New Site Visit in November, 2013

Watch for new pictures and information about Bala Beach Resort

I will be visiting Bala Beach Resort next month. I can't wait. If you are an owner/purchaser, you have recently received a letter from the administration about the project etc. If, by any chance, you are coming for a visit in November, I hope to see you there.

Watch for new posts with information about staying at the resort and lots of new pictures from an owner's point of view. If you have any questions about life there please add a comment and I will do my best to find out some answers.

So please come back in November and have a look.

November Construction Update at Bala Beach Resort

This post is courtesy of Mark, a Bala Beach condo owner:

On November 13th, 2009, I visited the construction site of the Bala Beach Resort. Building one has 4 1/2 floors completed, building two has 3 levels completed and building three has only foundation work done. As I was told at the Bala Office in Panama City - construction of building 3 is frozen now until at least 80% of the units are sold - currently there are only about 60% units sold. Phase one is scheduled to be completed in the 3rd quarter of 2010 (from words of one of the co-owners responsible for the construction), and will include Buildings 1 and 2, one pool, a beach with white sand and beach service, and a temporary open parking lot. There will be no direct car access to the buildings for now, which is rather a short walk from this parking lot. the second phase will include buildings 3 and 4 and one additional pool (the timeline is not confirmed yet and is based on the selling progress). The tall building by the beach, a restaurant, and the fitness center will be built no earlier than 2 years from now. A 4-5 star hotel (the chain will be picked later when the construction progress is more visible and potential value increases) will be built later along with the second restaurant, a spa, a grocery store and a permanent multistory garage with valet parking. the last phase will include 3-4 other buildings and multiple townhouses. The rental pool initially will be handled by a rent management company picked by Bala at and later by the hotel (when it is built). they admitted that construction of buildings 3 and 4 will create some inconveniences for residents of buildings 1 and 2, but promised to minimize them.

My overall impression after visiting the Bala office in Panama City was positive due to their willingness to answer questions that I had. They truly believe in the final success of this project despite a current overall real estate market slump in the country and in Panama City especially. I saw several half- built high-rise buildings whose construction has frozen in Panama City. I asked them to publish and email Bala Beach newsletters more frequently.

the weather was rainy on the day of my visit to the construction site, so I made all pictures from the car. Despite the rain, I counted 30-35 construction workers on the site. security allowed me to enter the construction site as they received an advanced call from the Bala office in Panama City about me coming there. I was accompanied in my car by a local construction manager on the site.

Building 1

Building 1

Building 1

Building 2

Building 2


Buildings 1 and 2 back to back
Some beach work has already begun

The beach is promised to be picturesque

A sign in Spanish - "Keep the beach clean"

July Construction Update !

Check out the lastest July 2009 construction update from Bala Beach Resort. We can finally see the first building rise above ground level. My experience watching the construction of a highrise tower in Panama City was that the foundation seemed to take forever. Once the building started to climb skyward, construction proceeded rapidly. It seemed to slow again when interior finishing was underway. Of course, weather, crew size, equipment and access to building supplies as well as strikes, holidays etc, all play their part.

This video is encouraging. You can also begin to get an idea of the distance to the beach and views from ground level in a couple of the images:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW9NXxPIU8Q

Bala Beach Resort Construction Update & Photos

SEPTEMBER, 2008 BALA BEACH RESORT SITE VISIT

Bala Beach Resort is beginning to show evidence of progress. I visited the site on Sunday, September 14th.


The drive from my hotel on Via Espana was not difficult, but changes in one way streets in Panama City meant a little research had to be done first.


The route had not changed much, but construction still continues on the Panama - Colon road, so be prepared for delays. It sure will be nice when it is finished!



Finally the MacDonald's on the left and the Rey supermarket on the right marked the place to turn right to Maria Chiquita. I watched for the cemetary on the left that Karen at the Bala office told me to watch for and turned left. A government project sign at the intersection marked the road loactation. These signs only show up after a development has obtained government environmental permits.



The access road had a good quality gravel base and bypassed the center of Maria Chiquita. It passed through the west edge of the village before turning along the beach to cross the small bridge to the project site. The final hill leading through the village had some impressive gutters installed but will need more gravel as some erosion was evident.

Even on Sunday, there was movement on site. A guard kept an eye on the site and an equipment operator was working with the trackhoe to clean and level part of the project site.

After taking a few pictures, I went for a long-planned hike along the beach (see "Bala Beach Safari" Post)

After returning to the project site, having been re-invigorated by a cold drink from the nearby shop downtown and a nice swim I took the remaining pictures and began the drive back to Panama City.

A medium sized trackhoe, a dozer and a roller (used to compact soil) were all present. You will see in the pictures that the level area at the base of the small hills has been cleared and further leveled. A large privacy fence, commonly used in developments in Panama was erected. The previously existing beach facilities looked like they were being used to provide some initial facilities for workers use. All-in-all it was impressive to see the changes in preparation for the beginnings of construction.

It looks like further excavation will be needed to level the grades for the foundations of Buildings 1 to 5. Those of us who have signed on the dotted line to purchase a pre-construction piece of paradise should be pleased to see this progress.

Although I could not see exactly where the bridge had been reinforced, it looked sound and ready for construction traffic.

MORE PICTURES: