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Author Topic: A not so worrying development  (Read 35938 times)

agent99

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A not so worrying development
« on: October 12, 2007, 01:23:24 PM »
Hello everyone,

Let me introduce myself, my name is Falah Al-Jaizani and I am a partner of Fastro Developments LLP based in Manchester. Some of you have already found our company through the "worrying development" thread. I am posting to answer some of your questions and concerns regarding our development in Plakias. I will try to answer as many questions as I can, if I miss anything out please feel free to drop me a line, I will leave my details below.

1. The development consists of 432 privately owned apartments and villas within a resort environment. These will be built to a very high standard deserving the 5* tag.
2. The architects involved are world renowned for building 5* hotel resorts throughout the Meditteranean region and we are very lucky that they have taken the contract to design this resort.
3. The images you have seen so far are preliminary and will be updated in the next few week to include much more detail. The images you see now are the first draft and have not been fully rendered to include, stone type, landscaping and lifestyle e.g. people. When these are finished you will be able to "see" exactly what this resort will look like, so I ask you to reserve judgement until then.
4. The resort will include many amenities that will be available for all, such as a medical centre, restaurants, shops and health spa.
5. One of the principal partners involved in this project also are one of the largest hotel owners in Greece, with 34 5* hotels, we do NOT associate our good names with sub standard property, we DO associate ourselves with up market property and 5* service. If the apartments that have been built recently by the Norwegian company that you all find so hideous (so do I) is a Ford Escort, we are a Bentley by comparison, hence the price points.
6. Phase 1 of the project will take 2 years because the main utilities construction for the whole site will be completed during that time e.g. sewage, water, electricity etc.
7. The boundaries of the site are the telegraph pole to the right of the abandoned white property behind the road, to the road that cuts inland all the way up to the hill where the white container is from the perspective looking in land from the sea.
8. We have taken 90% of the available permitable building land in Plakias, this means that after we have finished there will be no more building in Plakias on any relevant scale.
9. Plakias is changing, and there is nothing that we can do about it. The marina is a good example of where EU money is being spent within Greece, you must ask why such a large amount of money is being spent in such an out of the way locale? The marina will be used for the fishing boats primarily allowing the town port to be used for pleasure craft. This will attract recreational yacht and power boat users to the area.
10. 23 units are now sold on phase 1 along with 5 further villas on phase three that have been reserved by the principals for their own use. It says reserved on the price lists as this follows our standard business model. A 2% non refundable deposit reserves the property, 18% on exchange of contrcats, 80% finace for the rest, when exchange of contracts takes place reserved becomes sold. The drop out rate from reserved to sold in non existant. The 80% finance is inclusive of VAT.
11. What you are seeing now regarding web sites and marketing material is only the preliminary marketing as the Plakias resort will not be officially launched until March 2008, what you are seeing now is the ealy bird campaign, that allows our clients to have first choice before general release, this is very popular as with most projects of this size the price will rise per phase release. Brochures, videos, CGI walkthroughs and an upgrade to www.plakiasresort.com will be completed over the next two months. We expect the site to be sold out by the end of 2008.
12. The demographic of the people that will buy on Plakias are wide ranging, however, the majority will be holiday home owners and investors that will rent the property to holiday makers and use it for themselves. It must be remembered that as a resort, rather than just a development, most people will stay on site as all the ameneties are within the resort itself. Plakias resort will be marketed to the Britsh market first, however, we have had enquires from Norway, Denmark and Sweden by property companies that want to market our product, as yet we have made no agreements outside of the UK. Expect families and couples for the most part from 30's to retirees who want a quiet holiday in beautiful surroundings.
13. The development will effectively double the population of Plakias during the season, which will easily be absorbed without having a negative impact on the resort due to the large amount of space currently available.
14. This devlopment will bring in a lot more money to the area that will have a very positive impact on the local economy resulting in more revenue being spent on Plakias itself by the municipality and a general upgrade of the shops and restaurants over the coming years due to their own increased revenues.
15. There is no negative feelings within the local community, far from it, the people that we have spoken to are very exited about the propesects for their village, if there is any ambivalence towards our project we have not encountered it. Ofcourse when the project is fully released to the public this will dispel any fears people may have through a lack of information.
16. Ofcourse any development of this size is going to have an impact on the community throughout construction, however, we are working to minimise any disruption by working on the exterior contruction, swimming pools, foundations and ameneties etc during the winter months and the interiors during the summer months,  this is one reason that the development will take 5 years, however, should we sell out the project by the end of next year as we expect, then we will revise the delopment time down by anything up to two years, 5 years is a conservative guideline only.

