Panama president Ricardo Martinelli this week officially launched a project to build two artificial islands for a luxury home development off the coast of Panama City.
Ocean Reef islands will create nearly 200,000 square meters of landfill as “a variety of home sites that redefines waterfront property is surrounded by a number of people living alone options for connoisseurs of luxury,” according to the site.
The hotel is located on the side of Punta Pacifica, is home to several new projects in the tower, the islands connected to two 160-meter bridges.
“Sounds kind of like a Dubai project doesn’t it,” Panama developer Sam Taliaferro writes on his blog.
The project has been discussed since 1997, and although there have been permit processes and alleged opportunities for public comment, the urban policy implications for this development have never been specifically and intelligently addressed by any elected officials, nor have they been the subject of any well publicized and well attended hearing.
President Martinelli said the development will “project confidence so that other investors will continue to carry out works that maintain Panama’s position as a nation with First World infrastructure.”
Here is a promotional video released in 2008 for the project: