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BajaLuna
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Location: Pacific Northwest/Bahia Asuncion
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this is an interesting post/thread as we have been looking closely at the areas of Pescadero, Todos Santos and surrounding areas and I came across
Tres Santos in my search. Although, the tree hugger in me wondered how much the surrounding farm lands will suffer (no farms no food) by possibly
taking up space for this compound that food could be grown on....and how much building this big development will put a strain on local resources yet
having said that, there will be jobs for people building this compound. In the grand scheme of things a place like this supports ways to keep our
carbon footprint more under control. But there is never an easy answer, is there? You do good in one or 2 areas in order to live more sustainable and
it may harm something else, ugh! And like Monoloco says, "there are more people on the planet everyday", and with that there is a need for everyone to
live somewhere. And high density equals less of a carbon footprint.
I have lived in intentional communities before with strong and successful councils, albeit nowhere near anything like this, but very well thought out
in regards to self sustainability, holistically conscious, community taking care of community, elder care, trading services etc, and most of them work
very well....but what I think is missing here, and perhaps it's not (I haven't seen any reference to it yet) is children and elder care and
mentorships, which is important in these types of communities IMHO. Perhaps that may evolve.
I do see the opportunity here for cottage industries to pop up within this compound and that's a good thing! The more we can support and consume from
local, handmade products the better! And usually that breeds a lot of trade and barter, which is awesome too and better for the planet as a whole.
I'd like to check it out, and probably will! We also want to check out areas a bit south and north of Todos Santos!
By the way Pauldavidmena, I just read your blog, lots of good info on it and I will be following your journey as we too are lookey-looing in the same
areas!
P.S. Pauldavidmena....Voluntary simplicity is a good thing not only for the planet but personally too...ummm bottled water equals part of the problem
and there is easy solutions to that!...however high speed internet these days is just a reality of the times, IMHO.
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pauldavidmena
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BajaLuna - thanks for weighing in on this. Like monoloco, I don't see the Tres Santos development as either black or white, but rather an
inevitability that can have its upside if managed responsibly.
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BajaLuna
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I agree!
We aren't interested in moving into something like this, it's just way too big for our liking....but just for kicks want to check it out and see what
all they have going on! It's a good concept but who knows if it will be successful!
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Udo
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Thanks, mono loco.
I think my next trip down that way I'll google-earth the area to see where all the dirt roads are that lead to a beach.
| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
| Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
My question...
Between South Pescadero and Todos Santos area, there are no open beach access areas. A development like this would make that even worse. One won't be
able to get within an eye shot to see sand or water.
However, I was persistent in trying to find a way to the ocean:
In mid TS, I drove several dirt roads and one of them took me to within 300 feet of the water. And that area turned out to be a turtle
sanctuary.
The other two places (as I said, I am[/b[ persistent: one was driving down the wash near north Pescadero, and the other place was a well
camouflaged dirt road that drops off sharply, near the south end of Pescadero
Most of TS and Pescadero houses are fully walled-in, and there is no path or room to walk between the houses. I don't know why one would wall
themselves in their living encampment. Does it not make it tough to enjoy the wonderful surroundings that the area is famous for?
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Udo, What you are saying is simply not true, there are lots of public access places, even ones where. you
can drive on to the beach. Just between Los Cerritos and San Pedrito, I can think of at least a dozen spots where you can access some beautiful (and
empty) beaches. Legally, I believe that there is supposed to be a public access every 1000mts. There is one BIG walled subdivision about halfway up
but there is an access point at the north end of it. |
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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monoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
Thanks, mono loco.
I think my next trip down that way I'll google-earth the area to see where all the dirt roads are that lead to a beach.
| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
| Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
My question...
Between South Pescadero and Todos Santos area, there are no open beach access areas. A development like this would make that even worse. One won't be
able to get within an eye shot to see sand or water.
However, I was persistent in trying to find a way to the ocean:
In mid TS, I drove several dirt roads and one of them took me to within 300 feet of the water. And that area turned out to be a turtle
sanctuary.
The other two places (as I said, I am[/b[ persistent: one was driving down the wash near north Pescadero, and the other place was a well
camouflaged dirt road that drops off sharply, near the south end of Pescadero
Most of TS and Pescadero houses are fully walled-in, and there is no path or room to walk between the houses. I don't know why one would wall
themselves in their living encampment. Does it not make it tough to enjoy the wonderful surroundings that the area is famous for?
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Udo, What you are saying is simply not true, there are lots of public access places, even ones where. you
can drive on to the beach. Just between Los Cerritos and San Pedrito, I can think of at least a dozen spots where you can access some beautiful (and
empty) beaches. Legally, I believe that there is supposed to be a public access every 1000mts. There is one BIG walled subdivision about halfway up
but there is an access point at the north end of it. |
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Or just
stop by and I'll show you.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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Udo
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That sound like a great idea, mono.
Check your u-2's
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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tiotomasbcs
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Hey Gang. Missed these posts as I was busy building high walls around my house and stringing barbed wire down at the beach access?! The main beach
at Cerritos is the most beautiful beach in the area. Beach Restaurant , too. I wouldn't waste my time here in the Huerta as the roads are so bad
and the locals .... PD, one visit to Peskys and you're writing a blog Pescadero Dreams?? Did I mention the Dengue fever problem? All in good
humour, Amigos but Sssshhh, no magazine Covers, please.  
Tio ps now back to the Sustainability/water issues plus of No Hay Santos.
[Edited on 6-13-2014 by tiotomasbcs]
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pauldavidmena
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Tio - I drank the kool-aid - and it tasted like tequila! 
