Lake City Resort

Any news about Lake City? Are they still planning to build it? Or was it just an Aprils Fools joke?

I read in the GDL Reporter that the incoming presidente wants to promote more tourism.  A project like Lake City would bring more jobs and tax revenue (millions of pesos annually) to the area than any other project I have heard of around here. More tax revenue could fix traffic lights, buy tires for the garbage truck, fill pot holes and fund the bomberos.

Playaboy wrote:I read in the GDL Reporter that the incoming presidente wants to promote more tourism.  A project like Lake City would bring more jobs and tax revenue (millions of pesos annually) to the area than any other project I have heard of around here.  More tax revenue could fix traffic lights, buy tires for the garbage truck, fill pot holes and fund the bomberos.

I may be cynical, but I don't think the lack of revenue flowing into the hands of the politicians is the reason we don't have the things you mention.

On another note altogether: I see they took down the sign promising a mini hospital as you enter Riberas from Chapala, on the lake side. They had it displayed for months but now it has quietly disappered. Another dream that wont be materializing.

CanuckBob wrote:They can't even sell the RE inventory they have now let alone a few thousand more units. They would be better off building an amusement park (Mexican Disney) to attract tourists.

So much of the inventory is overpriced considering economic conditions in the US and Canada. Many of these properties were purchased at the height of the boom, and owners, because they are not mortgaged are not willing to adjust price to reality, so a stalemate in sales, somewhat.
A fair amount of property moves, and some rather quickly, when the sales price negotiated is in the realm of reality. There are buyers arriving everyday but they will not, for the most part, be seduced into buying overpriced properties.
It's hard to be identified in the group that "buys high, sells low".

Forget about the condo and assisted living aspect of that project. I am thinking of the Lake City being the hotel, casino, entertainment venue, resort center.

Playaboy wrote:I read in the GDL Reporter that the incoming presidente wants to promote more tourism.  A project like Lake City would bring more jobs and tax revenue (millions of pesos annually) to the area than any other project I have heard of around here.  More tax revenue could fix traffic lights, buy tires for the garbage truck, fill pot holes and fund the bomberos.

More tax revenue will go to the same place it goes now. Unless there is a major change in the thinking of officials.

CanuckBob wrote:They can't even sell the RE inventory they have now let alone a few thousand more units. They would be better off building an amusement park (Mexican Disney) to attract tourists.

Bob, I love that idea! How about Universal Studios? Their food is better.

CanuckBob wrote:While I kind of made the statement tongue in cheek I actually think an amusement park somewhere on the libremiento would do quite well.

Well, there's Tobolandia..........

CanuckBob wrote:I'm thinking something along the lines of a Knott's Berry farm or Magic Mountain.

Not bad, but just think of the traffic gridlock. On the other hand........parking fees galore!

And more CRIME

Wasn't that road that zig zags up the mountain that is half finished supposed to lead to a destinayion resort/ casino?

Great ideas, but until they fix the traffic congestion it would be a nightmare

Big business produce large tax revenues, small business produces small tax revenue.  The area needs a new source of revenue, a cash register so to speak.  The area could use better job opportunities than are currently present too.

With the lake and the beautiful weather, this area could be much more than a weekend playground for Tapatios.  The new Presidente has the right idea about going after the tourist money.  A large resort like Lake City could be that source of money.

If a project like this was to be built, the municipo would have money to take care of infrastructure.  Not all the money would go directly into pockets.  A new road will be built by an officials "cousin", tires for the garbage truck will come from a "brothers" shop, roads will be repaired by an "uncle's" paving company.  

I think one of the largest sources of income for the area is from NOB retiree's.  That has not been enough to take care of the basics.  
 

There was an amusement park project on the drawing board about 3 years ago in Zapotlanejo.  My brother did 6 months of design work for the group that tried to put the project together.  Funding dried up and the idea died.

Grizzy wrote:Wasn't that road that zig zags up the mountain that is half finished supposed to lead to a destinayion resort/ casino?

When will this myth die? The land where the casino/resort project was supposed to be built is located to the east of Chula Vista Norte. Promoters vanished about as quickly as they appeared on the scene...mega investment failure or scam, who knows?

The snake road leads to Las Minas, a low density housing project that theoretically will include a vacation villa complex constructed at the top of the hill. No signs that lots are selling....

gringal wrote:

Playaboy wrote:I read in the GDL Reporter that the incoming presidente wants to promote more tourism.  A project like Lake City would bring more jobs and tax revenue (millions of pesos annually) to the area than any other project I have heard of around here.  More tax revenue could fix traffic lights, buy tires for the garbage truck, fill pot holes and fund the bomberos.

I may be cynical, but I don't think the lack of revenue flowing into the hands of the politicians is the reason we don't have the things you mention.

May surprise you to know that about half of the revenue Chapala collects goes to paying the bloated payroll the current administration inherited from its predecessors. According to the Huerta government, the number of city hall employees more than doubled from 2001 to 2012. Reducing payroll is a costly endeavor due to the high cost of severance entitlements for dismissed personnel. In fact the municipality's finances have been seriously compromised by payoffs due for numerous labor suits generated before the incuumbents took office.

Not surprised at all.
An inherited mess is still a mess, with no solution in sight.

The problem with the "it'll create jobs" argument for any large building project is this: Yes, jobs are created during the building phase. Then, the construction jobs are over. Problems such as traffic congestion remain.

gringal wrote:Not surprised at all.  
An inherited mess is still a mess, with no solution in sight.

The problem with the "it'll create jobs" argument for any large building project is this:  Yes, jobs are created during the building phase.  Then, the construction jobs are over.  Problems such as traffic congestion remain.

If you had a large (huge) revenue producing project, an amusement park or Lake City type resort, the tax income could take care of that inherited fiscal mess.  Nothing happening now will do that.

Once the building is completed, there are new permanent jobs created.  Those workers, hundreds of them, will spend money in the community.  

Traffic congestion can be relieved by improving roads.  It would not be difficult to widen the libriemento.

I don't think a manufacturing plant would work on the shores of Lake Chapala.  A large resort could fit in and would work to the communities benefit.

I have been hearing the same arguments for large developments in cities all of my life. In most if not all all cases, here is what happens. The developers get rich and leave, on to the next big project and jackpot. Most workers end up in minimum wage jobs. All the ptoblems get dealt with in ways that turn the city into something unreconizable --or not at all. Other problems no one ever considered pop up and tax payers end up footing the bills. The keeping of promises disappears along with the developers and the big money profits. Eventually, the city is left with deteriorating infrastructure and wondering how to salvage this hulking mess not doing anything close to the visions produced during the sell-it-to-the-populace stage.
So, no, I do not get all dreamy-eyed when discussions like this come up.