A few days ago we talked about the community around Centro Maya Mall. Today I want to tell you a little bit about the other major mall in Playa del Carmen – Plaza las Americas.
The area around the mall probably won’t be among the choices for most expats, yet the community is worth highlighting because it is currently being developed as the new commercial and civic center of the growing city. There are also a handful of nice condo developments that expats could viably consider as a residential purchase or investment.
The Mall
The mall itself is actually the most active and frequented in the city, seeing slightly more commercial success that Centro Maya. There is a big-screen movie theater, a modern supermarket, several banks (including Scotiabank,) furniture, jewelry and clothing shops, a restaurant and a food court as well as quite a number of knickknack shops. In the parking lot, there is a carwash. At the two main entrances, there are always little stands set up with about 50 flavors of delicious Mexican ice cream!
For anyone who likes gaming there is also a nice casino – the only one in the Riviera Maya.
The New City CenterÂ
Right across the street from the mall is the heart of the city’s new commercial and civic center. The location of the new city hall is there with a municipal theater and cultural center. Along the same stretch (all a walk from the mall) there is a new plaza with a Radio Shack, and Playa del Carmen’s second Walmart, along with an ever growing number of nice modern stores.
On another corner right across from the mall, a new pedestrian shopping plaza is going in, kind of upscale and natural; I get the feeling it will be similar to Plaza del Carmen down by Fifth Ave. and the ferry dock for anyone familiar with that area.
As you can tell, this will probably be a part of town where you’ll end up going sooner or later, and it’s very convenient for shopping with just about everything all a walk away.
It could also potentially be an option to buy a property. Coralline, which we mentioned in yesterday’s post, is a 5 minute drive away. There are also some nice condos with gated and secured entrance, pool, green spaces, etc. a walk away from all of these services, and there is a nicer development of lots and some comfortable homes just behind the mall.  The area is about a 10-15 minute drive from the beach, depending on exact location and how many red lights you get! But you’ll also notice that prices are significantly lower than close to the beach.
While it’d certainly be a pleasant community to live in, it could also be a good investment. With the emerging civic and commercial area, there is likely to be high demand for rent (mostly from the Mexican market.)
Whether you’d consider the area for lifestyle and investment or not, the community is an important one which will most certainly been a part of your life in Playa del Carmen!
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Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 16 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the president of Top Mexico Real Estate. Contact him at (512) 879-6546.
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