise back to you, its nice that you have replied, I have calmed down a bit, hopefully will meet up for a pint in the good old clover if we can get served!!, hopefully we are coming out a christmas. Still will be surprised if they find the money for this massive project, the way spain is at the moment. but as i said if it does go ahead hopefully they will build the oasis which would really improve the resort. Still wouldn't like to be on La Isla though if it does go ahead.

I'll let the buggers launch the fireworks off my balcony, if it means getting some life into the resort

I'll set off my own fireworks if it goes ahead.