The American Dream - A $5 Billion Project!

Betty Palmer8 said:None of that is actually going to happen—I don't buy it for a second.

It’s definitely going to happen, because:

The architectural plan for the 'American Dream' project involves some heavy hitters, including Daniel Libeskind—who worked on the new Twin Towers—along with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Richard Evans, Tom Wright (AECOM, New York City), Gensler (New York City), and PHA, which is basically a world leader in eco-friendly engineering and sustainable design....

source: http://vrime.com/news/Gospodarstvo/2...rvatske_vlasti

Once this kicks off, I guess it's almost impossible for the investment to fall through too (referring to my previous post
).

frozenheron35 said:It’s definitely going to happen, because:

The architectural plan for the 'American Dream' project involves some heavy hitters, including Daniel Libeskind—who worked on the new Twin Towers—along with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Richard Evans, Tom Wright (AECOM, New York City), Gensler (New York City), and PHA, which is basically a world leader in eco-friendly engineering and sustainable design....

source: http://vrime.com/news/Gospodarstvo/2...rvatske_vlasti

Once this kicks off, I guess it's almost impossible for the investment to fall through too (referring to my previous post
).

Look, I'm not strictly against it, but the whole thing feels a bit overambitious to me.

Besides, I believe we already have plenty of ways to draw in tourists—we just need to refine our offerings and extend the season.

Kudos to the architects, sure, but they aren't a guarantee that this project will actually get off the ground.

Betty Palmer8 Asks:
I mean, I'm not strictly against it, I guess. I don't know, it feels a little overambitious to me, I guess..

I mean, I think we've already got plenty of ways to draw people in. We probably just need to polish up the offerings a bit and find ways to stretch out the season.

Kudos to the architects, but I guess they aren't a guarantee that the project will actually happen.

Boldano, it’s not Betty Palmer8.
I guess I agree. We definitely have plenty to offer tourists already, but this project is really meant for the "one." Hey there!Maybe we'll see some more high-end guests around here. I guess.
I guess there are quite a few projects that never actually made it off the drawing board involving those architects and firms mentioned above. Maybe some just didn't pan out.

nimblescout50 said:I mean, if the name starts with "Cro," it’s basically mandatory—there isn't really any other way to go about it, is there?

🤣
The name was probably picked specifically to fit in back when the US Army Corps of Engineers slogan was "American paradise on earth"😁

The name is just plain ridiculous. They're building an entire new city from scratch only to call it... "American Dream" 😕

And they're using English 🤦 A city in America that uses an English name 🤦

nimblemarlin6 said:Does anyone actually know the deal with this Blagaić guy? It’s like he just materialized out of thin air as the producer for that "Last Will" movie starring Mr. Višnjić and Angelica Bridges. He was only 19 at the time—just a kid. How does a nineteen-year-old even land a gig like that, and more importantly, who was pulling the strings behind the scenes to make it happen?
And here's the real kicker: where did the money come from? 😁

He teamed up with people who had the right connections—or rather, their children did. They provided the capital and the influence, and the film got made. I won't comment on the quality of the movie, but the reality is that the debts from that production lingered for a very long time. Most of the former crew members don't speak highly of him; they felt used.

Then came the subsequent projects. VB would come up with an idea—essentially someone else would sketch it out for him—and then he’d start hitting the newspapers and TV stations. He knows how to light a fire under the public eye, but it's all smoke and mirrors. It's all about the branding.

Thanks to that media blitz, VB transformed himself into a serious player. He even managed to organize the Miami International Boat Show in San Francisco. That’s where he plays the part of the high-powered businessman, posing in designer clothes on luxury yachts. In reality, the project is funded by sponsors and the city, while VB just walks around looking like a model. He tried to pull Gordan Štrok into a deal involving luxury charters, but Štrok eventually realized that VB didn't have any skin in the game and that he'd end up footing the entire bill himself. Ultimately, Štrok backed out.

Now, look at this latest venture. VB isn't a nobody anymore. He’s presented as this successful young entrepreneur running a major nautical expo, a film producer, and a man who survived a few failed ventures (like his version of a "Santa Catalina Island Dubai"). He moves through these circles with a roadmap in hand, trying to reel in investors. His pitch is simple: he offers them connections and expertise, and in exchange, they provide the cash.

