Fast-growing Liberia, capital of the northwestern province of Guanacaste, is acquiring yet another commercial center, the Oficentro Emesa business center, in the heart of its downtown area.
You can’t miss the concrete blocks shooting out horizontally, just off the
Inter-American Highwayentering into Liberia.
“It’s the best spot in Liberia; every one who comes here will see this,” said Carlos Estrada of the family-owned Grupo Emesa.
Owner of two gas stations of the same name in Guanacaste, Emesa is presently constructing the first of a two-stage project, which broke ground Jan. 5.When completed, the two-building center will rise three floors and cover a total of 2,600 square meters. Estrada says the entire project will cost about $5 million, with the first stage, featuring a branch of the Central American bank Banco Cuscatlán, slated to finish June 1.
With all the necessary permits under its belt, the group expects construction to flow immediately into the second and larger stage, which will be a separate, adjacent building that will house a second, as-yetunidentified bank, a dental clinic and a Customs brokerage. A few spaces have already been reserved, with the rest open to businesses seeking a new home or more office space. The group is still looking to draw an elegant eatery and café to the center, convenient for workers and area residents.
The second stage will also welcome Liberia’s first underground parking garage, Estrada said, a unique feature that Grupo Emesa hopes will help to curb parking and security problems in the area. The garage will offer 65 spaces to the business center’s customers and employees.
The new complex can be added to a growing list of similar real estate developments that have risen up in Guanacaste’s capital. This past year saw the opening of the Santa RosaCommercialCenter, across the street from the Emesa center. Estrada says he doesn’t expect to compete with the nearby center, which is made up of mostly shopping establishments.
The Emesa center sits about 10 kilometers east of Liberia’s DanielOduberInternationalAirport, which is consistently pumping growth into the area, Estrada said.
Grupo Emesa believes its location between the
Inter-American Highwayand the road to the airport is ideal for future growth.
