See if you can find your house? In the beginning of the dream 2002!
The Villages at Loreto BayThe Villages at Loreto Bay were being planned as a 6,000-acre, mixed-use community development and eco-resort located south of the town of Loreto in Baja California Sur. The site selected for development lay on a piece of beachfront between the Sea of Cortez and the foothills of the Sierra Tiombo and Sierra Santa mountains.
The project aspired to be the world’s biggest green development. They wanted to establish wind and solar power generation to produce more energy than they consumed, desalinate water to reduce their impact on local water resources, biologically treat their sewage, and so on. These were all laudable goals, and we knew that we were working with people that were authentic in their aspirations. Our role would be to help ground these aspirations into a unique project concept that reflected the true potential of the place.
The Villages at Loreto BayThe Villages at Loreto Bay were being planned as a 6,000-acre, mixed-use community development and eco-resort located south of the town of Loreto in Baja California Sur. The site selected for development lay on a piece of beachfront between the Sea of Cortez and the foothills of the Sierra Tiombo and Sierra Santa mountains.
The project aspired to be the world’s biggest green development. They wanted to establish wind and solar power generation to produce more energy than they consumed, desalinate water to reduce their impact on local water resources, biologically treat their sewage, and so on. These were all laudable goals, and we knew that we were working with people that were authentic in their aspirations. Our role would be to help ground these aspirations into a unique project concept that reflected the true potential of the place.
A discovery that the Regenesis team made very early on was that the site for the development had been an estuary that had been bulldozed and filled in decades earlier by the Mexican government as part of it’s plans to develop the entire interior coast of Baja for tourism. The irony of this move is that the diversity and abundance of marine life in the Sea of Cortez was critical to the vitality and viability of the region–that’s how people made their livelihoods, that’s what attracted tourism, and that’s what made it of value to the world. This region was once called “the world’s aquarium” by Jacques Cousteau. But bad management practices, including deforestation, overgrazing, and the destruction of estuaries, which provide critical habitat, have been generating a critical decline in the health of the sea.
Regenesis proposed to the developers of Loreto Bay a radical idea. What if through design of the development, and through the way it managed its land holdings, the project re-established the function of the estuary? Estuaries are a kind of semi-aquatic forest that buffer the interface between the land and the sea. They stabilize the shoreline, filter the runoff from the land, and create a sheltered nursery environment where fish can get established and where nutrients are exchanged. All of these functions could be restored through intelligent design of neighborhoods that included a network of tree-lined canals running through them, and through agroforestry projects that would hold soil and improve the quality of water moving down into the sea.
This concept galvanized the planning team, which saw a way to create a better and more attractive offering to potential buyers, while also giving them a way to make good on their promise of a green project at a much deeper and more meaningful level, and with far wider systemic impact. The team, led by Canadian architect Ayrie Cunliffe, went on to create an extraordinary plan that did these things and more.
Regenesis proposed to the developers of Loreto Bay a radical idea. What if through design of the development, and through the way it managed its land holdings, the project re-established the function of the estuary? Estuaries are a kind of semi-aquatic forest that buffer the interface between the land and the sea. They stabilize the shoreline, filter the runoff from the land, and create a sheltered nursery environment where fish can get established and where nutrients are exchanged. All of these functions could be restored through intelligent design of neighborhoods that included a network of tree-lined canals running through them, and through agroforestry projects that would hold soil and improve the quality of water moving down into the sea.
This concept galvanized the planning team, which saw a way to create a better and more attractive offering to potential buyers, while also giving them a way to make good on their promise of a green project at a much deeper and more meaningful level, and with far wider systemic impact. The team, led by Canadian architect Ayrie Cunliffe, went on to create an extraordinary plan that did these things and more.
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Still, design and engineering is only part of the equation. It sets the stage, but even the best projects fall apart in time if they are not being continually maintained and improved by the people who use them. To be successful, a project needs to build understanding and commitment among local people, new residents, contractors, and maintenance workers—all of them needed to understand the importance of managing the community as a biological system (that is, an estuary) with a role to play in the health of the Sea of Cortez.
Fortunately a foundation had been established early in the project and funded to ensure that any social and environmental impacts from the development of Loretto Bay were addressed. This new concept for the project gave the foundation a way to focus its work on the creation of a stewardship culture for the Sea of Cortez. The foundation went on to create a set of coastal development standards that would be used throughout the region to elevate the health of the relationship between the land and the sea.
The Villages at Loreto Bay were just embarking upon its earliest phases of development when the economic crash of 2008 brought the project to a standstill. Remarkably, the vision for the project had galvanized “one of the most well-organized, powerful homeowners organizations in the world,” which enabled a new developer to step in and revive the project.
Read more: “Will Loreto, Mexico be One of The World’s Most Sustainable Urban Destinations?” Forbes Magazine, 2013.
Fortunately a foundation had been established early in the project and funded to ensure that any social and environmental impacts from the development of Loretto Bay were addressed. This new concept for the project gave the foundation a way to focus its work on the creation of a stewardship culture for the Sea of Cortez. The foundation went on to create a set of coastal development standards that would be used throughout the region to elevate the health of the relationship between the land and the sea.
The Villages at Loreto Bay were just embarking upon its earliest phases of development when the economic crash of 2008 brought the project to a standstill. Remarkably, the vision for the project had galvanized “one of the most well-organized, powerful homeowners organizations in the world,” which enabled a new developer to step in and revive the project.
Read more: “Will Loreto, Mexico be One of The World’s Most Sustainable Urban Destinations?” Forbes Magazine, 2013.
Check this out on CNBC 11 / 2012
Emmanuel Faure | Getty Images You diligently planned and saved your hard-earned money for many years so you could be comfortable living out your retirement dream. Now the time has come to decide which destination will be the perfect place for you. More and more, soon-to-be retirees are thinking of heading overseas.
Each year, International Living publishes a shortlist of the best countries in which to retire. Called the Annual Global Retirement Index, it takes into consideration factors such as health care, cost of living and climate and then calculates a final score for each country. The top three countries on this year's list differ in their final score by just 0.1 points. And if you're worried about adjusting to a new culture, the magazine also lists the top 5 places where American retirees will feel most comfortable.
Read on to see what the magazine ranks as this year's top 10 places in the world to retire.
— By CNBC.com's Natalia Wojcik
Posted 15 March 2017
Source: InternationalLiving.com- 10. Malta
Peter Young | Getty Images A picturesque and compact archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta boasts gorgeous weather and mild winters. According to International Living correspondent Barbara Diggs, a couple can retire comfortably in Malta "for less than $2,700 a per month."
Source: InternationalLiving.com - 9. Portugal
Perry Mastrovito | Getty Images In Lisbon, one of Europe's oldest cities, retiring well can cost "as little as $1,700 a month" for a couple, said International Living editor Glynna Prentice. Portugal offers a rich history, both in landmarks and in a cuisine that speaks to the nation's seafaring past.
Source: InternationalLiving.com - 8. Nicaragua
Jane Sweeney | Getty Images Sometimes hailed as the next Costa Rica, Nicaragua boasts a warm tropical climate and award-winning coffee and chocolate. The town of San Juan del Sur has become a popular destination, and the Central American country's many natural wonders lie waiting to be explored. Retiring here can cost as little as $1,500 per month for a couple.
Source: InternationalLiving.com - 7. Spain
Visions Of Our Land | Getty Images Spain has long been a popular destination among European retirees due to its low cost of living, fascinating history and easygoing pace. A couple retiring to one of the larger cities, such as Valencia, can expect to pay around $2,220 per month. Costs are lower in smaller cities, where you can get by on $1,900 a month, according to International Living editor Glynna Prentice.
Source: InternationalLiving.com - 6. Malaysia
Muhammad Hafiz bin Muhamad | Getty Images Cities in Malaysia are clean and modern, the country's public transport is unrivaled, and its people are considered by some to be the friendliest in Asia. Consisting of 13 states and three federal territories, Malaysia offers a lot to see and do. That's just one of the reasons many first-time tourists to Malaysia return again and again and ultimately end up moving or retiring here.
Source: InternationalLiving.com - 5. Colombia
Eyes Wide Open | Getty Images Just three hours by plane from Florida, Colombia offers both calm beaches and exciting city living. An apartment in an upscale neighborhood in Medellin can go for $1,250 per month, but prices can be as low as $500 a month in other parts of the city, according to International Living correspondent Nancy Kiernan.
Source: InternationalLiving.com - 4. Costa Rica
Christer Fredriksson | Getty Images Costa Rica has been a popular destination for retirees for more than three decades. Its major draws include excellent health care and a cost of living as low as $2,000 to $3,000 a month for a couple, without being thrifty, said International Living's Roving Latin America editor Jason Holland. "A decent meal at a local restaurant will run you $5 per plate … and rents start at $400 per month for fullfurnished condos or homes in nice areas," he added.
Source: InternationalLiving.com - 3. Ecuador
Gabrielle and Michel Therin-Weise | Getty ImagesEcuador contains a range of climates within its borders, offering something for everyone. The country is affordable and has many discounts available for people over age 65. International Living's Coastal Ecuador correspondent Jim Santos said his monthly budget for him and his wife comes out to less than $1,500 per month.
Source: InternationalLiving.com - 2. Panama
Ivan Kashinsky | Getty ImagesWith consistently warm temperatures, Panama nabs the second spot on the list. This narrow isthmus has great internet connectivity, welcoming people and a cosmopolitan capital.
Source: InternationalLiving.com - 1. Mexico
Bruce Yuanyue Bi | Getty Images Even though X President Trump was frequently in the headlines bashing Mexico, the country landed a final score of 90.9, making it the best place in the world to retire, according to International Living. The conversion rate of dollars to pesos allows the nearly 1 million American retirees in Mexico to live comfortably on about $1,200 per month.
Source: InternationalLiving.com
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