Most would say he’s selling nothing but hot air, but you have to admit, the man has guts. Personally, I think one of his ideas might actually land. If he pulls a standard 2% commission—or even 5% if they find the right contractors—VB could walk away with a massive payday. 😁

It looks like things have gotten a bit messy with the local authorities regarding this project.
Today's Daily News print edition covers all the drama in pretty great detail.

And here’s the craziest part:

A bomb threat actually cut short the debate over Blagaić's "American Dream"

frozenheron35 said:It’s definitely going to happen, because:

The architectural plan for the 'American Dream' project involves some heavy hitters, including Daniel Libeskind—who worked on the new Twin Towers—along with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Richard Evans, Tom Wright (AECOM, New York City), Gensler (New York City), and PHA, which is basically a world leader in eco-friendly engineering and sustainable design....

source: http://vrime.com/news/Gospodarstvo/2...rvatske_vlasti

Once this kicks off, I guess it's almost impossible for the investment to fall through too (referring to my previous post
).

These world-famous names are trying to sell us a Dubai replica disguised as the American Dream.

Instead of something original inspired by our own local architecture.

And once these kinds of dreams take over the world in a few years, all that will be left of our American Dream is steel and concrete.

I wouldn't buy it myself, but hey, to each their own.

Anthony Garcia19 said:These world-famous names are trying to sell us a Dubai replica disguised as the American Dream.

Instead of something original inspired by our own local architecture.

And once these kinds of dreams take over the world in a few years, all that will be left of our American Dream is steel and concrete.

I wouldn't buy it myself, but hey, to each their own.

When it comes to fighting big capital, you really only have a shot if you're playing with equal or even bigger money—otherwise, I guess failure is pretty much guaranteed.

We wanted capitalism, and well, we got it... sort of like how people jump on trends just because they see everyone else doing it.

Here we go again—another massive controversy that ultimately leads absolutely nowhere:

http://seebiz.eu/hr/tvrtke/guggenhei...%3f,81751.html

frozenheron35 said:When it comes to fighting big capital, you really only have a shot if you're playing with equal or even bigger money—otherwise, I guess failure is pretty much guaranteed.

We wanted capitalism, and well, we got it... sort of like how people jump on trends just because they see everyone else doing it.

True... but a frog is still a frog at the end of the day! It'll be better for everyone once it realizes that.

Just look at how the ultra-wealthy live today. You can see what actually draws elite guests. Real exclusivity isn't about seeing more of the same stuff, like glass skyscrapers and concrete beach strips; it's about being unique.

The problem is this crew just tweaks their old designs and tries to sell them off as something brand new. They'll try it wherever they can get away with it.

Betty Palmer8 said:Here we go again—another massive controversy that ultimately leads absolutely nowhere:

http://seebiz.eu/hr/tvrtke/guggenhei...%3f,81751.html

Now this is looking much more promising!

Anthony Garcia19 said:True... but a frog is still a frog at the end of the day! It'll be better for everyone once it realizes that.

Just look at how the ultra-wealthy live today. You can see what actually draws elite guests. Real exclusivity isn't about seeing more of the same stuff, like glass skyscrapers and concrete beach strips; it's about being unique.

The problem is this crew just tweaks their old designs and tries to sell them off as something brand new. They'll try it wherever they can get away with it.

I mean, I mostly agree, but ever since the "American-Adriatic Charter" www.hrt.hr/arhiv/2003/05/02/HRT0041.html, and joining NATO, that "frog" has basically become a protectorate for a super powerful partner. It feels more like a friendship between a mouse and an elephant now, I suppose.🙂
At this point, nothing is impossible anymore... not for the "frog"... and maybe not for the "mouse" either.😉

Betty Palmer8 said:Here we go again—another massive controversy that ultimately leads absolutely nowhere:

http://seebiz.eu/hr/tvrtke/guggenhei...%3f,81751.html

I caught a bit of this on TV last night. Some American American was on there apparently linking all of this back to Jakovcica, and he’s insisting that she (from the link) doesn't have a leg to stand on. 🤷

Anthony Garcia19 said:True... but a frog is still a frog at the end of the day! It'll be better for everyone once it realizes that.

Just look at how the ultra-wealthy live today. You can see what actually draws elite guests. Real exclusivity isn't about seeing more of the same stuff, like glass skyscrapers and concrete beach strips; it's about being unique.

The problem is this crew just tweaks their old designs and tries to sell them off as something brand new. They'll try it wherever they can get away with it.

