Real Estate Gunna TANK in Santa Marta, HUMMMM

Gator says on Oct 5, 2007, 10:13:

nothing new-just look out the window when the plane is landing at Simon Bolivar Airport

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 5, 2007, 10:32:

Drummond has been shipping coal out of Sta Marta for years. You can see the floating cranes and the big barges loading ships right offshore from the airport, as Gator notes.

robi666 says on Oct 5, 2007, 10:39:

BAQ, this is a problem of the area around Pozo Colorado. Pretty far from SM and El Rodadero.
As Gator said, the problem is not new at all. But it got a revamp following the decision, later retracted, of hotel Decameron to close. There is a lot more to say about it...

I do not have time to discuss it more now, but I'll log in again later.

For now, I tell you that real estate prices in SM will get higher and higher in next years, at even faster pace. That's my thought, of course.

If you want to buy land for a finca or an house on the beach, I'll tell you where to buy... the best spot of Colombia is near SM.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

curramberochris says on Oct 5, 2007, 10:54:

I believe they are also planning on doing something similar en Cartagena.........

Boatygringo says on Oct 5, 2007, 11:10:

Real Esate prices are out of sight in Cartagena it´s like gold rush fever, 500 to 2,500 mil in Boca Grandie and Lagheto, and there are buldings going up every where. They are even tearing down three story buildings to build high rises. Even in some of the poorer barios the prices are way too high. 90 100 mil for a row house. I dont know who is buying because most people here cant aford a house or appartment at any price. Dont think it´s because now it´s safer in the city, acording to the local rag there were 22 Homicides in Cartagena in September alone.

Boatygringo

robi666 says on Oct 5, 2007, 12:45:

Your friend was telling about the plans to start shipping large amounts of coal very CLOSE to the shore of Santa Marta. Well, in reality there is a project, but for Cartagena.
Anyway, the building of a shipping port on the Isla of Baru, Cartagena, has been suspended and it will be this way, at least until Uribe remains president of Colombia.
http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/they-go-on-making-cartagena-a-sh...

As said before, Drummond is using a terminal between Santa Marta and Cienaga (and it has been this way for several years). There are some problems for the hotels near that area (Zuana, Irotama, but most of all, Decameron).
Those problems made the news because of the menace of closing hotel Decameron. The Colombian Government and the Gobernacion del Departamento del Magdalena have promised to do something.

There are several projects to preserve the environment of the area around the airport.
First of all, the shipment of coal at "open air" will not longer be allowed.
This implies covered wagons for the train and the build of a new pneumatic system to load the ships. No more barges and tugboats.
Also, it was planned a construction of a new "super train" to avoid any movement of coal on trucks.
The coastal area between the Airport and Gaira is also being object of a major plan. A new road will (hopefully) be built, more on the interior, and trucks will not be allowed to move on the actual Troncal del Caribe. This to preserve and enhance the touristic aspects of the area.

Actually, El Rodadero is NOT experiencing problems from that dust, although I imagine that environmental issues are not always easily and promptly detected.
If you want to buy a lot to build an house on the beach, one popular area is between El Nuevo Rodadero and the Airport. The farther you go from the Drummond terminal, the less problem you'll have from coal dust.
Good lots are expensive, but not like in Cartagena.
They are also selling apartment within the Irotama resort. Damn expensive of course.
Fancy new Condos on the sea are being built near Gaira, going from around 2,300,000 per m2, I think.

The beach and the sea in that area is not as nice as on the other side of El Rodadero, east and north of Santa Marta. But ten times better than anything you can find in Cartagena.

Anyway, if you live in Barranquilla, you'd probably want to look at something near Salgar. Much better than Puerto Colombia and really easier to reach than Cartagena. Again, good lots are expensive.

Now, my ideal house on the beach will not be anywhere there. I don't think Cartagena or Barranquilla beaches are anything far from a dump. Even El Rodadero is not nice enough.
I'd follow the coast on the other side of Santa Marta.

I don't like Taganga, because I can't stand the people there. From what I've heard, Tagangueros can be a problem. Plus, the beach is nothing special. They can write whatever they want on the Lonely Planet but I find it a dirty place that the locals will go on damaging in the next years.