There are developments that harm areas of natural beauty and there are those that compliment the surrounding area, I ask you to reserve judgement for the moment as we are firmly of the belief that we will make Plakias a better place for all. This includes those on this forum, the local residents and those that have not yet discovered Plakias. We will build a harmonious development that compliments the surrounding environment, turning a wasteland into an up market resort. We accept that there will people who will only ever accept the status quo, however, it is folly to believe that we live in a static, timeless, never changing world, however romantic those thoughts might be. We will be building 14 developments throughout Crete in the future, mostly front line beach, however, this is the jewel in the crown.


For those of you who cannot wait to see what this resort will look like, you can watch a video of a site we are building in Cyprus that will give you a general idea although Plakias will be more upmarket/better as the Cyprus development is not a resort. We will be providing a fully animated walkthrough of Plakias resort by the end of the year similar to this one, so you can see exactly what it will look like then. Go to www.fastro.co.uk log in and navigate to Cyprus, Polyxenia and download the movie.

I hope I have answered most of your questions, however, should you have any further questions please feel free to contact me or leave a message and I will do my best to answer. I hope that my responding to your concerns on this forum gives you an idea of who we are as a company and where are priorities lie, we do care about Plakias, so much so that I have reserved one of the villas for myself and my family to enjoy in the future.

Falah Al-Jaizani
Fastro Development LLP

0870 609 8044
falah@fastro.co.uk

P.S. The site was chosen a long time ago and I can assure you all that both ourselves and our Greek partners do not frequent your site, so if you find our project unpalatable, you are not to blame for its discovery.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2007, 01:26:15 PM by agent99 »

Offline cornucopia

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A not so worrying development
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2007, 02:46:00 PM »
Quote from: agent99
We DO associate ourselves with up market property and 5* service.

Yeah, well most people who go to Plakias aren't looking for that. Shabby and laid back is good. '5*' corporate luxury is bad. If we wanted to be waited on hand and foot by flunkies we'd go to all-inclusive resorts somewhere else. Looks like it's a case of making the best of it for the next couple of years and then trying to find somewhere else...

Offline Ploppy

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« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2007, 03:14:50 PM »
Dear Falah,

Many thanks for your time and effort in posting this, much appreciated.

I'll save my judgement for later!

Thanks,

Paul

Offline shinaria

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« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2007, 03:51:11 PM »
Hello Mr. Al-Jaizani,
I would be interested in a map which shows the occupied areas. I wonder how this 5* thing will be integrated into the place formerly known as Plakias... Will those who live there be part of the community that used to spend their holidays in a way that is far away from this "Supercomfort-Ghettos" which I suppose your project will be. Judge later is judging too late most times.

I will not say "thank you" for destroying this place!

shinaria

BTW: the Police cancelled their gig in Düsseldorf tomorrow  .... So I may have to come to the UK. Any tickets left??

Offline Ploppy

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« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2007, 04:44:34 PM »
I was just thanking the chap for making an effort, he didn't have to do anything did he.

He probably knows he isn't going to make any sales here.

Judging later actually meant later (as in I am busy now) and not later (after it is built)

Offline Kerstin

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« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2007, 06:21:23 PM »
Hello,

I have read your article.

Now, many hours later, because I had to think about it.

At frist we love Plakias, the quietness, the ambience and all the people which spend there holidays in Plakias.

According to your article:
My personal opinion... all things which you describe: it is only advertising and I see the direction: Time sharing.
(something like Hapimag/Damnoni)

I cannot imagine that you will sell all these "villas". We saw so many other projects in other countries
(for instance in Portugal or Spain). And today, these buildings are vacant and nobody is interested in.

Greetings from Germany,
Kerstin.

Offline harribobs

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« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2007, 09:42:12 PM »
interesting post by mr Al-Jaizani, but i think he confirms everything we have thought about the development, we are looking at another hapimag....

I'm note his comment that the 'locals population' are ' very exited ' although i'm sure this is a typo, exiting is what a great deal of people will be doing. the thought of the summer population doubling in plakias is disturbing and will drive away a lot of people. if most of this new influx are eating and drinking within the complex, i can't see that going down too well either but......

on a personal note Mr Al-Jaizani, you have saved me writing a letter or visiting your offices in Sale,  i would like to know why you thought you could use one of my photographs in your little slideshow of plakias without my permission??

chris harrison

Offline shinaria

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« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2007, 09:54:02 PM »
Quote from: Ploppy
I was just thanking the chap for making an effort, he didn't have to do anything did he.

He probably knows he isn't going to make any sales here.

Judging later actually meant later (as in I am busy now) and not later (after it is built)

Never meant to attack you, Ploppy!
I understood  your reply as the reply of the forum's admin.

