Trinity Upbeat On PT19 Residency, Bandar Bukit Puchong

Trinity Towers Sdn Bhd is optimistic that the bungalows at its PT19 Residency development in Bandar Bukit Puchong will be fully taken up by August.

The development, comprising 24 units of three-storey garden villa bungalow, has achieved a 40% take up since its launch in March, said managing director Datuk Neoh Soo Keat.

“We have had buyers from Subang, Petaling Jaya, Bangi and within Puchong itself,” Neoh told StarBiz.

Located on two acres of 99-year leasehold land, the PT19 Residency project has a gross development value of RM20mil and is expected to be completed in 18 months.

The guarded and gated enclave would have round-the-clock CCTV surveillance and lush greenery surrounding the development.

The garden villas come in two types, comprising built-up areas of 3,529 sq ft and 3,588 sq ft with price tags ranging from RM848,000 to 877,000.

With readily available infrastructure and amenities, residents could enjoy the value of the development the moment they moved in, said Neoh.

“PT19 Residence is five minutes' away from shopping complexes like Giant, Tesco and Jusco. It is also directly connected to the NKVE and Kesas highway,” he added.

Neoh said people were impressed with the designs of the garden villas.

“Many people think Puchong is a very conventional area. Our designs are anything but conventional,” he said.

“It is also part of our philosophy to develop projects that have value and quality. We want our projects to be reputable developments."

PT Residency is the second project by Trinity Towers. Its first, a high-rise condominium, The Heron Residency, was launched in 2005 and has been fully taken up.

“Our Heron Residency project is located just next to PT19 and the value of the property has appreciated about 30% since its launch,” said Neoh. “We expect the value of our PT19 project to achieve an appreciation of up to 35% in three years,” he added.

Trinity Tower’s next project is a mixed development, Bandar Kinrara 9, situated near Bukit Jalil. “We hope to launch that project in August,” said Neoh.

Source: The Star. 02 June 2008

Puchong Hartamas Residents Satisfied With Developer's Efforts

Safety is an issue close to everyone’s heart and the 24-hour security system at Puchong Hartamas Kim Crest is definitely a pull factor that attracts house buyers.

They are happy that they can worry less about burglaries, break-ins, thefts and robberies in the neighbourhood with the hourly patrols and single entrance-cum-exit.

Businessman Chin Foo Heng said the tight security was what spurred him to move from Bandar Puchong Jaya to Puchong Hartamas early this year.

“My previous housing area was not as safe. Here, we once forgot to close the front door for the whole night and nothing happened,” he said.

Another house owner, Polly Lim Poh Lee, echoed Chin’s views.

“Since the neighbourhood is gated and guarded, we feel safe allowing our kids to play outdoors,” said the marketing manager who is the mother of two children.

Besides the security system, many of them were attracted by the tranquillity and cosiness of the neighbourhood near Bandar Puteri.

“It’s exclusive and quiet, while my previous neighbourhood was too crowded,” Chim Weng Cheong, who moved into Puchong Hartamas last month with his wife and one-year-old daughter, said.

“This is like a quiet place next to a bustling city and my tension from work disappears as soon as I come home to a relaxing environment,” Chin added.

Lim added that with the streetlights being turned on at night, the neighbourhood projects a totally different view and it is very attractive.

The owners find the house designs appealing too.

“The squarish living room and dining hall, as well as the staircase, are well designed. It’s clean-cut. The workmanship is good, too,” said Chim.

Kevin Phang, who has just moved into his new house in mid-April, said the house is spacious and can accommodate his parents, twin brother, his wife and himself.

He is also particularly satisfied with the developer’s quick response to rectify the minor defects.
“They are very helpful and they meet the customers’ needs,” the 32-year-old said.

There are 246 units - double-storey and 2½-storey link houses - in Puchong Hartamas Kim Crest.

House owners pay monthly fees for the security and cleanliness of the common area, which are carried out by a maintenance company appointed by the developer.

Source: The Star, 31 May 2008

Postcodes In Puchong Changed Last Year

The postcode change in Puchong was meant to facilitate easier identification of mail delivery borders and categorising of postmen, explained Pos Malaysia.

It is also said to enable developers of new housing areas to get their postcodes right.

Pos Malaysia Selangor deputy state manager and chief of mail operation Ab Aziz Othman said the restructuring of postcodes in Puchong was for the benefit of all as Puchong was becoming increasingly densely populated with the mushrooming of new developments and housing areas over the years.

“We had actually applied to our headquarters for approval for this restructuring exercise in April last year. Approval was given a month later, in May, and we immediately implemented the change,” said Ab Aziz.

