http://www.murciagolfproperties.co.uk/Paramount_Theme_Park_takes_another_step_forward

Hi Folks,

I have never been so don't know what is there or how it is managed, but I do believe that Paramount own Terra Mitika(dont know if that is the correct spelling) further north but that might gives us an idea of how well run, looked after and busy things could be for us if(and a big IF) it comes to our neighbourhood.

I personally would like it near but not on my doorstep, maybe as far a the new airport would be ideal, that way we should get the best of both worlds and keep everyone happy.

Ali

Have a look at www.simplynetworking.es for their comments made today on each of the hopeful Murcian regions hoping to get the park.  Interesting reading.

@ Alison&Simon - I think Paramount used to own Terra Mitica but they havent for a while. I think that it has just changed hands again with the Mundomar/Aqualandia owners purchasing it. Also that park is in trouble, their losses this year are horrendous and they have just recently laid off all the staff. The plan is to redevelop the park and start from scratch with everything.

Also Paramount will not actually be running this park, if its built. They are letting the company use the Paramount name and will have input into the setting up etc but the day to day running will be with someone else.

All interesting stuff with the pros and cons, likes and dislikes about the potential swings and roundabouts and monorails.

The Paris Disneyland place has about 7 hotels, a couple of golf courses, a few lakes .......... and a railway station with a high speed link, it gets on average 25,000 visitors a day ,,,,,,,,,

CdA was always envisaged to have 20,000 units which with a 30% occupancy at peak times. Lets say an average of 3 people per unit would mean 20,000 people in and around the site excluding staff/day visitors ......... vast majority in cars.

The numbers don't seem vastly different, tho i maybe a couple out with my completely made up guesstimations

Baldrick, i have a cunning plan ......... lets build CdA parts 2 and 3 and subsitute some rides where golf course 3 was going to be

Tony,

You made a lot of valid points in your earlier posting. I am not sure everyone realises the scale of the planned development at Condado as it was originally, before coming to a dramatic halt. The PDF included on Shampers post below gives you some sort of perspective of just how much land is in the 'envelope' of the development area. Another way of seeing this is by looking at the model in the Polaris Al Kasar office. Take a look at our phase 1 section within the boundries of the gated community. There is a vast amount of land to still be developed. At the bottom of the site (top of the image) there was to be another phase of jardines El Mirador that was cancelled and the luxury villas mid-way along the bottom ring road that also were a non starter. The penthouses were planned to run right up to the Jardines. On top of this you have all the light brown shaded land that surrounds the course that does not even have conceptual plans created for yet. This is an enourmous area, believe me -I have cycled it often enough ! We are probably no more than 25% fully developed on our own patch within the fences of 'Condado 1'. And we are probably only 40% of the size of the remaing undeveloped La Isla side. The area where golf courses 2 & 3 were planned is massive and would probably accommodate 3 Florida amusement parks easily even considering how large they are. If you don't believe me take a cycle along (or run in the car) the partly finished roads at the back of La Isla beyond where Oasis was planned to be. From the point where you get to the water treatment plant, the expanse of land then goes all the way back to the main entrance roundabout taking in scrubland and lemon & olive groves.

All this leads me to the conclusion that the only hope for anything taking off with further enhancement of what we already have here at Condado rests solely on the hope that the Paramount development is chosen to be right here on that vast expanse of land to the north of La Isla. Not anywhere near Corvera airport, not anywhere on the outskirts of Murcia, not around Torre Pacheco, not in Cartagena. Each of these alternate bidders have their own golf developments and similar around them which will be the first to benefit in any expansion and improvement of facilities. The further you get away from the main central hub, the further you go down the pecking order. The first choice for holiday-makers is to be as near as possible (within reason) to the action. Not everybody, like us, is used to or has the inclination to drive a minimum of 30 minutes on foreign territory to get to the nearest point of recreation. They would much prefer to be within taxi distance or shuttle bus.

Here's hoping.

Regards,

Good post Bilbo,

I am a bit confused by the folks saying they bought on CDA for the tranquility when it would have been one of the largest towns in region.

I bought as it was a) cheap b) with plans for 3 golf courses and c) plans for shps/bars etc meaning that you didnt necessarily need a car or have to travel for things to do.