Moving north, don't even look at the lots they are selling in the condominium called Oasis of Neguangue. The land is on the arid side of Parque Tayrona and the beach is far. They are selling lots of 6.000 m2 at 50millions and all you get is a big swimming pool and a fancy porteria...

Further north, Tayrona beaches are beautiful. But, thanks God, none can buy or build anything there.

After living Santa Marta the road runs far from the sea, so, although you can buy a small finca on the road, like in Calabazo, and the sightseeing is wonderful, the beach is 2 hours of walk away. And you have to pay to enter the park. It is beautiful, but it is not near the beach.

Now, 35 kms of good fast road from Santa Marta, after the main entrance of Parque Tayrona and the bridge over Rio Piedra, the road runs again 100 mtrs. from the beach, surrounded by the coconut trees. It is just a 3 kms. strip and then the road bends again and you loose the sight of the sea.



The beach is beautiful. There are a famous resort (Mendihuaca) and a camping site (Casa Grande, where they host surf national tournaments every year. Take a look at http://www.iguanamar.com/noticias/casagrande_mayo07.htm).



Land is relatively not expensive, yet. A lot of rich Samarios have their fincas there. If you look for a beach of "Caribbean standard" quality and for something that in 10 years will be worth 10 times the money, then buy some land and build your house there. It is like having an house on the beach in Martinique.



Fishing and spearfishing are excellent (lot of lobsters) and you can dive on the wreck just forty meters from the waterfront. Or take a boat to Parque Tayrona (La Piscinita is just 20 minutes away). Dolphins can often be seen from the shore.



I'll be in Santa Marta at the end of October. If you like, PM me, we can meet and I'll show you the place around. There's a lot more to tell about it.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

robi666 says on Oct 5, 2007, 18:16:

I forgot to say that I bought a 14 ha. finca and did some construction just there.



This is the view from my house.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

Gator says on Oct 5, 2007, 18:49:

We really, really came close to the move to Santa Marta(El Rodadero) two years ago and spent about three weeks looking hard at property. It is one of Mrs. Gator's favorite places and mine. BUT, we found it just too damn hot and humid-Bogotá has ruined us in that respect. Prices were very inexpensive compared to Cartagena.

Cartagena (Bocagrande) is just too commercialized and the number of apartmentos going up is unbelievable. BUT, a closer look shows a lot of the projects not complete or even under construction. That and the number of "se vende" signs in the windows would, I think, give one pause.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

gringoloid says on Oct 5, 2007, 22:40:

The waterfront is being developed in a very big way in front of Santa Marta. There will be a piers, marina, docks, and stores on the docks. Santa Marta, if you can take the heat, is the best place to buy real estate right now.

bufalo says on Oct 6, 2007, 09:45:

I like what you said about TAganga robbi, for get what the books say, its dirty. Interesting, but not the greatest place. Foreiners go to smoke up but that's about it.

Drummond's been there for a looooong time.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

robi666 says on Oct 6, 2007, 11:04:

Still people, especially Europeans hippies, seem crazy about Taganga. For what I think, if there was a way to preserve the nature, it would be recommendable to nuke the entire bay.

"Drummond's been there for a looooong time." not you Bufalo, but people could think you're talking about Taganga. Drummond's terminal is something like 35 kms away from there.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 6, 2007, 15:02:

Robi, just out of curiousity, what does the land in your area go for per hectare? Say 10 Hectares with some beachfront?

robi666 says on Oct 6, 2007, 17:02:

Mr.H,
just one year ago, land not far from or just on the road, walking distance from the beach, but with no beach, had a "fair" value of approximately 6,5 millions per ha. It can vary much, depending from own water, electricity already in place, "frutales", views, etc.
Beach land was much more.
I noticed that the price went up a lot during the year, but I guess good land can still be bought at a proper price, with lot of patience and cash in hand. Prices vary a lot and people always shoot to the sky.
Asking for curiosity, last month i was asked 100 millions for 2,5 ha. on the road! Crazy...
If you are interested, I can send you a PDF of an Avaluo Comercial I did before buying. Just PM me.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

Man Tequila says on Oct 6, 2007, 22:26:

Why does the thread title remind me of Sling Blade?

