The Road to Escucha.
AS MANY ADVENTURES BEGIN, I was in another world – swimming in the Evian-like water of a cenote near Tulum, Mexico, when it struck me that my life as I knew it would soon be over. That I wanted – at least metaphorically - to be able to swim in a cenote every day, not just for a week a year. So, I returned to San Francisco & began to change my life. Again.
Fast-forward 1 year. Now extricated from Propeller, my furniture & design showroom of 15 years, I traveled Mexico for several months interviewing cool town after cool town looking for the place to create my new life swimming in cenotes.
While looking at property, talking with realtors & people who owned in Mexico, noting the myriad challenges of building, owning & operating a 2nd home from afar, I questioned… is it worth the hassle?
I surmised: if I could minimize the hassle - like, if someone else would do most of it for me - then, yes, it would be worth it!
Then it hit me: I could be that someone for others.
In fact, I’d combine that with another idea I had, to create a beautiful place where people could live more socially and, free of the day-to-day hassles of property ownership.
After some exciting exploration my gut told me that the pueblo of San Pancho, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, was all one could want: a small town on the ocean, lush tropical jungle, interesting people, a vibrant music scene, good restaurants, surfing and, above all, a vibe.
Early-on I found an amazing property on the ocean but could not put together the right deal. So, I kept looking in & around San Pancho. And kept coming back to that first place as the One. With helpful people and a fair bit of perseverance, I was able to close the deal.
ESCUCHA NOW HAD THE PERFECT HOME.
In the years since I arrived, the Escucha concept has matured a bit, while its essence has remained firmly intact.
After a year of meeting architects from both Mexico & beyond, I settled on Benjamin Saxe, a Costa Rican architect known for his exceptional Tropical Modern design.
With the architectural structures now underway I began to consider the legal structure that would manifest the vision.
Living in this open-air palapa has informed the essence of Escucha
How would I engender Escucha’s social tenets & the hassle-free ownership while keeping it simple & familiar?
The Co-Op model promotes the kind of All-For-One owner mindset I was looking for but I felt that model limited future resale potential. I opted for the straightforward (cue the snickers) “Condo” as the legal foundation. Then, on top of that is the One-For-All management agreement containing the operational parts which make Escucha, Escucha. This way, if the owners ever desire to operate as a typical condominium, that option is available without complicated legal changes. Escucha gives you the gorgeous place to create. The One-For-All management concept gives you the freedom - of time and mind - necessary to create.
And so, here we are, 4 years later, looking for the final pieces: the 6 (other) owners who will complete Escucha.
Is that you?
Escucha - listen with all your senses.
San Pancho, Mexico