By Monique Stringfellow

Costa Blanca brings a billion dollar development to the Dominican Republic’s beautiful sandy shores.

Group Metro announced their development plan for the Dominican Republic’s Costa Blanca in May. The billion-dollar project is, by all indications, a resounding success. The property spans 300 acres of land in Juan Dolio, including three miles of amazing Caribbean shores. Part of the glorious coastline includes a half-mile of beachfront, blue lagoon property. There will be a megayacht marina with an attached village that will include luxury retail and commercial space, 10 condominium towers, 52 private villas, a tennis village, clubhouses for both tennis and golf, a secured, private beach, and the first signature Greg Norman PGA golf course in the country. To create the standout property, the developers have enlisted some of the best and the brightest architects and landscape architects.

The Dominican Republic is in the midst of a growing golf fever. Greg Norman had some insights into the burgeoning golfing industry in the Dominican Republic. “In many ways, golf and golf course design are economic indicators,” he explains. “We’ve seen it slow in the United States, but not in the rest of the world. New projects must have amenities that capture the imagination of everyone, and that is exactly what is taking place here.” As such, the structures that surround the green have been given special attention to ensure a nearly organic sense of seamlessness between the golf course and the surrounding villas. The villas themselves are feats of modern design, with open-air spacing and wraparound pools. Each condo has an unobstructed waterfront view. Utmost care has been taken at each step of the construction to ensure that the project is environmentally sound and has a positive effect on the region.

The property’s launch celebration took place over two days. The first day was capped by a VIP gala in the grand ballroom. The hosts spared no luxury or expense in creating a memorable evening for everyone who attended. Complete with a five-piece string quartet, Costa Blanca lounges, and a white décor theme to showcase the beach atmosphere and luxury of the project’s design, the grand event introduced 1,000 of the Dominican Republic’s VIPs and tastemakers to Costa Blanca.

Day two of the festivities commenced with a reunion of all the members of the Founder’s Club. This intimate club is made up of 52 elite individuals who secured reservations as the very first buyers at Costa Blanca. The event took place outdoors, under cover from beautiful white tents that were installed for the occasion. Over drinks and conversation, the founders surveyed plots of land that would be the sites of their future villas.

Being a member of the Founder’s Club does have some exclusive benefits. They were invited to secure a package that includes a private villa, two condominiums, a slip in the marina, golf membership for life, and private access to The Lighthouse Lounge and Clubhouse. Also, founders were able to choose the individual piece of land for their villa, as well as the condo units they desired, according to the order in which their reservation was received. With law firms onsite to advise and offer guidance, Costa Blanca closed almost $100 million dollars in sales on Saturday alone. With the resounding success of its opening weekend, Costa Blanca has proven two things: that the real estate market is still thriving, and that the Dominican Republic is one of today’s hottest investments.