Santo Domingo.– Group Metro, the acclaimed real estate leader
in the Dominican Republic, is pleased to announce their latest, exciting
project, Costa Blanca by Metro. The residential golf & beach community will
span across 270 acres
of lush property including almost 3 miles of coastline overlooking the Caribbean
Sea, which also includes a half mile of gorgeous beach front in the blue lagoon
bay of the project.
Adorning the property will be an 18-hole signature Greg
Norman Signatura Golf Course, international tennis center, beach club, 52
Founder's Club villas, state-of-the-art condominium towers, a luxurious
full-scale marina for over 100 yachts, and private golf club house featuring
the Hole 19 Bar, fine dining restaurant, cigar lounge, pro shop, conference
center, and more. With top-of-the-line activities and lavish sporting complexes
alongside magnificent residences, owners at Costa Blanca will find not only a
haven and retreat from the everyday, but also an outlet for recreation and
enjoyment.
Costa Blanca has had immense success with the introduction
of their Founder's Club. This exclusive and select group of 52 individuals were
the first to purchase packages of staggering value, including: a luxurious private
villa with golf, bay or marina views, 2 condominiums, a private boat slip in
the marina, and membership to the prestigious golf club. Members of The
Founder's Club will enjoy top VIP treatment in addition to their various properties and onsite amenities.
Residents and guests of Costa Blanca will find their every
whim catered to and any accommodation imaginable right at their fingertips.
Costa Blanca will house a Greg Norman Signature Golf Course, which will be a
PGA quality Golf Course in the Dominican Republic. With Mr. Norman's signature
stamp of quality and expertise, residents and guests will enjoy the luxury of
having this course onsite. In addition, the marina will house 150 boats with
slips up to 120 feet
and the Marina is planned with a Marina Village resplendent with retail and
commercial space housing restaurants, boutiques, and yachting shops.
When Phase One of this billion dollar retail undertaking is
complete, Costa Blanca will house multiple, opulent high rise condominium
towers for residents. Residential offerings will span an assortment of styles
and sizes; ensuring a perfect match for any property seeker, with all properties
featuring balconies with breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea or golf
course.
The Group Metro Team, the developers and visionaries of this
grand-scale resort community, have over three decades of experience and expertise
that they will be bringing to the project. Dr. Luis Jose Asilis, CEO of Group
Metro states, "We are very pleased and excited to start construction on
the 1st PGA Quality Golf Course in Juan Dolio. Costa Blanca will offer a
complete luxury lifestyle only 30 minutes from Santo Domingo and the
International Airport."
From: United States
This is wonderful news. I think it's high time that high-rises were built around the beach areas as they consume less land than and add a cosmopolitan flair that I believe is lacking in most of the resort areas of the island in addition to being safer in the event of hurricanes. I think that the height ban on hotel structures in resort areas should be lifted or we'll run out of land sooner rather than later at the rate of development. It's also more convenient to take an elevator down to the pool are or restaurant than to wait for a golf cart or get shuttled around a resort from your bungalow. Addtionally, most rooms will be afforded an awesome view of the beach from high above. While these are condos and not hotels; I think Grupo Metro is thinking in the right direction...UP.
Written by: HRBIC, 26 Apr 2008 10:33 AM
From: United States
High rise buildings close to Santo Domingo: like Juan Dolio: o.k.!
In the other Beach Areas: NO!!!
Who wants to have a Manhattan on the beaches, a destroyed and ugly environment???
It is beautiful when the buildings are not higher the the coco palm trees.
=> Buildings should be:
max 4 floors direct on beaches, max 6 floors within 500 meters from the beaches.
=>Dom.Rep. has to distinct itself from ugly developments
like Miami Beach, San Juan, Panama, etc
when it's tourisme wants to survive in the future.
Higher buildings are safer against Hurricanes?
Did you really study Physics , Aerodynamics ........... smile....
From: United States
Everyone is entitle to his or her own wrong opinion on highrise structures. Quite frankly I don't believe Miami Beach, San Juan or Panama represent ugly developments. So long as it's done right. Santo Domingo is full of high-rises and more being built everyday. Why is Juan Dolio OK and not Punta Cana or Puerto Plata. Isn't Juan Dolio a beach area in and of itself? Hello....I never claimed to study any of the noted subjects, however, I was referring to flood damage and thatched hotel and airport roofs blowing away in hurricane force winds. South Florida has suffered through many a hurricanes and, if you've ever noticed, hurricanes do most damage to low-level structures. Remember Hurricane Andrew in '92, well Homestead had to be rebuilt and Miami Beach was and is still in tact. When land runs out; you'll agree with me.
