I help you buy your retirement home in Panama 

BIJAO FAQ Sheet

• About the Architect Gustavo Arango

1. Obtained his Masters in Architecture at Harvard University where he did his Masters' paper on architecture of the Canal era in Panama.  There, he had access to the Roosevelt Library, and was able to read many letters written by President Roosevelt at the time, one in particular, where President Roosevelt asked the Engineering Dept of the Canal what they could do to beautify the Canal.  The Engineers all replied that any type of decorative structures would detract from the grandeur of the Canal itself. The public buildings of the Canal administration, however, were reminiscent of neo classical architecture-they were grand to show strength and to convey power.  They also had grand entrance roads leading to them.  Examples of these buildings would be the Tivoli Hotel, the Ancon administration buildings, and the home of the Canal Administrator.
2. The Canal architectural theme for BIJAO is a sentimental theme for many American retirees that worked and lived in Panama during the Canal era.  They considered the Canal Zone "paradise found", where neighborhoods became small communities.  Also, since the Canal will be in the world news for ten years, because of the expansion, it will afford some indirect publicity for BIJAO.
3. Architect Arango is not claiming to make replica designs of the Canal era architecture; from his studies he has learned how to design homes for 2007, using many of the ideas and experience of the Canal era architects-materials for the tropical climate of Panama, large windows for cross ventilation, front porches for a ‘community feel', white buildings with large awnings, attention to the design of wide streets that are lined with beautiful trees.
4. The ability of any floor plan for a single family home to be constructed on any lot at BIJAO creates interesting streets with non- repetitive home designs, while still maintaining a standard with white homes all with the same roof tiles.
5. The Master Plan was designed in sections of 5 minute walks-from the entrance to the Town Center would be a 5 minute walk,  as walking from the Town Center to Cocoli would also take 5 minutes, creating a feeling of ‘neighborhood'.
6. Archit. Arango's theme for BIJAO is ‘New Urbanism', which is a current trend for residential neighborhoods in the USA.  The ‘Suburbia' trend of the 70's and 80's created the movement of people from the city to the suburbs, while decreasing the farmlands, increasing the need for building of highways to the suburbs, eventually creating the demise of the town centers of many cities.  People congregated to neighborhoods that were created in the suburbs, based mainly on income, where homes and yards looked very similar to each other.
7. The Town Center concept has not been done in any other Pacific beach development. Archit. Arango hopes to create a feeling of ‘neighborhood' and community at BIJAO, where residents and visitors interact with each other in the town center, forming a community where neighbors know one and another. Residents will be able to enjoy their neighborhood whether sipping a latte in the Town Center café, enjoying a glass of wine outdoors at the wine bar, or walking, jogging, or cycling, or driving the short distances in golf carts, eliminating the need for transportation by car.

• Golf: 

1. The membership for each purchase of a condo or home is for a couple and children up to age 27.
2. Hotel guests will be able to use the course, but will pay a green fee, probably about $40 for 9 holes and $60 for 18 holes.
3. The value of the golf membership is $15,000 and is included in the price of every property sold at BIJAO.  No outside memberships will be sold.  The course is for members only, and their guests, in addition to paying hotel guests.
4. The golf course will be considered at full capacity when there are 74 golfers playing.
5. Golf memberships transfer with the sale of a property at BIJAO to the new owner.
6. A renter in any property at BIJAO can use the course, but will pay the green fee.
7. The grass that will be planted will be one of the newly developed hybrids or a newly developed Bermuda grass-this is an advantage over other courses that have used hybrid grasses that were developed more than 3 years ago.  Technology is more advanced now, making the grass more tolerable of a salt-fresh water mix for irrigation of the course.
8. Six holes are slated for completion in Dec 2008, and the course completion is approximately six months later.
9. The golf course holes are located at a lower elevation than the homes, so the homes will have a beautiful view of the course.

• Spa and Beach Club amenities will be private for homeowner use only.  Archit. Arango is currently working on the design.
• Restaurants and other amenities in the Town Center will be open to hotel guests.
• Restaurant at the Beach Club will be open to the public initially, and later when there are enough residents to support it, it will become private for the residents and their guests.

• Gaillard condominiums
  1. Furnished units do not have to be entered into the hotel rental pool.
  2. Gaillards are to be sold exclusively to the foreign market.
  3. Multiple owners of one condo is not permitted.
  4. Rental management fee is TBD, as are the guidelines.
  5. Currently we are selling Building #9 (closest to the Town Center) furnished and #15 (near the tennis court) unfurnished.
  6. Every ten Gaillard condos that are sold, there will be a $50/m2 increase in price.
• Homes
  • Will not have exterior siding as is shown in the architects' renderings of the exterior elevations. The exterior will be of cement board, painted white.
  • The roofs will be grey terracotta tile
  • Homes will have awnings as shown in the exterior elevations.
  • Swimming pools are not included in the price
• Town Center
  • The sales center will be located here
  • Everyone entering BIJAO, except hotel guests will drive under the arched entry, where there will be a fountain and various shops and restaurants with outdoor tables for dining.
  • There will be a coffee shop, small grocery-deli-wine store, possibly a book store, etc.
  • When entering BIJAO, the Cocoli Tower will be seen, along with the golf course, and ocean in the distance.
  • There will be a separate driveway entrance to the hotel, located at the far East side of the development
• General Information

1.  There will be a white picket fence lining the initial entrance road to BIJAO. 
2. Continuing from the white decorative picket fence, there will be a chain link fence with foliage growing on it, encompassing the entire development to retain privacy and security.
3. The most dramatic elevation difference (approximately 20 meters) at BIJAO will be between the Balboa buildings and the Cocoli Tower.  From the beach to the Balboa buildings will be more of a gentle slope.
4. One square meter = 10.76 square feet
5. One linear meter = 3.28 feet
6. There will be cycling / jogging paths throughout BIJAO.

• Hotel

     1. The construction of the hotel will begin in Aug 07

     2. There is 12 meters between the lot line of BIJAO and the lot line of hotel

     3. The hotel will include 4, 5, and 6 story buildings with infinity pools that will    be on the east side of the buildings to buffer noise from BIJAO.

     4. The architectural design of the hotel will also reflect the architecture of the Canal era-especially the famous Tivoli hotel that was one of the most beautiful designs of that era with open lobby areas for cross ventilation with fans. It will be constructed with concrete, unlike the Tivoli which crumbled due to the rotting of the wooden structure.

      5. Hotel building is owned by a group of Panamanian investors and will be leased to the Super Clubs Breezes hotel.

BACK/ Contact Claudine