All the best
shinaria

Offline shinaria

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« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2007, 09:58:07 PM »
Quote from: harribobs
... you thought you could use one of my photographs in your little slideshow of plakias without my permission??

chris harrison

Please, let them pay for it!
shinaria

Mandy Harrison

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« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2007, 10:13:00 PM »
Well if I should ever be fortunate to win the lottery I like to think I could buy the whole complex and then burn it to the ground but regrettably that will never happen.  Its a nice thought though

Offline Graham_and_Karen

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« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2007, 08:02:34 AM »
It is commendable that the developer has taken the trouble to provide some details of the project but I'm sure he's realised from the comments so far that it's not what the members of this forum want. We don't all like to do the same things but we do like small friendly establishments, each with their own character in a quiet resort, away from the crowds and surrounded by countryisde that's always a joy to explore, on foot or in the car. I'm sure, in this we are representative of the many visitors to Plakias who are not members of the forum.
We ay be a relatively small group of Plakias devotees but I get the feeling we're pretty much like most of the people who regularly holiday in Plakias.
8. We have taken 90% of the available permitable building land in Plakias, this means that after we have finished there will be no more building in Plakias on any relevant scale.
No more room for building more like  

Offline compage

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« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2007, 08:47:44 AM »
Falah Al-Jaizani you have my sympathy.
Not only have you dismally failed to understand the majority of the people who use this forum but by the time you get to use your expensive villa you will have missed Plakias at its best by about 10 years.

We have all seen the effect on once delightful resorts by developments such as yours.
To try to say that it will not adversely affect Plakias is flying in the face of reality.

I just hope that you and your five star neighbours stay in your enclave and don't find a way to pollute the place to which we will have moved on.
John Page

Offline Mike G

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« Reply #12 on: October 13, 2007, 10:10:23 AM »
Quote from: Graham_and_Karen
I'm sure he's realised from the comments so far that it's not what the members of this forum want. We don't all like to do the same things but we do like small friendly establishments, each with their own character in a quiet resort, away from the crowds and surrounded by countryisde that's always a joy to explore, on foot or in the car. I'm sure, in this we are representative of the many visitors to Plakias who are not members of the forum.
We ay be a relatively small group of Plakias devotees but I get the feeling we're pretty much like most of the people who regularly holiday in Plakias.
I think most of us will agree with these sentiments. Plakias is not about luxury, it's about a simpler way of life than we experience at home.

The comment about this development being 90% of the foreseeable development in the town may or may not be true but reminds me of the old saying "pile all the s**t in one heap". I just wish it wasn't so close to the "far end".

Mike

Mandy Harrison

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« Reply #13 on: October 13, 2007, 10:39:11 AM »
I am off to buy that lottery ticket

Offline Chris H.

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« Reply #14 on: October 13, 2007, 11:14:20 AM »
Many, many years ago Joni Mitchel sang:

'They killed paradise and put up a parking lot...........'

Dear Mr. Al-Jaizani,

Thank you very much for your effort trying to convince us that no harm will be done. The sad thing from your point of view is however that you are just make it worse this way. You obviously don't have a clue what we are on about. As far as I'm concerned you live on another planet. For example this quote:

'more revenue being spent on Plakias itself by the municipality and a general upgrade of the shops and restaurants over the coming years due to their own increased revenues.'

Dear Mr. Al-Jaizani, that's exactly what we don't want, no upgrade that is. The owner of one of my favourite restaurants only shaves twice a week and always has a cigarette in his hand even when he is serving our food, disgusting uhh?  Certainly no 5 star  We are people that have seen what an upgrade will do to what used to be nice places. They loose their character and uniqeness and become the same as all the other holidayresorts and there are more than enough of those already thank you.
One more quote:

'I hope that my responding to your concerns on this forum gives you an idea of who we are as a company and where are priorities lie, we do care about Plakias, so much so that I have reserved one of the villas for myself and my family to enjoy in the future.'

So we can relax, nothing nasty will happen and why? You will come and live here Mr. Al-Jaizani so you will make sure Plakias will stay as nice as it is. Like I said before, you live on another planet and are not even able to recognise the sort of quality that we are on about. Pity on you. And what's more and now I have to try really hard to stay polite: what is this bs about priorities? You are just here for the money and don't take me wrong, nothing wrong in that but don't give us that  '......'  about caring so much for Plakias that you need to bring  beautiful 5 star quality to it.....Phew....

This is a good one to:

'There are developments that harm areas of natural beauty and there are those that compliment the surrounding area'
hahahahahahaha!!!!

Enough....., be assured Mr. Al-Jaizani that I respect you and don't intend to insult you but I had to say this to get it of my chest, thank you!