Written by: rym87, 26 Apr 2008 11:52 AM
From: United States, Ithaca, NY
This is great for rich people, but where's the social responsibility component in this project. It seems to me that the project developers don't understand that the 21st century is about sustainable development and not business-as-usual. I think the government needs to set criteria for these kinds of developments because they're not benefiting our people at all. Yes it creates jobs and blah blah blah, but it's really a way of separating rich people who want to come to our island to enjoy of our natural resources and climate. This development must include affordable housing as well and must incorporate surrounding communities if it wants to really add value to the country. If I were directing the Tourism Secretariat/Ministry, I'd make sure that social responsibility and environmental stewardship are key components of any new projects. Tourism is just creating foreign exchange for the country, raising revenues for the government, and creating some not very progressive jobs.
Written by: HRBIC, 26 Apr 2008 12:05 PM
From: United States
Hola Friend
Juan Dolio is close to the capital with it's high rise buildings.
3 Mio people live there. The week end traffic is big.
=> High density constructions may be desirable.
Beaches like Cabarete and others are for people who want to escape the big cities
and relax on beautiful beaches without skylines.
Think also of the infra structure needed when too many tourists live on a small spot:
Sewage, pollution, etc.
The fire brigades do not have the equipment, etc
Hurricanes:
Winds on and close the surface are much weaker the higher in the air!
= Homestead:
USA low quality paper and light wood constructions are an easy target for high winds!!
In Dom.Rep.: high quality concrete and brick constructions with a lot of steel enforcements!
= Miami Beach:
was spared by the storm that hit Homestead!
= The last weaker storms in Miami 2 years ago did a lot of damage on high rise buildings
in Downtown Miami. Some of the windows are not replaced till today!
Written by: Escott, 26 Apr 2008 12:13 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a 2 days a month for payday
I think we can use a Miami type of project here. Juan Dolio and Puerto Plata are the two places that it would suit best. After all Juan Dolio and Puerto Plata have been a failure in tourism historically. Take a different approach.
Written by: HRBIC, 26 Apr 2008 12:14 PM
From: United States
Tourism:
= Miami Beach: San Juan
Tourism went down during the last few years. The European tourism went almost down to 0!
They say it's ugly and overbuild! [not old San Juan, which is beautiful]
= South Beach:
2-4 floor constructions: "ambiente", Restaurants in the open without a/c, etc
Tourism is still booming there!!!
= Dom.Rep.: fast growing: tourists like the beautiful beaches and great looking hotels and
condos!!!
= Who wants to use an elevator in the wet swim suet to go to the beach when he can walk out of
the room direct to the beach.....
Written by: HRBIC, 26 Apr 2008 12:26 PM
From: United States
Hola Escott
I fully agree with you.
"ZONING" PLANS are needed.
"Juan Dolio", as I mentioned before and Puerto Plata City can be put apart.
But safe places like Cabarete etc. with strict 4 floor on the beach,
max 6 floor away from the beach rules.
As an Example:
CABARETE:
= BAY: Max 4 floors: wind!
2 floors max on mid Bay Beach, to save "ambiente', restaurants, clubs
4 floors left and right: wind will not be affected, Palms are highest points, Bay still looks great.
Out of BAY:
= Kite Beach & Others: 4 floors on Beachside, max 6 floors on Street side
Written by: muchacho, 26 Apr 2008 3:05 PM
From: United States, New York City
rym87...
Yes, social responsibility. There's no quid pro quo. Here in NYC, many developers take adavantage of tax breaks in a program where the city demands that for every square footage of luxury housing built, a certain percentage is either set aside for low-income families, or the developer must contribute to a fund to build affordable housing. At some point, the Dominican authorities will have to get on the ball and make similar arrangements. You cannot continue to ignore the desperate conditions of the lower classes while catering to the whims of developers.
From: United States
I don't disagree that there should be some level of social responsibility, however, in a capitalist society class structure will always prevail. The rich will never want to rub elbows with the poor but the poor will want to rub elbows with the rich. Education is the KEY. How do think some New Yorkers feel about paying market rate rents while their neighbor is paying close to zilch because of their income and yet they both can live in luxury rentals in midtown enjoying the same amenities. That's like paying for coach but flying first class. That doesn't bode well with middle income New Yorkers who make too much to qualify for these programs and not enough to afford market rate rents so they end up living in the outer boroughs. The bottom line is that people withour education will always be trapped in their own environment, no matter where they live. Until governments dedicate enough resources towards education, handouts should not be the way to go.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
"Tourism is just creating foreign exchange for the country, raising revenues for the government, and creating some not very progressive jobs." so.......this is not so bad.....but Metro will go out of their way to be very progressive....not to worry rym87......dont get to greedy yet....I can see the socialist in you all ready to confiscate and redistribute.....chill out ,you are going to kill the goose....and the we will be back to the all you can eat till you puke rubber chicken all inclusive packages,......you dont want to go down and dirty in the lowball market with cuba and jamaica do you? so get on board the METRO now
From: United States
I couldn't of put it better myself Gouletcolonial...
