Monte Paraiso - History


	SEEING IS BELEIVING

...Two centuries ago, on the southern coast of Spain in Andalusia, observation towers were protecting the Spanish citizens from the invasion of the Arabians after their dominion in practically all Spain. When warnings were given, the local defenders used to hide in an old fortified house painted the colour of the soil so that they could not be easily seen by the Moors. Today, this house is a proud part of the urbanisation which became known as Sitio de Calahonda.

Mr. Jose de Orbaneja arrived at this old house, which was called "Casa Fuerte de Calahonda" (meaning Strong House of Calahonda) back in 1963, associated with his friends the Van Dulken family in order to develop what today would be described as a big task. However, everything would have no significance without the cooperation of the distinguish clientele which made possible what could be described as the "miracle of Sitio de Calahonda".

"...The sixties decade was the key of the tourism beginning on the Costa del Sol. The residential tourism was still far away, but some people, as the Orbaneja "s, had the vision of future to project and develop an urbanisation outside of the crowded tourism of Torremolinos and close to the later well-known city of Marbella."

SUR (Newspaper) Mr. A. Maldonado (Deputy of the Spanish Parliament & Town Hall Principal).

No one knows better than Juan de Orbaneja, Counsellor Delegate of Sitio de Calahonda, how this urbanisation has developed step by step over the last 35 years. But let go back to the first steps in the development process when in 1963, Sitio de Calahonda made its beginnings.

Sitio de Calahonda began reforesting 500.000 pine trees within whole country-estate. It was a period when foreigners making their homes were seeking the quiet life, when infrastructure was not even a part of the lexicon of town planners, not that town planning existed as a serious preoccupation anyway...

The name of the 1st street was "Avda. de España" and "C/ de la Playa" on the 2nd Phase of the urbanisation, then "Calle Malaga" was commercialised to our clients by given 400 m2 Plot, 120 m2 constructed, a car "Seat 600", a Spanish guitar and a bottle of red wine. Everything for the price of 5,000 pounds sterling. -Our Commercial Manager of that time, Mr. Assayag, had a very imaginative vision of sales-.

Location & Communications

Situated in the province of Malaga midway between Marbella and Fuengirola, Sitio de Calahonda offers the possibility of living in an urbanisation of quality and prestige. Puerto Banus, southern Europe's premier boating and leisure centre, is only 15 minutes away, and Malaga Airport can be reached within 20 minutes via a fast modern highway with the unique link road between Fuengirola and Marbella into Sitio de Calahonda, not by coincidence but by arguments with the Central Administration of Spain.

Its situation and southern orientation, provides the area with a unique climate in Europe and, coming from the coast of Africa, clearly visible from the urbanisation, refreshing night winds. The urbanisation extends from the coast's main road up to undulating hills 300 metres above sea level, offering fabulous views of the surrounding countryside running down to the sea. Gibraltar and the Africa coastline are often clearly visible.

With its superb position, its well-run administrative services, its financial stability, green zones, parks and interior and exterior communications, Sitio de Calahonda can surely claim to be one of the finest developments along the Costa del Sol.

Shape: Little Britain

In the early 80's, about 70% of sales were going to people from England and, because the streets were well maintained and the shape of the urbanisation is similar to that of Great Britain, in the property world Sitio de Calahonda became known as "Little Britain".

Extension, Supplying And Other Technical Aspects

Sitio de Calahonda extends to over 300 hectares of which the notable quantity of 60 hectares is dedicated to green zones which have been restocked with pine trees.

Capital invested in developments on Sitio de Calahonda to date is calculated at approximately 220 million pounds sterling. Juan de Orbaneja also pointed to another important offshoot of that investment-the creation of employment. There are 1,600 people employed at Sitio de Calahonda, directly and a further 2,000 indirectly.

The water supply is provided through the dam "Rio Verde", and the urbanisation possesses six private water reserves totalling 7.500 cubic metres.

Telephone communications within the urbanisation are achieved through an optic fibre network.

There are 28 Kilometres of well-maintained roads on Sitio de Calahonda.

Sitio de Calahonda has installed thirty electricity transformers since 1963.

Puerto de Cabopino offers 170 berths for small and medium size vessels. Surrounded by a reserved area of sand dunes, it possesses one of the finest beaches along the coast.

Architecture And Style

Even as the development of multi-storey modern buildings has engulfed much of the Costa del Sol, that typical Andalusian imprint - the white-washed villas and Mediterranean-style architecture - has managed to survive in many parts.