As all 3 of these have been scuppered, if we dont get Paramount, what will then be the future of CDA? what wil be the catalyst to invigorate the site and more relevant what will stop it stagnating?

Well put Bilbo and Mark.

In many of my earlier posts on this forum I ranted about what CdA had become, as we were originally meant to be on the Golf Suites and have many facilities, but had swopped to a Jardines- which I now love spending time at. However I'd even been in grave doubt about the Golf Suite apartment due to the huge scale of the proposed CdA and various negative/concerned comments that had been made to either me or members of my extended family about the fact CdA was to be a huge town- with all the potential issues any urban sprawl could have and was going to bring to the local area.

Whilst I'm in the camp of preferring the golf course route to a theme park I have to say no-one who has bought on CdA has a leg to stand on when it comes to talking about being worried about the negative difference a theme park could make to the local area or to CdA. There was huge local opposition to CdA and PW had to put in new planning applications at one point and we have to remember that locally CdA wasnt wanted. Looking back on any forums around 2006/2007 clearly identifies that.. The fact we have a tiny resort in the end is sheer luck for those who wanted real peace and quiet. But, if we dont get the Theme park,  in time we will get something else and it could be less attractive. The Banks definitely want to shift that land and PW can't use it.

CdA was envisaged as being a busy rental resort with 1/3rd occupancy at any one time as the golf would have been a draw throughout the year. With a theme park we may get different type of renter- maybe more families and groups. However the theme park, whereever it is, will produce its own Hotels and apartments- so the changes if its close to CdA would be slow in my estimation.

Hi All

I am one of the ones some consider a nimbi for saying I am not in favour of the Paramount option, if not being in favour of this makes me a nimbi than that’s what I am.

However this isn’t quite my position

I originally bought into a golf resort with 3 world class golf courses and its own private facilities within its gated community and the addition of a commercial town centre on its doorstep providing quality shops, restaurants and entertainment.

If the development had continued along the lines of the original plan we would have eventually owned on a vibrant all year resort. Unfortunately the recession brought this to an end.

Some people who are entitled to their view and could well be right,   believe that’s the end and the original plane will now never happen. I am not in that camp, I still believe the development will happen when the recession is over.

Now as I have already said on another thread this is my supposition and not fact, so please don’t shoot me down in flames.

From the different post on the forum it is starting to look to me that although PW have handed significant assets to the bank like property, land and golf course, they may have a hidden agenda.

PW would be happy for the banks to sell the vacant property as this is just doing their job for then.

However as far as land and golf course are concerned it is starting to look as if PW have retained the ownership of key pieces of land to prevent development they may well intend to do themselves when the financial climate improves?

By holding onto key pieces of land it would make it almost imposable for the banks to sell the land to other developers and keep its value low, allowing PW the opportunity to offer to buy this land back when the financial climate improves and they are in a position to continue development.

For example from what has been posted PW still own the land the original clubhouse was to be built on, preventing one being built by others and they are also objecting to building one in an alternative location. This they are doing for a reason?

PW have retained ownership of the existing Town Centre for a reason, even though they are happy to shut the meagre facilities we currently have, they are not prepared to sell the complex to others or allow other restaurants and bars to open. Although I and you deplore them for this, they will have a business reason for it.

It would be interesting to know in detail exactly what and where they still own at CDA.

Now as far as Paramount is concerned I do not object to this option completely, it is just not my preferred option. This in my opinion would make the resort more seasonal rather than an all year resort and we would remain a small complex surrounded by hotels, souvenir shops and fast food restaurants, I am sure some good family restaurants would appear and clearly this option is better than staying as we are.

It’s just my opinion is the area could still be developed something along the line we bought into and we could still get something along the lines of the original plan, that said if Paramount was the only option then so be it. But PW haven’t retained ownership of the areas they have just for the fun of it.

As I said all just my opinion, all other opinions are equally credible until we find who has the crystal ball.

Phil

 Can someone put me right here. I must have missed something.

