NEWSLETTER

Dear Neighbors:

I’ve been getting quite a few compliments about what a good job the new board is doing. Thank you!!
We have indeed been working hard to make Conchas Chinas a better place, and I’m glad that you have noticed and that you are appreciative—and that you have taken the time to let us know.

This is a beautiful and prestigious community, and every day I am thankful that I live here. Honestly, however, we can do better. I would like not only for the Conchas Chinas community to be more beautiful and to operate more efficiently, but also to have more of a sense of community and cohesiveness.

The new board of the CCHA wants to enhance and improve the Conchas Chinas experience. The CCHA is in existence to maintain the colonia. You know what that entails: street repair, street light maintenance, gardening and beautification, and much more. However, in addition to keeping Conchas Chinas in good repair, I would like to provide more.

For 2021 we plan to issue a CCHA membership card to all homeowners who have paid the minimum requested and published dues. That means the amount due, per our membership dues form, for the size of your home. We will arrange with restaurants and businesses in Vallarta to offer discounts to card-carrying members. The card will also serve as a ticket to social events that we will begin to organize. Social events are not something that CCHA has previously offered, but in an effort to create more of a sense of community and neighborliness, we will begin hosting some events. I already have plans for a wine-tasting in the fall, and we will also, starting in 2021, have occasional cocktail parties, happy hours, and gatherings.

Some Conchas Chinas residents might not be interested in these social activities, but I believe that there are enough of us who are interested that it will prove to be fun and worthwhile. Here’s an example.

At the Annual Assembly in March—which was the most well-attended ever—there was a cocktail party afterward. The CCHA provided some great hors d’ouevres from Pulpito 116, and there was live music by Freddy Otelo (who was fantastic). And what happened? Many people stayed and drank wine and enjoyed the appetizers and the music; and it was more like a happy hour cocktail party than an after-meeting mixer. Condominio Club Alexandra was the venue, and they practically had to throw people out after a couple of hours. People were reluctant to leave because they were having such a good time. That proves to me that many Conchas Chinas residents would love more opportunities to get together and enjoy each other’s company.

On a different note, the CCHA will be unable to continue to provide the same level of services to non-members that we offer to paid members. We simply don’t have the money, because of the fact that not all homeowners pay CCHA dues, to do everything for everyone—even for those who don’t pay. We receive a lot of requests for assistance with various issues in the neighborhood, both from members and from non-members. From now on, the members will take precedence. Therefore, if you want to continue to fully benefit from the CCHA, and you haven’t yet paid your annual dues, please do so.

Paying members will also continue to receive this newsletter, as well as emails notifying you of issues in the neighborhood (road closures, dangerous potholes, etc.). Last year fewer homeowners paid their CCHA dues than in previous years. The CCHAsubsequently ran out of money, and many much-needed projects were not completed. Streetlights that had burned out or been damaged were not repaired, roads were not properly repaired, and debris stayed in the roads rather than being removed. Everyone living in Conchas Chinas benefits from what the CCHA does, and in order to operate more effectively and equitably we need for all homeowners to become members of the Conchas Chinas Homeowners Association.

Now let’s talk about security:
Oh, this ongoing issue of security. Conchas Chinas is a prime target—because we are a very affluent colonia, and because many homeowners are away much of the year, leaving their homes unoccupied and easier to break into. We try to get more police protection, and if we’re successful it might last for a short time, but soon things change. We will continue to work to have more police protection in Conchas Chinas, but it would be best to have additional methods of security, as well.

We have received reports from homeowners over the past few weeks of break-ins, robberies, attempted break-ins, and drug activity in our neighborhood. We have some of this on video. Additionally, we know that there are teenagers, bikers, and other people who don’t live in Conchas Chinas (and are not guests here) who come into the neighborhood at night to just hang out, drink, and enjoy the views—usually leaving their trash behind.

Anything additional that we do in the way of security will cost money: money that we definitely won’t have unless we get close to 100% membership. However, some residents have offered to donate money toward additional security. If we could collect money on a regular basis for a security fund, we would be able to provide the security services that we need. We have looked into prices, and it is definitely not a large expense—considering what most of us pay for security services outside Mexico.

Here are some options, Please let us know your opinion about this security matter: