Western San José’s La Sabana Park may not hold a candle to New York’s Central Park in terms of size or grandeur – but in the eyes of developers and architects looking to take advantage of the surrounding neighborhoods’ ideal location, the area is about to have its own day in the sun.
“It’s going to become the center of San José,” said architect Judko Rosenstock, a Costa Rican who spent five years in New York and is now working on the new Metropolitan Towers project next to La Sabana.
“It’s one of the best neighborhoods … you can go to Escazú (the western suburb) in no time, to the center of town, to the airport.
“Costa Rica is always a century behind, and people are realizing that living in front of a park is very exclusive.”
Metropolitan Towers is just one of several residential complexes planned for the neighborhoods near the park, known for its lake, jogging trails and sports facilities, from soccer fields and tennis courts to the National Stadium.
According to Rosenstock, the nearby neighborhoods – divided into sectors referred to as Sabana North, South, East and West, much like their Big Apple park-side counterparts – have great potential to attract not only first-time San José residents, but also people who grew up in the capital, moved to the affluent western areas of Escazú or Santa Ana, and are now looking for greater convenience.
“A lot of people left Escazú when they started realizing that the location of La Sabana is amazing,” Rosenstock told The Tico Times.
The proximity of TobíasBolañosAirport in the western district of Pavas adds even more convenience, but also ensures that construction must top out at 20 stories, he explained.
“Our concept is different from the rest of the projects, I think – a little more high-end,” said Rosenstock, whose project is overseen by Euromobilia. “When you change your house for an apartment, you want something nice. You’re giving up space, so you want more facilities, more luxury, to have a comfortable life.”
To accomplish that goal, MetropolitanTowers will offer not only luxurious touches such as high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and double-height park view terraces, but also a choice of multiple finishes in hardwood flooring, tile and marble, handles and kitchen counters. Clients will even have options of different layouts so they can truly custom-design the apartment they’re buying.
“When you’re spending a certain amount of money, you don’t want to go to the neighbor’s and see the same flooring,” he explained. Buyers looking for extra luxury can spring for one of four penthouses with their own gardens.
Euromobilia owns the entire block on which the apartment will be located – next to the
Pavas Highway, in front of CableTica – and will rent, not sell, the shops, so it can ensure apartment dwellers will have easy access to a variety of services, including a Puma boutique, café, mini-market and pharmacy.
The MetropolitanTowers’ 42 two-, three and four-bedroom apartments are now in their presale phase, with construction slated to finish by June 2009. For more information on the 14-story project, visit www.metropolitantowerscr.com.
Another condominium project, Torres del Parque, was started in Sabana North this past May, and construction is slated to finish by December 2008, according to Oscar Rozados, financial director of Constructora Decisa (203-7373). The project consists of two 17-story towers, with residential, commercial and office spaces available, and takes up 3,000 square meters on the ground.
Torres del Parque will offer 52 apartments that can hold two or three occupants, and will also feature four penthouses with more space than the apartments. The apartments range from 195 to 370 square meters. There are six commercial locations and 16 spaces for offices, with the size of those spaces varying depending on the needs of the clients.
Rozados said that of all these units combined, 73% have already been sold.
The condominium project also offers 24-hour security, janitorial services and state of-the-art, high-speed elevators, according to Rozados.
Torres del Parque features contemporary architecture, and will offer areas for socializing as well, Rozados said, including a Jacuzzi, sauna, barbecue area, gymnasium and game room.
Tico Times reporter Mike Faulk contributed to this article.