Written by: Trujillo, 5 May 2008 8:35 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Just like Cap Cana and Sans Souci, Metro is dominican. These type of investors are welcomed, local and foreign investors, but this is even greater news because we can now see dominican business people have the right idea and are investing big and there's is still a lot to do. I see oportunity to make money everywhere in the DR... Too bad I don't have the kind of resources as these investors have, because I believe I have even greater ideas.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
trujillo and NY hunk.....please speak up and slap these whiners who are always going on about the exploiters and about the poor will never see a penny blah blah same story all the time with these lefty jerks....they are jealous pure and simple for economic or racial reasons combined in a know it all pompous attitude
Written by: Visitor, 6 May 2008 4:31 PM
From: Netherlands Antilles, San Maarten
High rise building and development is nice...People wake up and smell the coffee,,,on the beach in no place for such development and or project,,,I understand Santo Domingo needs more of this kind,,BUT what about the natural beauty and the people interest. Am voicing this opinon because am a real estate broker and developer,,,coming from an island with just the same type of development, at this moment all the natural beauty is all gone,,,$$$$ has been made and now,,,we're looking at buildingd upon buildings. thin about this.
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In the other Beach Areas: NO!!!
Who wants to have a Manhattan on the beaches, a destroyed and ugly environment???
It is beautiful when the buildings are not higher the the coco palm trees.
=> Buildings should be:
max 4 floors direct on beaches, max 6 floors within 500 meters from the beaches.
=>Dom.Rep. has to distinct itself from ugly developments
like Miami Beach, San Juan, Panama, etc
when it's tourisme wants to survive in the future.
Higher buildings are safer against Hurricanes?
Did you really study Physics , Aerodynamics ........... smile....
Juan Dolio is close to the capital with it's high rise buildings.
3 Mio people live there. The week end traffic is big.
=> High density constructions may be desirable.
Beaches like Cabarete and others are for people who want to escape the big cities
and relax on beautiful beaches without skylines.
Think also of the infra structure needed when too many tourists live on a small spot:
Sewage, pollution, etc.
The fire brigades do not have the equipment, etc
Hurricanes:
Winds on and close the surface are much weaker the higher in the air!
= Homestead:
USA low quality paper and light wood constructions are an easy target for high winds!!
In Dom.Rep.: high quality concrete and brick constructions with a lot of steel enforcements!
= Miami Beach:
was spared by the storm that hit Homestead!
= The last weaker storms in Miami 2 years ago did a lot of damage on high rise buildings
in Downtown Miami. Some of the windows are not replaced till today!
= Miami Beach: San Juan
Tourism went down during the last few years. The European tourism went almost down to 0!
They say it's ugly and overbuild! [not old San Juan, which is beautiful]
= South Beach:
2-4 floor constructions: "ambiente", Restaurants in the open without a/c, etc
Tourism is still booming there!!!
= Dom.Rep.: fast growing: tourists like the beautiful beaches and great looking hotels and
condos!!!
= Who wants to use an elevator in the wet swim suet to go to the beach when he can walk out of
the room direct to the beach.....
I fully agree with you.
"ZONING" PLANS are needed.
"Juan Dolio", as I mentioned before and Puerto Plata City can be put apart.
But safe places like Cabarete etc. with strict 4 floor on the beach,
max 6 floor away from the beach rules.
As an Example:
CABARETE:
= BAY: Max 4 floors: wind!
2 floors max on mid Bay Beach, to save "ambiente', restaurants, clubs
4 floors left and right: wind will not be affected, Palms are highest points, Bay still looks great.
Out of BAY:
= Kite Beach & Others: 4 floors on Beachside, max 6 floors on Street side
Yes, social responsibility. There's no quid pro quo. Here in NYC, many developers take adavantage of tax breaks in a program where the city demands that for every square footage of luxury housing built, a certain percentage is either set aside for low-income families, or the developer must contribute to a fund to build affordable housing. At some point, the Dominican authorities will have to get on the ball and make similar arrangements. You cannot continue to ignore the desperate conditions of the lower classes while catering to the whims of developers.