On Sitio de Calahonda, not only has the typical "pueblo look" survived, but it has flourished. The urbanisation is a classic example of how to preserve the traditional splendour of Mediterranean design, while blending it with the modern touches and comforts that the discerning home-buyer of the 21st century desires.

Standard features on Sitio de Calahonda are fully equipped kitchens; extensive use of marble; top quality fittings and materials; traditional Andalusian bent roof tiles; rustic tiles on terraces and common areas; and stylish swimming pools.

The original project of the urbanisation was designed by the professor Mr. Emilio Garcia Castro, nominated by the UNESCO as one the best architects of the world, and the majority of the developments have been designed by Mr. Eduardo Oria, which style has been very original and popular on the Costa del Sol because of its architectural value.

Maintenance & Services

As a very important matter Sitio de Calahonda has considered the maintenance, E.U.C. Sitio de Calahonda (collaboration entity for the maintenance service in Sitio de Calahonda) is well known on the whole Costa del Sol for its service and contribution after its creation in 1978 by Juan de Orbaneja, all the streets of the urbanisation contain sidewalks, perfectly maintained and cleaned. Today, this collaboration entity, runs alone taking power from the Town Hall of Mijas.

Today

In 1980 there were 500 houses, in 1989 4,500 properties, today there are 5,000, and developing 700 properties.

Population during the summer holiday is around 20,000 reducing to about 9,000 in the winter, confirming that Sitio de Calahonda is not just a holiday location, for many it is a place in which to live the whole year round.

The nationality percentages of the population living in Sitio de Calahonda are the following:
- English residents.- 27% Approx.
- German residents.- 25% Approx.
- Spanish residents.- 28% Approx.
- Other Countries residents.- 20% Approx.

Market Prices & Something About Our Marketing

Property prices on the Costa del Sol vary considerably, with some developers offering homes at lower coasts than ours because of the lower quality of their buildings. On Sitio de Calahonda, quality has not been sacrificed to gain sales in face of this fierce competition, and prices are stabilised at a reasonable level offering excellent value for money.

The price range for dwellings on Sitio de Calahonda, calculated at the exchange rate prevailing on 8th May 2000, is between 595 and 670 pounds sterling per square metre constructed. This means that an apartment of the popular size of 100 m2, with fabulous sea views and built with top quality materials, can be purchased for 65,000 pounds sterling.

The Sales Offices of Sitio de Calahonda have sold 2,000 properties, including plots to be projected, built and sold by those developers who agreed with the idea of Juan de Orbaneja.

Our marketing has been addressed both to those developers and also to normal clients.

Awards, Testimonies & 25th Anniversary Of S. D. C.

Sitio de Calahonda has won several awards over the years, including the Resident Tourism Award organised by Mijas Town Hall in 1986 and the Barclays Bank award for the best developer on the Costa del Sol.

Amongst the many testimonies received, here is a recent one dated 8th May 2000.
"Since we are living here, many things have changed for the better; the services have improved tremendously. We are very satisfied and happy here and that is why two of our children also bought a property in Sitio de Calahonda- now they are also very pleased to have the perfect holiday home"

Trandl & Alfred Keix (Munich).

Another dated 25th May 1998.
"I bought 'a semi-detached house on Sitio de Calahonda 12 years ago intending it to be a holiday home for all the family. Over the years, we have spent more and more time here, and have gradually extended and improved the premises because we like it here so much. Now, with the wonderful climate and all the improvements in such things as roads, shopping, sports and social facilities, I cannot think of a better place in which to live".

Joyce P Ambrose, (London).

In 1988, Sitio de Calahonda celebrated its 25th anniversary which was a genuine milestone in the creative and compatible development on the Costa del Sol. The events included golf tournaments, a wide variety of other sports activities, artistic, old cars and gardens competitions, and musical and dinner functions.

Juan De Orbaneja

Juan de Orbaneja was born in 1941 from an aristocratic family of Barcelona, Doctor in Industrial Engineering and Master in Business Administration, he came to be the Counsellor Delegate of Sitio de Calahonda in 1965.

If somebody could describe in simple words his principal virtue, it would be the continuity, hard work and defender of the Private Property. After 35 years no one dares to discuss his good reputation and good work, he has been, between others, in the following charges:

- Board of Directors Member of the Tourism Institution (Patronato de Turismo).
- Spanish National President of the Developers Association. (Today, Honour President).
- Member of the Government Experts Commission in the drafting of the "Ley del Suelo" (The Spanish Law of Land Property).

Despite the fact that he has been involved in these institutions, his principal task has been the developing of the urbanisation Sitio de Calahonda, creating what he and many others believe, an ideal place to live.