Numerous projects around town continue, with the completed Avenida Rio Amazonas now connecting Francisco Villa with Francisco Medina Ascencio, offering an alternate route, posted as only three minutes, for thousands of Vallartans. Although it has been open only a week at press time, vehicles are already making use of it. You can’t miss the entrances, with the huge modernistic sculptures of a river (ergo Fluvial) that are already flowing with water at the east entrance.
Drainage work still continues, to provide a solution for the frequently flooding Francisco Villa, leading into El Pitillal. That area is building up fast, with the recent inauguration of 14-screen Cinépolis right next to Soriana. Still incomplete is the riverside crossing, which, once finished, will offer relief from the congestion caused by the current single exit from the shopping center.
A new bridge will be built over the El Salado estuary, as well as another over the Pitillal River, both in a tri-part financing plan involving the state, federal and municipal levels. A long-range plan to convert considerable acreage of El Salado into a nature park is also underway, with the first step of cleanup nearly completed. This natural watershed is the home of the native crocodile (Cocodrilus acutus), several varieties of iguanas and over a hundred species of birds.
Phase Two of the parking projects has begun, with Benito Juárez Park at the foot of the pedestrian bridge now cleared in preparation. This downtown space, used for years as additional parking with proceeds benefiting DIF, will be converted into a multi-level parking area with spaces for 302 vehicles. At a cost of $4 million pesos, it will be ready for parking within six months. Next up is Plaza Lázaro Cárdenas, with plans for not only parking but also a functional plaza to be rebuilt above ground. A model, or maqueta, should be ready soon.
And the governor of Jalisco was in town to attend what was planned to be the inauguration of the Malecón extension, which unfortunately wasn’t finished, but did permit a quick “walk-through.” And the visit also allowed for the confirmation of a $5 million-peso donation from the federal government by also-visiting National Secretary of Tourism Rodolfo Elizondo Torres to complete the third phase of the extension, crossing the pedestrian bridge to Plaza Lázaro Cárdenas.
Anyone traveling to or from Nuevo Vallarta lately cannot miss the major reconstruction project at both entrances to the area. In a $90 million-peso project, revamping includes widening the two access roads, as well as finishing off many of the interior streets with sidewalks, redoing the cobblestones and stamped concrete in many streets and even a tree-planting effort once the construction is completed. New traffic signals will replace the current ones on Highway 200. By the end of the year, most of the current projects will provide much-needed relief from increased tourist and resident traffic all along the bay.
Open houses were scarce earlier in the month, although another commercial space, right across the street from recently offered Casa Romance Escondido, was opened by new agents David and Dulce Gibson of Coldwell Banker La Costa Realty. New on the market, Casa Miguel offers four bedrooms and two baths, with a partial bay view. Most of the space of this three-level home is completely open, requiring minimal work to convert it for living or commercial use. The moderate price of $246,000 USD makes it a good investment in a popular area.
A couple weeks later, David Pullen and Silvia Elías held an open house at Villa Capri. Recently dropping in price to $855,000, this four+-bedroom, 5.5-bath Conchas Chinas home is large enough to convert living into rental space, including maid’s quarters and a two-car garage. Views of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay were optimized in the design by developer Lambert Schnell, who also attended the open house.
The following day was Nuevo Vallarta’s turn, with a reception hosted by Maria Elena Covarrubias and Wayne Franklin of Tropicasa for Villa La Estancia’s John Vering. The open house, held at Villa del Palmar, by the same developers, gave an idea of what La Estancia “will be better than,” in the words of one of the agents. Franklin gave everyone a turn through the gardens to see where the construction has begun, all the while explaining in great detail how the process will work.
A lavish evening affair was recently hosted for Stanza’s product presentation at Mexico Boutique Hotel’s Regent Resort Golf and Spa in Marina Vallarta, formerly the Quinta Real. Attending were architects, realtors, interior designers, artists and other suppliers. This event not only confirmed ample local interest in Stanza’s classy fixtures, but also the success of their publicity campaign.
