Dear Sir,
After reading about the high-rise senior city that is planned, I am saddened to see that the city officials would once again approve even the first steps towards this monstrosity. We are not Guadalajara; we are Chapala, and Ajijic, and most of us who came here did so to get away from high rises, dense populations, and more traffic. Seeing that beautiful hillside changed forever is sad and unnecessary. Are you kidding me, 29 stories? How awful, and how “out of place” it will be for this area. When we have a difficult time receiving enough water here during the dry season (we often have to pay for pipas of water to be delivered), how will we now provide enough water and other infrastructure for this ambitious project? And you say it will bring much needed employment to the area? For a short period of time, and many new workers will come from other areas of Mexico, where will they be housed, employed, after the project is done? Those people will then be out of work when it is completed and searching for money in order to live.
When I was first told about this project, about two years ago, and interviewed about my views on it by a person representing this company, no mention whatsoever was made about the 29-story high rise apartments. I promise you had it been I would have given it a thumbs down immediately. As it was described to me, it would have medical facilities, a small retail complex, and housing in one- and two-bedroom, one-level Mexican style casitas. I told the interviewer I thought it was a winning idea, but obviously they have changed it and I no longer would be in favor of this project. Let’s hope it never happens.
Mary Bragg, Ajijic
Dear Sir,
I read with amusement last week’s letter from Liam Lowe rebuking the foreigners for giving the promoters of Lake City a bad time.
Really? If the people at the meeting would have been government officials I would agree, hold your tongue, show your upbringing, but they were promoters of a business deal in which not a single one of the speakers that day had dime invested. They were what we call in Spanish “gatos,” paid spokesmen, employees only.
If I were a large investor in something like this I would certainly be interested in seeing what the public reaction was to my idea because I would hope to make a lot of money from people just like those in the audience.
Based on this public reaction I would say they should rethink their project before it’s too late.
As for the government of Chapala “selling out,” what is new about that concept? The end of every administration sees the approval of all kinds of publicly unpopular developments.
As for bringing employment for Chapala? Do you mean gardeners and maids? I told a low-wage worker of that promise and his comment was, “you mean like the politicians, always promising employment for the people but it never happens.”
My response to this project is that it is a ridiculous concept that at best will leave the hillside scarred and bare of trees remaining partially constructed for decades to come. Or at worst will be a bankruptcy scam to clean hundreds of foreigners out of their retirement nest eggs.
Tom Thompson
Dear Sir,
The Lake City project is a disaster waiting to happen. Last Friday it took me 20 minutes to drive from Chula Vista to La Huerta – bumper-to-bumper traffic. Last night, the electric utility (CFE) lost power to upper Chula Vista and 15 hours later it’s still not back on.
The infrastructure in Lakeside is stressed to the max now. Water/sewer, electric and the transportation corridor are inadequate to support the proposed Lake City development and it will take billions of pesos and, of course, higher property taxes to pay for the upgrades.
The Lake City developers say it’s a fait accompli that they have all of the licenses and authorization to begin construction of this monstrosity. Without an environmental impact study, how and who was paid off to give such approvals? This is the development that will kill the charm (what’s left anyway) of living lakeside. The Lake City development may mean jobs for Mexicans, but the final result will be a community disaster.
Stuart Browne, Chula Vista
Dear Sir,
Thanks to the Reporter, and Mr. Liam Lowe, for the report on the Lake City informational meeting. This colossus promises thousands of families a stable income both during construction and for decades to come during operation. The multiplier effect will work 10s of millions of dollars through the local economy. I pray the potential benefits become reality for our Mexican friends and neighbors.
Martin E. O’Connor
Dear Sir,
On April 6, around 300 expats showed up for the “sales presentation” about the so-called “Lake City Project” - the extremely grandiose plan to build an unsustainable mega-development in Chapala. The presentation, led by “consultants” hired by the questionable “Grupo Naimar,”was held in English as it was directed only to foreigners, hopefully those with deep pockets. Justifiable anger ensued as most of the crowd realized they were being lied to and played for fools.
“Creating jobs” has become the new cliche buzzword smokescreen mantra often used to describe a corporate economic model in which the many service workers are paid very low wages to keep them mired in poverty, as the mega profits leave the local community to go to those at the very top.
One worthwhile thing that has come out of this brouhaha is that we can now see that there is a very strong sentiment against large scale development here at Lake Chapala, both in the foreign community as well as well as the Mexican community, which has mostly only heard about the Lake City project by word of mouth so far. May this lead to unity among all of us in our local environmental and urban planning issues to come.
Micki Wendt, Ajijic
Dear Sir,
For those who can afford water front property in Miami Beach, the new Lake City expansion in Chapala will be welcomed. Condos on the Gulf, in South Alabama, twice the size of those planned in Chapala, are selling for less money. Soon, middle class U.S. retirees will not be able to afford this area.
I noticed the new constructions will house approximately 6,200 people in a confined area with no parking spaces. Where is the off-street parking for all the construction equipment, or will Hidalgo, at the Monte Carlo, be shut down for three years? After all the construction is completed, how will a narrow, two lane road handle all the new traffic? I can well imagine the residents of San Antonio having to use the Libramiento in order to get to Chapala.
The Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) has a problem providing accurate service to their current customers. My surge protectors constantly get a workout. How will they handle the huge increase in demands? How will the new demands on the overworked water system be met? Where will the new sewage disposal facility be located? Where will all the new residents, employees, and conventioneers park? Where will all the vendors offload all their supplies? How many additional garbage trucks will be needed? Who will provide the increased demands for traffic control and security?
When a group destroys a forest land, gets rid of the wild animals, and builds a new community, it is called progress.
Hank Shiver, Chapala
Dear Sir,
I read with interest your recent article on Mexican wine in the April 11-17 of the Guadalajara Reporter, and as a believer in supporting local industry wherever I live, I checked out some of the wines you recommended. These wines may be special, but so are their prices ... at least here in Ajijic. Coming from British Columbia I realize that it’s difficult for smaller vineyards to compete with the lower production costs of the big guys, but with our lower labor and transportation costs I would have expected considerably lower prices for local products. So, when I can buy an “acceptable” French, Chilean, Argentinian, South African, or even U.S. “equivalent” for half the price I’m afraid the local stuff has priced itself out of my league. Too bad, I’m probably missing something.
Bob Semken