If I were to say...

This project is basically building a slice of paradise. 🤷 People hunting for that perfect lifestyle in the islands are looking for one thing, but what they actually find is something else entirely. The real magic in this country is tucked away in those remote coastal spots and tiny island towns.

If small-town complexes and bad taste end up winning out over actual class—if we just settle for that Cinderella vibe because we think a little bit of flash is all we need—then we’re basically handing the keys to someone like Cajkac. You know the type: a total bimbo running those slot machine rackets. Even if she tries to sell us on some fake version of paradise, she won't make a dime. People might be struggling, but even if everyone chipped in what they could, it wouldn't be nearly enough to satisfy someone like that.

Even though I’m not from here, it honestly breaks my heart to think about such a stunning coastline being ruined by these tasteless eyesores just to cater to mass tourism.

And even if they pull it off... we’d just be looking at hordes of tourists who don't have much money to spend. Once you actually sit down and crunch the numbers on the environmental damage and the traffic jams, I just don't see how anyone could walk away with a profit.

Forget about the "blue flag" status. It doesn't mean a damn thing once the crowds start swarming in. ☕

If this is what we're talking about:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...atskisan03.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...atskiSan04.jpg

It’s definitely unique, but I guess it also feels a bit jarring, you know? To me, it just doesn't quite vibe with the natural surroundings where everything would be sitting.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream

How can you call it unique when it looks just like every other luxury resort already built around the globe?

Vicenco Blagaić speaks out after green light for the 'American Dream': Secretary Dropulić nearly derailed my life's work

I honestly can't decide whether to laugh or cry at the whole thing.🤣
....
.....
"We are talking about millions of dollars invested here.
If this project had stayed limited to just 75 acres, no major bank would have even looked at us; their own feasibility studies would have shown we were skating right on the edge of being unprofitable, and in this current economic climate, nobody has the stomach for even the slightest hint of risk...😂

So, how exactly do you plan to manage the financial and organizational side of things?
- Our plan is to establish several closed-end real estate funds, which could target anywhere from $100 million to $300 million during the initial phase of the American Dream—a project with a total projected value of $1.5 billion.

But let’s be real: what is the actual annual revenue and profit for your currently operating companies?
- Revenue isn't high yet because these primary development projects and their parent companies aren't generating income quite yet; however, the annual turnover for our other group affiliates was slightly north of $50 million in 2009, with profits sitting around $8 million...😂

And what about your actual skin in the game? How much have you already poured into the American Dream and how much land have you actually secured?
- I won't get into the specifics of that, but we have already sunk over $2 million into architects, scale models, trade shows, and workshops over the last few years alone.😂😂

Do you truly believe you can maintain majority ownership in a real estate fund worth up to $300 million?
- Yes. Let me repeat: we enter the fund by contributing the land, the finalized project plans, and our labor, alongside a portion of cash. There is a way for us to secure over 51 percent, and that is exactly what we intend to do.😂😂

Where did the capital come from for all this land acquisition and development work so far?
- It came from the profits of my various projects and companies over the last 15 years, bank loans, and proceeds from selling minority stakes to firms like AECOM and Bechtel.

How did those partnerships work out, and why does it look like you're parting ways with both AECOM and Bechtel now?
- AECOM was settled just last December through a compensatory project, and we will likely settle with Bechtel very soon as well, though that will need to be handled in cash.

Which brings me back to my point: where is that cash coming from for these payouts?
- We will likely use a bank loan to pay off Bechtel. And to that persistent question that follows me everywhere—“Where do you get the money?”—I always give the same answer: It’s easy to get things done when you’re flush with cash; the real art is getting things done when you don't have it and you have to use creative solutions to make the financial structure hold together.😂😂😂"

Anthony Garcia19 said:How can you call it unique when it looks just like every other luxury resort already built around the globe?

Okay, fine, I guess "unique" just means it's supposedly inspired by our local scenery. 😉
Luckily, it looks like Vicenco got shut down again, so this probably won't lead to anything—just like that massive project he had planned for Santa Catalina Island.

Honestly, this whole megalomaniac project feels like nothing more than a massive shell game designed to flip land for a quick profit through rezoning.

At the end of the day, nothing much will actually come of it—we’ll probably just be sitting there in a few years hearing someone say, "Well, the American Dream didn't quite pan out, but hey, at least we managed to build some golf courses."