If the theme park comes, all the candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring as the preferred location are willing to donate the land required.  The banks own CdA 2, in return for PW's debt.  Won't they want to sell it to balance the books, thereby ruling us out? 

keeve

Isn't it that if they donate the land they become major investors in the scheme? So, would benefit in the long run anyway- dont think there are too many takers otherwise at the moment.

Our neighbouring properties are now owned by the banks and I occasionally take a look to see if they have been sold.  I was pleasantly surprised yesterday to see that they've increased the price by 5 thousand euros on both properties.

Do the banks know something we don't or is it because we are going to be such good neighbours - when we eventually get some that is?

Lots of articles I have read in the last week or so are saying Murcia has bucked the trend in Spain for their property sales. None were suggesting its a boom time but that sales had been slow and fairly steady. Genuine bargains (low price, furnished, good location) rather than cut back to the quick because of problems are selling well and the news of Paramount's interest in the area has seen added interest. If the theme park actually gets built and its anywhere within a hours travel CdA should still see benefits.

Unfortunately there's also about an equal amount of negative infomation regarding the proposed theme park not so much about where it will be; but more that land and funding may be made availabe and even get finally agreed but whether in these constained times it will really get built or if building commences whether it will get finished because companies and organisations will remain highly vulnerable and prone to going into liquidation for years to come and none of these big projects come in on the originally agreed budget..

One long article dealt with what it means to local communities when these big building projects are in the build process (like an airport or any big new housing development, area regeneration, shopping mall complex, hotel complex building)  it talked about financial benefits to retail outlets from the influx of workers, rental opportunities from accomodation for said workers, benefits to transport companies who move workers from accomodation to the build, changes to urban communities when workers move in and have money to spend in bars and restaurants but affect holiday bookings (and therefore the 'feel' of the area) because accomodation is in long term rental. Then what happens to the area when the workers move on and low rent properties need a refurb because of being used for full term living rather than holiday rental? So positives and negatives of the whole process with lots of points that I imagine many people wont have considered as they probably only thought of the rental opportunities brought by the prospective theme park users.

So food for thought and its interesting watching the story develop.

from :-  http://www.theleader.info/article/24958/spain/costa-calida/paramount-theme-park-gets-green-light/

"Jesus Samper, the owner of Real Murcia, and Santa Mónica Financial, explained last Tuesday that due to a confidentiality contract he cannot give away any details of the new theme park yet.  However, huge speculation over the location is already being generated, and all eyes seem to be on land next to the Polaris World urbanisation near Alhama, which happens to be fairly close to the new airport.  It is also next to the Green area of Parque Natural el Carrasco and El Valle, and near the Cartagena-Murcia motorway."

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_27226.shtml

Article from yesterday

 Latest from todays papers.

Tug of war over the price of land in Alhama

09/21/1910 - 1:59 - 

MBB | MURCIA.

The MRI group (Mediterranean Resort Investment) said it is offering its land from Alhama, "at cost" to developers Paramount theme park. This would translate into about 60 euros per square meter for building, which means about 350 million euros over an area of 600 hectares. The regional government and the Society of Jesus Samper seem unwilling to accept this price and these days are seeing a tug of war, according to several sources have explained, convinced that the end will close a deal. Samper emphasizes that it does not directly issue and refers to the confidentiality clause.

MRI, consisting of banks and acquired the lands of Polaris World, could be interested in offsetting the price difference with an increase of construction, the extensive land it owns in this county. In this group are Caja Mediterráneo, Bancaja, Banco de Valencia and Banco Popular. Not so Cajamurcia, which is 7% of the total land area but is not part of MRI, as this newspaper has learned.

What is sought at this time is that there is at least an option to purchase the land, which would exchange words for later writing. In this sense, the transaction will not close now, but when Paramount Pictures executives give the final yes to the project, sources said yesterday some negotiation. The availability of land, however, must be immediate, since without them the intermediary company can not continue its work. The regional government is closely monitoring the negotiations and noted that other options remain open.

how about this for jumping on the bandwagon/ getting in early ! http://www.theresorts.co.uk/ look at the video !!

How naughty is that.

Craftily they do not say anything deffinate about Paramount but  its a dam big hint

& if prospective purchasers have heard the the chit chat  then this, I`m sure will give them the push to buy, I think

Jan