 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Hurricane Dean Update
| Sorry we have been so slow getting an update posted on the site but the relief and reconstruction process has been evolving as it unfolds, making yesterday’s information old news just a few days later. Post- Dean Costa Maya has finally reached a point that we feel safe passing on what we think is pretty reliable and up to date information. |
| It has actually been quite an amazing process to watch as it has, and continues to unfold. Although the rebuilding has not been everything to everyone, the Mexican Government and business community has, in our opinion, done a remarkable job with their very limited resources. Government funds have been reallocated from other areas of the country to restart the much needed revenue machine the port facility had become. In brief, “Nuevo Mahahual” is being rebuilt at an accelerated rate and to degrees, for good or bad depending on one’s perspective, far beyond it’s pre-storm self. Some will see the changes as destroying the quaintness and charm of their quiet little piece of paradise. Others will argue that a few modern changes, like paved and better lighted streets, sea walls and underground utilities, are welcome improvements needed for better traffic and pedestrian movement, as well as a cleaner and more sanitary city. Regardless, most of the rebuilding is scheduled for completion by September 2008. A remarkable feat when compared to the post hurricane rebuilding process in most other countries. Below is a summery of the process up until now and an assessment of the real estate market as a result of all the changes. |
| For those not familiar with Costa Maya, it is the area on the southern most Caribbean coast of Mexico and its main town, Mahahual, hosts Mexico’s newest “super-port”, pictured to the left. This state of the art stadium/mall-like port facility was hosting almost 700 ships in the 12 months prior to Hurricane Dean and was in the beginning stages, when the storm struck, of an expansion that was to have allowed over 1600 ships per year. Each day, thousands of tourists from the ships would flood the port and surrounding village, providing a much needed economic boost for the area and its inhabitants. However most agreed, the existing infrastructure was far from what would be needed to become a first glass tourist destination and plans to begin the next phase of the city’s development were just beginning when Dean struck. |
This next phase was to be the
implementation of a 3 year capital
improvement plan that included new
streets and construction of the long
awaited “Malecon”, a pedestrian
“boardwalk” (sorry,; pavers instead of
boards!) that will run the entire length
of the downtown, connecting it to the
ship port. The three year plan was
intended to be completed during the
“low season” periods, where the
construction could better coexist with
the lower number of tourists and would
have much less economic impact. Dean
changed that plan. The Mexican
government, along with private
developers, have committed to
accelerate the 3 year plan to complete
the entire project in just over a year.
implementation of a 3 year capital
improvement plan that included new
streets and construction of the long
awaited “Malecon”, a pedestrian
“boardwalk” (sorry,; pavers instead of
boards!) that will run the entire length
of the downtown, connecting it to the
ship port. The three year plan was
intended to be completed during the
“low season” periods, where the
construction could better coexist with
the lower number of tourists and would
have much less economic impact. Dean
changed that plan. The Mexican
government, along with private
developers, have committed to
accelerate the 3 year plan to complete
the entire project in just over a year.
Nuevo (New) Mahahual will be a dramatic change from the pre-Dean beach front fishing village. Gone
will be much of the clutter of too many vendors, poorly lit streets and not enough trash and sanitary
facilities and in it’s place will be a more modern and functional community. The challenge will be to do
this and retain the small town Mexico charm that made Mahahual such a wonderful place before the
storm. The downtown Malecon area will likely be a cleaned up version of it’s pre-storm self with a blend
of “euro-mex” stucco buildings and palapa style architecture here and there, the more desirable
characteristics of the town before the storm. The cruise ship port, the primary economic source of the
Costa Maya, was just a few kilometers south of the eye of the storm and sustained major damage.
Reconstruction is under way with an expected completion date of September of 08 as well. Depending on
the speed of construction, some limited cruise ship traffic could begin as early as late spring of 08.
will be much of the clutter of too many vendors, poorly lit streets and not enough trash and sanitary
facilities and in it’s place will be a more modern and functional community. The challenge will be to do
this and retain the small town Mexico charm that made Mahahual such a wonderful place before the
storm. The downtown Malecon area will likely be a cleaned up version of it’s pre-storm self with a blend
of “euro-mex” stucco buildings and palapa style architecture here and there, the more desirable
characteristics of the town before the storm. The cruise ship port, the primary economic source of the
Costa Maya, was just a few kilometers south of the eye of the storm and sustained major damage.
Reconstruction is under way with an expected completion date of September of 08 as well. Depending on
the speed of construction, some limited cruise ship traffic could begin as early as late spring of 08.
Sand is currently being hauled in to
repair the beaches and new and
modern underground utility lines are
being installed. The concrete sea wall
has also begun to be poured along the
downtown business beachfront area.
Downtown is really just a construction
site with very little of the pre-storm
businesses open yet. A few of the
downtown businesses are open though
and many in the slightly less damaged
area south of Mahahual are operating
as well. But it would be best to say the
downtown business has come to all but
a complete stop. Xcalak, even further
south, might be the place to stay this
year, as it was spared even more and
has many of it’s hotels and restaurants
back up and running. The first phase of
the reconstruction, the area from the
lighthouse to the end of the downtown
beach area, is projected for completion
in January of 08 but those projections
were made before the rainy month of
November where construction was
slowed. Our guess is that the opening
phase will likely be a month behind
schedule but overall progress is looking
very good.
repair the beaches and new and
modern underground utility lines are
being installed. The concrete sea wall
has also begun to be poured along the
downtown business beachfront area.
Downtown is really just a construction
site with very little of the pre-storm
businesses open yet. A few of the
downtown businesses are open though
and many in the slightly less damaged
area south of Mahahual are operating
as well. But it would be best to say the
downtown business has come to all but
a complete stop. Xcalak, even further
south, might be the place to stay this
year, as it was spared even more and
has many of it’s hotels and restaurants
back up and running. The first phase of
the reconstruction, the area from the
lighthouse to the end of the downtown
beach area, is projected for completion
in January of 08 but those projections
were made before the rainy month of
November where construction was
slowed. Our guess is that the opening
phase will likely be a month behind
schedule but overall progress is looking
very good.
| Page 2 Dean Update Click Here |