What's New & Enterprising
Villas de Candelaria (Mar 24, 2006)
©2006 by Linda Lowery, photos by Lander Rodríguez

PHOTOS CAPTION Gisela Zavala, Nancy Howze, Jim Dolan, and Ann Dolan in the Villas de Candelaria Sales Office When Angélica Argüelles decided to go back to school in 2003 for a university degree, she went to her boss to discuss a change in her work schedule.

She was feeling a bit intimidated. After all, she's in the construction business, traditionally not the easiest industry for a young Mexican woman, plus her boss also happens to be a former US Army Green Beret.

"He asked me all about what I would be studying," says Argüelles, now 25 years old. "When I told him business administration, he said he wanted to help pay for my education. I was so happy, I almost started crying."

Her boss, Jim Dolan of Dolan Development, has more than a few grateful San Miguel staffers whose continuing education is completely paid for, as long as they report to him every four months on their educational progress and maintain B averages. In all, Dolan employs about 150 local workers on his projects, 15 of them in management positions. 

He is passionate about educating both himself and his staff on state-of-the-art materials and methods to integrate with the artistry of time-honored construction skills. In 2005, he took seven staffers to the Orlando International Builders' Expo. A few years ago, he took a government delegation of key local decision-makers to Germany to learn about the latest waste management technology.

Along with partner Nick Coates, Dolan incorporates what he learns into his construction projects here in Mexico. He acquired a special cement recipe from Cemex engineers, who've studied which natural components combine to create the strongest product. The mix includes sand from Toluca, water from Querétaro, and craftsmanship from skilled San Miguel albañiles (masons).

Villas de Candelaria is the current jewel of the Dolan and Coates building ventures, a collection of 30 grand villas in progress three miles (10 minutes) north of town. They purchased the land from the original 500-acre Candelaria spread, so that area now integrates two separate opportunities to enjoy the country environment. Each of the elegant casas at Villas de Candelaria has a different, dramatic view of the countryside and the Picachos range of the Sierra Madre mountains. The ambiance of the entire landscaped setting is breathtaking, restful and splendidly rustic. 

"We wanted these homes to maintain that signature San Miguel style, to prompt the question: "What's behind all those beautiful closed doors?'" says Nancy Howze, a Candelaria homeowner, sales manager and gracious hostess to all Villa visitors. Exterior stone columns, archways, hand-tooled hardware and carved fountains create that familiar San Miguel mystery: Are these well-preserved homes that were built 400 years ago, or are they brand-new construction? Behind the doors, interior spaces are grand. 

Architectural features are masterfully planned so that every room is a sanctuary. Soft breezes waft through interior courtyard gardens. Artisanal tiles, ironwork and ancient abbey windows blend with modern amenities such as preinstalled sound systems, ventless fireplaces and falling-water pools. The sky-lit bathrooms are havens, with massive mirrors, carved stone sinks atop high-fired tile counters and deep soaking tubs framed by columns.

The colors are buffed suede, tuscan olive, terra-cotta red and tobacco. Designer Rachel Horn of Finca Design (at Fábrica La Aurora) uses natural tones and textures to decorate the interiors. Going for what she calls a "rustic rather than traditional" feel, Horn chooses carved four-poster beds and soft fabrics to harmonize with the copper lanterns, stone fireplaces and wrought-iron hardware. 

"In Mexico, there are a million choices for every door, every cabinet, every knob," says Howze, who lived in Centro for seven years before moving to Candelaria. One morning's browse through Dolores Hidalgo can throw a perfectly organized person into a state of crazed confusion. Too many choices. Howze helps simplify the process for buyers. Home designs and interior decor elements are limited to workable options. 

Nick Coates credits the premium-quality villa details-such as stainless-steel kitchen appliances that blend seamlessly with distressed cabinetry and "infinitely adjustable" bookshelves-to the freedom and flexibility of Mexican artisans. At age 75, Coates commands the helm as if he's 45, when he was knee-deep in Aspen snow, orchestrating developments in that Colorado ski resort. 

Miguel Bautista, CFO for Dolan Development discusses Villas de Candelaria project in Tuesday morning team meeting  "A Mexican contractor never says no," explains Coates. "It's always ¡Claro que sí!"

The emphasis on environmental issues has traveled south across the Rio Grande with the many newer, more savvy homeowners. Their natural choices are also the choices at Candelaria, where 36 acres of green space surround the villa sites. The many eco-friendly features include xeriscaped gardens, recycled tejas roof tiles, and a $200,000 underground water treatment system that uses black and gray water from the fountains, pools and drains of the homes to feed the grassy areas around the racquet club.

"We only manipulate the earth where the foundation slab is laid," explains Howze. In most new developments, builders raze the land. Here, there is a natural undulating landscape between homes. "We try to leave beautiful old growth, like cacti and mesquite," adds Howze. "Once you've taken it out, you can't put it back." 

Howze is a country spirit at heart. "I loved living in town, but my soul longed for vast vistas, that big sky," she says. "Every night, when the moon rises over those mountains, it's pure magic." 

For some, the very idea of a "gated community" conjures up thoughts of a separation of cultures, an isolation of lifestyles. A visit with owners and staffers at Candelaria might shake that preconception. If "location, location" is the key to a smart property purchase, then at Candelaria the key to success is "teamwork, teamwork." 

"Here, there's no such thing as 'It's not my job,'" says Coates. "If you see a piece of paper on the ground, you pick it up." 

There's a teamwork meeting scheduled every Tuesday, a new concept for many locals. All top employees have radios to keep in contact. As a team, they adopted a Feed the Hungry kitchen.

Around Villas de Candelaria, you hear a lot of "I couldn't do it without the help of …" comments. Coates can't do it without the flexible, cooperative attitude of the Mexican artesans. Howze can't do it without her sweet and tough on-the-spot assistant, Erika Mendoza. 

"I couldn't have done it without Jim," says Angie Argüelles, referring to her studies at the University of León, where she's now in her third term.

Dolan: "My best days are when one of my staff comes to me, wanting to continue their education. I do what I say I'll do. They do what they say they'll do." And everybody wins.

Nancy Howze extends an invitation to San Miguel visitors and residents to join her for a Candelaria Country Evening this Thursday, March 30. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served in a villa decorated by Rachel Horn. All views of mountains, fields and sky are included. A driving map can be found in the advertisement on page 61 of this edition of Atención.


VILLAS DE CANDELARIA cordially invites you to A CANDELARIA COUNTRY EVENING, Wine-and-cheese tasting
Calle Vista Los Picachos #9 
Villas de Candelaria
Thursday, March 30
4pm to 7pm
Phone: 044-415-103-0585
www.villasdecandelaria.com