Juan Dolio - South Beach of the Caribbean !!!

[SamanaJon]

Originally Posted by MommC

The question is "How long will it take"??

We've watched the community 'disappear' due to the changes and while the changes are welcomed until the infrastructure is added you can build all the condos there is space for and the community will NOT become 'permanently' settled or even 'semi-permanently' settled.

Yes JD is better than the north coast IMHO (at least PP,Sosua area which I am familiar with) and I know many people who used to come yearly (10-15yrs) to those areas who no longer come to the island at all.

I also have met many people who were enchanted with our area but now can't wait to sell their places and find greener pastures as they don't like what's happening, not to mention the much higher costs of staying in the DR.
With the real estate situation in Florida at present many people have opted to purchase there again as the cost of property and living has once again become more affordable in the southern US.

We had friends stay three months this past winter, and while they loved their time here, they are NOT coming back this year! Venezuela is much more appealing to them (they were there the year before) so positive changes MUST take place for the island to recover.

As for the dengue/leptopirosis problems of late, much of that is due to the recent heavy rains and also people not knowing they should wash cans (I do so even in Canada and the States because those cans sit in warehouses where rats are know to frequent-show me a warehouse and I'll show you rats!!) or take precautions against mosquitos. Dominicans are notorious for throwing trash everywhere and many of those collect water when it rains and breed mosquitos.

Then there is the problem of the stagnant lagoon where Aquqbella is to be built. We've contacted the gov't agencies responsible several times but no action has been taken and I'm being eaten alive in my house even with screens,sprays,body spray, Baygon Plaquetas etc.

Yes I have had dengue!!!! and I almost died!! It took me almost a year to recover and I had it during the time when there were lots of resorts in the area that sprayed regularly to control the mosquito population!! Those resorts no longer exist.....so......

I again re-iterate.....until the infastructure (including policing to the level it USED to be) is in place JD will continue it's downward plight and hopefully some of the remaining restaurants/bars will be able to weather the storm!

Your observations are very objective and 100% true, MommC. I have seen this same poor state of affairs all over the country (DR). The cost of what an investor gets in the DR is far too expensive, when compared to many other places (USA, Mexico, even other LA countries). I personally think JD will never recover to what it once was in its glory days. The beach renovation project will be short lived, as a major storm will take it all away in hours (what took weeks for man to create). I think others on this thread are much more optimistic. The DR has many wonderful things to offer, luxury real estate is no longer one of them. The new tax structure on luxury RE (Dominican Companies) and very over inflated prices have made it unattractive for foreign investors. Soon every luxury property in the DR will pay RE taxes much like properties in Casa de Campo. It as become a high risk investment.

[Kimmir]

I traveled to the D.R.on business for about a year. Always stayed at the Embassy Suites in Juan Dolio. It seems like a beautiful place to retire. I have not been back since June. But I still dream of owning an apt or condo or little villa in Juan Dolio to retire to. We often went to a nice little area that had a resturant (EL-Sueno?) and a open air bar a couple shops and a coffee shop. I have a few years before I can retire. I am not rich buy any means. But I am still holding on to my dream of living there. What do you think should I look for someplace to buy now and hopefully have it paid off for when I retire?

[Matilda]

1. No one has been sick in my colmado. We give everyone serviettes to wipe the rats pee off the beer bottles and tins!!! We have no rats in the colmado but who knows about the suppliers!
2. There have been cases of Dengue in Juan Dolio in the last few months. Ask the owner of Meridiana - he was in hospital for 2 weeks.
3. Juan Dolio did not 'die' with the all inclusives. It 'died' when they knocked down the hotels and started the construction, as there were no tourists as there were no hotels in Villas del Mar.
4. The construction companies should take responsibility as they are building. Provide accommodation for their workers so they do not build shacks on land which is not theirs next to villas here, polluting the water supply with their ablutions, and polluting the air with their cooking.
5. Do not say you will not fix the road until all the construction is finished. I doubt the Metro management drive scooters or bikes and fall down holes, nor do they walk at night in an unlit Boulevard and trip over. Think of the few tourists there are who cannot walk down a Boulevard full of holes. Fine, you are going to make a fortune from these apartments, but those of us who actually live here, and not in Metro Country Club have to REALLY live here and put up with the mess you make day and night.
6. Juan Dolio does still have bars (2 in Villas del Mar compared to 5 a year ago), shops and restaurants (but less than a year ago).

I know it may be great in 5 years, but now it is not, and don't try to convince people that it is. The owners of new apartments that I know are Dominican who don't go out, or US who have bought for investment. If you want a great beach (at the moment) and a quiet holiday then come here, but if you are looking for activity outside the resort then don't bother for a few years!!!

[MommC]

[quote=Matilda;582426]
3. Juan Dolio did not 'die' with the all inclusives. It 'died' when they knocked down the hotels and started the construction, as there were no tourists as there were no hotels in Villas del Mar.


Then you really would have know what a 'rockin' town it was!

There were seven smaller resorts (Costa Linda, Marena Beach, PuntaGarza,Tamarindo,Decameron, Talanquera and Metro), three or four discos(not counting those in the resorts which were open to everyone), one casino, 15+ bars including five with billiards tables, approx 20 restaurants, a fresh foods market, several mini-markets, a dozen colmados, a pharmacy, several change banks,several dive shops, two telephone centers, four doctor's offices, one medical center, a bowling alley, a gymnasium, a go-kart facility, a mini-putt,several hairdressers/barbers,a clothing store and many small souvenir shops. Not to mention the 50 or so beach vendors and 'trancita' ladies and massage/manicure ladies.

The bars and restaurants were full (keeping in mind they were small with 8-10 tables each) and one only had to go to San Pedro for those out of the ordinary items or for major re-stocking once a month.

And NOW??????

Remember also Juan Dolio ended where Metro hotel was and there was nothing where La Cappella is nor on the side of the stret where Freedom bar is, except for Villa Alexander and the tower of Metro.

[Dre Broeders]

Yes. I live already 14 years in Juan Dolio and I remember everything very good.

[GeeDee]

It really seems that JD is in a sad state right now. You wouldnt know this by what is being advertised though. Mind you this is being advertised in New York classifieds
DOMINICAN BEACHFRONT CONDOS - INVESTMENT

here is another (from carribean section)
BEST NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND!!!! LUXURY, BEACHFRONT 1 of a KIND

Hopefully, for those that have stuck it out it will turn around soon.

[STEVE G.]

Juan Dolio is under construction ! That's all . End of story . Get over it guys ! The future is great , become part of it ! Buy an apartment , buy a house , buy a lot and build your own villa or a building . If you own already one ask your neighbors to clean up the lots next to you and build something . People already living in the area , all of us have nostalgia of old days but instead of putting other negative (would be better to have a building or a villa next to you instead of a haitian construction workers shacks ) encourage others to invest in the area ! Juan Dolio is big . It takes what it takes 5 , 6 ...10 years ! In Villas Del Mar most of the project along Boulevard will be done in 3-5 years . The rest of them are inside and that takes more time . There are still a lot of undeveloped land 2,3 etc. streets from boulevard . More new developments comes - less shacks you will see . All the rest of the infrastructure will come along with the developments and soon. So be positive and enjoy your caribbean paradise life !

[Dre Broeders]

Originally Posted by STEVE G.

If you own already one ask your neighbors to clean up the lots next to you

Hahahahahahhiihhiiohohohahhahahhahihhioohhohahahah a
In Republica Banana???????????????

[STEVE G.]

Originally Posted by Dre Broeders

Hahahahahahhiihhiiohohohahhahahhahihhioohhohahahah a
In Republica Banana???????????????

...workers ...build shacks on land which is not theirs next to villas here, polluting the water supply with their ablutions, and polluting the air with their cooking....
The cost of land in Villas Del Mar is US$50 - 150 sqm ( lots 750 - 1000 sqm ) at the moment , closer to Boulevard more expensive becomes ... So if I owned a villa next to the lot with a such shack I would find the way to let the real owners know about someone sh..ing on their land !

[DrChrisHE]

Steve WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO KID? 'Sounds to me like you are just trying to white wash over the crappy conditions that the developers have created. YOU are promoting LIES as to the current situation and even what WILL be in 3-5 years. If something is supposed to be done here in a YEAR--make that 3 years; if it's supposed to take 3 years, make it 5. Come on, really? Have YOU had Dengue Fever? My husband, one of my kids and I have all had it, and it's called Break Bone Fever for a reason! 2007 WAS NAMED YEAR OF DENGUE FEVER EPIDEMIC IN THE DR!! (Listin Diario, Martes 27, 2007). And that just was like book ends around the Leptosporosis epidemic, typhoid and the more recent infectious conjunctivitis.

The quality of life for those of us LIVING here from several years back until the foreseeable future SUCKS! NO, I wouldn't recommend BUYING ANYTHING here because you can currently get better deals in the US and certainly in the rest of the Caribbean. Many a Saturday night it is DEAD in JD!! Sure there are good times to be had, but they aren't just flowing out like a couple of years ago (even a year ago--there's been a steady decline independent of 'high' season.)

The lack of infrastructure (no offense to the lovely Colmados run by kind people like Matilda because WE NEED YOU) such as: Supermarkets, ATMS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE CASH IN THEM, another gas station, functioning/reliable power/sewer & water, trash removal, etc. ARE ALL LACKING! From a professional standpoint (as a public health doc), I'm repulsed by the everyday conditions where mosquitos breed & carry Dengue & Malaria, flies transmit salmonellla and e coli to ones food (because the construction workers hired by the developers have just taken a crap right next to your house), and water contamination by amoeba and leptosporosis. These are LIFE THREATENING conditions that YOU may be able to comfortably avoid from your sealed office raking in cash, but those of us living here resent and PAY dearly for it.

It is true that the demographics of Santo Domingo show that JD WILL pay off for these developers and because the DR doesn't have decent environmental or occupational health enforcement, areas like JD will be increasingly polarized between those who can seal themselves in and everyone else.

The lesson we have brought our kids here for (besides Spanish) is how NOT to treat this planet. Get real...stop being selfish and thinking only of your bank account. How anyone can in their right mind with a clear conscience post the "lovely" idyllic photos you post without the disclaimer "WARNING: EVERYTHING HERE IS NOT AS IT APPEARS" is beyond me!