Seriously, I realize that 4 visits to the Todos Santos area - and only one to Pescadero - doesn't constitute much in the way of research, but we plan
to do much more exploring over the next few years, including visits during off-season and extended visits. With any luck I can find an IT gig that
will allow me to work remotely, something my wife - who owns her own business - is already able to do.
[Edited on 6-13-2014 by pauldavidmena]
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monoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
Hey Gang. Missed these posts as I was busy building high walls around my house and stringing barbed wire down at the beach access?! The main beach
at Cerritos is the most beautiful beach in the area. Beach Restaurant , too. I wouldn't waste my time here in the Huerta as the roads are so bad
and the locals .... PD, one visit to Peskys and you're writing a blog Pescadero Dreams?? Did I mention the Dengue fever problem? All in good
humour, Amigos but Sssshhh, no magazine Covers, please.
Tio ps now back to the Sustainability/water issues plus of No Hay Santos.
[Edited on 6-13-2014 by tiotomasbcs] |
Has that spate of beheadings eased up yet so I can come home?
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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pauldavidmena
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Just found this article, which, while critical of the Tres Santos development, also highlights the fact that Colorado State University's involvement with the
project is completely independent of it.
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BFS
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Good read, thanks.
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pauldavidmena
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Just read this letter to the President of CSU on todossantos.net. It seems that the water shortage in Baja California Sur is galvanizing opposition to the project.
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pauldavidmena
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Here is a recent article on the project in "Travel Pulse" magazine. It bugs me to hear Todos Santos referred to as a "Tourist Town [Built] From
Scratch" when it's been around for centuries, emerging as the sleepy ex-pat artist community I fell in love with over the past few decades.
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wilderone
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I've never been to Todos Santos, so I have fresh eyes regarding the Tres Santos project. The architecture is cheap looking and not in conformance
with its Mexican, Baja desert location. Looks like some "affordabe housing" project. Proposed 1500+ homes? Why? Who will be buying these homes?
Make absolutely no sense. And the Colorado University deal? There's something hinky going on there no doubt. And where's the water? Sounds like
the shenanigans that went on with Loreto Bay - only a fraction of them built and they left the project in chaos, none of the promises met. And much
less to offer buyers at Todos Santos - no Gulf of California, further from a major town. I think all the buyers have been shaken from the trees years
ago. LOTS of Baja property for sale now. Makes no sense.
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wilderone
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From their website:
"Few places on earth rival the variety of natural assets found around Todos Santos. The Pacific, the endless shoreline, the pristine beaches and
world-class surf breaks all draw a new kind of crowd. Adrenaline junkies, climbers, elite athletes in training. Those looking to commune with nature,
who want to bike, swim and trek the terrain, the mountains, and the sand. And also those seeking a gentler path—walking, gardening, cooking, and
photography. No matter the motivation, nature is close-up here."
THESE ARE NOT THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BUY A SECOND HOME IN THIS PROJECT. These are your average tourists who can find all of the above anywhere
in Baja California. As for the gardening and cooking, plenty of land AND WATER in Missouri.
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monoloco
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There is probably 15-20 homes a year sold in Todos Santos, so I seriously doubt that they will build 1500 anytime soon, maybe in 50 years. The market
for that many homes simply does not exist, it seems like there is a lot of hand wringing here over nothing. If anything in this area is unsustainable,
it's the giant agriculture projects that have gone in over the last 10 years, destroying 1000's of hectares of native plants, draining water tables,
and contaminating the environment with massive amounts of toxic chemicals. Where were all these dune hugging environmentalists when they were
bulldozing the desert for that? I believe that many of them are just worried about their view. Tres Santos is bringing much needed economic activity
to Todos Santos, what opportunities will the locals have without projects like this? Selling trinkets to cruise ship tourists who come on the bus from
Cabo? Working in virtual slavery for large agribusiness concerns? Being gardeners for retired gringos?
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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tiotomasbcs
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Mono, I have a question or two. Will the local Santenos work for min wages? They didn't for the big agri businesses! Cheap labor from the mainland
and where will they live? And our beautiful beach at Cerritos is almost closed off to the public like they will do at Punta Lobos. My view is
already taken by the California Green ( not veggies) kids. Wilderone's view is perceptive in that it doesn't seem to appeal to the average tourist;
The Country Club and Yacht Club , Yes. And what about the Cartel shootings? Yes, I have a few doubts. Tio
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monoloco
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Quote: Originally posted by tiotomasbcs  | | Mono, I have a question or two. Will the local Santenos work for min wages? They didn't for the big agri businesses! Cheap labor from the mainland
and where will they live? And our beautiful beach at Cerritos is almost closed off to the public like they will do at Punta Lobos. My view is
already taken by the California Green ( not veggies) kids. Wilderone's view is perceptive in that it doesn't seem to appeal to the average tourist;
The Country Club and Yacht Club , Yes. And what about the Cartel shootings? Yes, I have a few doubts. Tio |
Let me ask you Tio, Where do think that economic opportunity for the locals should come from? Right now there are probably 20 dump
truck drivers, many engineers, heavy equipment operators, construction workers, surveyors, etc. who have jobs because of this project.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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pauldavidmena
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@monoloco - to your point, the Tres Santos folks were very active in the recovery efforts immediately following Odile. I imagine that can go a long
way toward building good will within the community.
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monoloco
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The gringo population of Todos Santos has gone from close to zero to probably 500+ in the last 30 years, so if you live in Todos, and believe that
development is such a scourge, you are already part of the problem. I seriously doubt that a 32 room hotel and another 100 or 200 homes in a well
planned development with good infrastructure is going to have more of an adverse effect than all the gringos who have come here and crammed homes into
areas like La Cachora without upgrading the roads and infrastructure.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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