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

billyb says on Oct 10, 2007, 05:44:

Muelle carbonífero de Santa Marta fue premiado en Estados Unidos por reducir contaminación

El llamado transporte 'limpio' del mineral le valió a la Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta el reconocimiento.

El galardón fue entregado en una reunión con 600 delegados portuarios del hemisferio occidental, representantes de unos 160 puertos entre Alaska y la Patagonia, en el Marriot Ballroom de Norfolk, en Virginia (E.U.).

Kurt Nagle, presidente y máxima autoridad de la Asociación Americana de Autoridades Portuarias (AAPA, por su sigla en inglés), dice que es un reconocimiento a esta especie de "mayordomos del ambiente costero", que han logrado seguir exportando el mineral y, a la vez, manipularlo de manera amigable con el medio ambiente.

Aunque desde el 2003, la Sociedad Portuaria samaria y Carbosan, operadora del muelle de carbón, han sacado más de 8 millones de toneladas del mineral, la emisión de partículas contaminantes se ha reducido en un 23 por ciento, dice la AAPA, que el viernes culminó su convención anual número 96 en Norfolk.

Rociar el combustible con un químico que lo encapsula para que el polvillo no vuele es parte del éxito del sistema. Se llama cargue directo, y el Gobierno Nacional se lo exigirá a todos los muelles carboneros desde el 2010.

Requirió una inversión de algo más de 20 millones de dólares en tecnología y procesos de producción, hoy certificados con los ISO 9001 (gestión de calidad) y 14001 (gestión ambiental).

El galardón lo recibieron el gobernador del Magdalena, Francisco José Infante; el gerente de la Sociedad Portuaria, Mauricio Suárez Ramírez, y Armando Duarte Peláez, presidente de Carbosan.

Junto a ellos estaba el presidente de Panamá, Martín Torrijos, elegido personalidad portuaria del año por su empuje para ampliar el Canal de Panamá que, según dijo el mandatario, estará listo para finales del 2014 y demandará una inversión de 5.200 millones de dólares.

Es la primera vez que dos de las más importantes distinciones de la AAPA recaen en una entidad suramericana de manera simultánea.

Y justamente, el impacto ambiental de las operaciones portuarias fue uno de los temas centrales de la asamblea de la AAPA.

Directivos de la Asociación, que reúne los puertos de Canadá, el Caribe, América Latina y Estados Unidos, señalan que se busca crear conciencia en los responsables de los terminales para optimizar las prácticas en la movilización de la mercancía, pues el medio ambiente está dominando la agenda del desarrollo portuario en el mundo.

Paradójicamente, el premio al muelle samario se dio en el país de donde es la empresa que ha sido señalada como la mayor contaminadora en Santa Marta.

'Un desafío para el comercio global'

En entrevista con EL TIEMPO, Kurt Nagle, presidente de la AAPA, dijo que el mayor reto de los gobiernos del hemisferio es reconocer la necesidad que tienen de invertir más en infraestructura.

¿Qué significa el premio ambiental de la AAPA?

Es muy importante. Es un reconocimiento a autoridades portuarias públicas, a su liderazgo en las mejoras ambientales.

¿El sistema se usará en otros puertos afiliados al gremio?

Es un modelo para otros puertos del hemisferio, una oportunidad para que otros aprendan lecciones. La experiencia en Santa Marta en manejo del carbón es una especie de estudio de caso que se debería usar en otros puertos.

¿Cómo ve AAPA los puertos colombianos en el contexto de América Latina?

La participación de los puertos latinoamericanos ha crecido de manera dramática en los últimos cinco años y Colombia es uno de los países que están teniendo gran crecimiento. Es un aliado cada vez más importante para el comercio en el hemisferio. Esperamos un mayor crecimiento para facilitar el comercio global.


LETICIA FORERO
ENVIADA ESPECIAL DE EL TIEMPO*
NORFOLK (VIRGINIA, E.U.)