Changes inevitable: Kow (left) and Ab Aziz showing the flyers that state the new postcodes for the residential areas in Puchong.

He said it had already been a year since the change was implemented and claimed that flyers were distributed to households to inform the residents of the exercise.

Pos Malaysia explained the change at a press conference called by the office of Seri Serdang assemblyman Datuk Satim Diman.

While Satim was not present at the meeting, his two special assistants Awtar Singh and Kuan Chee Heng were, as was former Kinrara assemblyman Dr Kow Cheong Wei.

Recently, groups of residents in Pusat Bandar Puchong were upset and expressed bewilderment over the change in the postcodes of their residential area, claiming that they had not been notified prior to the change.

They said the new postcodes were inconveniencing them as they would have to notify their banks and credit card companies, and were worried that their bank statements and letters would not reach them if the old postcodes were used.

Ab Aziz explained that the first two digits in a postcode indicated the state, while the last three digits indicated the mail delivery zone and the postman in charge of delivering the mail.

“Even if the postcode is the old one or a wrong one, as long as the recipient's address is correct, I can promise you that the mail will reach the correct destination.

“If the address is wrong but the word ‘Puchong’ is written, then we assure you that we will still try our best to find the place,” he told several residents who were present.

Asked why this matter was only brought up recently by residents when the change had been implemented a year ago, Ab Aziz said people might not have given much thought to the flyers distributed previously and only became aware of the exercise following the change in postcode digits on signages put up by the local councils.

He said the Selangor post management and headquarters had been closely monitoring the rapid development in Puchong before deciding to implement the exercise.

Asked whether the new postcodes were permanent or if there were more changes in the pipeline, Ab Aziz said he did not foresee changes in the short term.

Kow said Puchong had over 60 housing estates with more than 275,000 residents living in over 100,000 homes.
“Previously, things like credit cards and bank loans were not commonplace. However, over the years, with these things becoming commonplace, the volume of mail, too, has increased,” he said.

“Therefore, we have to accept upgrading, and this may take some time. It's inevitable although we know that some of us may face problems initially.”

He added that he never failed to meet up with Pos Malaysia officers every year to show them his gratitude and offer encouragement and support, which would in turn improve their productivity.

“So far, my service centre has also not received complaints from residents about loss of letters,” he said.

At present, there are a total of 74 delivery postmen in Puchong who have to deliver an average of over 60,000 mail items daily in the township.

Meanwhile, the change in postcode is said to be only a mechanism and not a bill that has to be gazetted.

Puchong branch delivery manager Anwar Kamirun also highlighted the obstacles faced by postmen daily when delivering mail.

Among them are the disturbance of stray dogs prowling the streets and pet dogs within house compounds but which are not leashed or are tied near the mailbox.

He also cited defective and improper mailboxes, into which the postmen had difficulty placing the letters.

“I sincerely hope that residents will cooperate with us so that postmen can handle their jobs more easily and quickly,” said Anwar.

Ab Aziz suggested that residents might want to start updating their new postcodes on computer and send letters to relevant agencies and authorities to notify them of the change.

“We will undoubtedly encounter complaints, but we will try to fulfil the demands that come with this change,” he said.
There are three post offices in Puchong, located in Puchong Perdana, Bukit Puchong and Tesco Puchong, and a mini post office in Giant at Bandar Puteri.

For more information, call 03-5519 8585. (The list of new Puchong postcodes was published in StarMetro on May 29.)

Source: Lim Chia Ying, The Star, 02 June 2008

Pearl Of Puchong

In the Klang Valley, there are a few locations that can do no wrong places where buyers will be willing to call home because of its centrality, accessibility and amenities.

Puchong in Selangor is such a place, having matured from its quarrying and estate past over the last two decades to become one of the most sought-after addresses for both first-time owners and upgraders.

Starting out as an area to satisfy basic housing needs, it has steadily evolved to match increasing affluence and expectations, and with the 82-acre Mutiara Indah by Ehsan Armada Sdn Bhd (EASB), buyers can look forward to living in a gated-and-guarded enclave loaded with space and resort-style overtones.

In the latest phase of the RM280 million development situated in the southeast of Puchong town centre, EASB, a subsidiary of public-listed Malton Bhd, has two types of houses available to suit different budgets.

At the sub-RM300,000 mark (from RM291,834 to be exact), it has 145 units of double-storey terraces with standard dimensions of 22ft by 70ft.

Inside, the units will come with four bedrooms inclusive of a private study and walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom, three bathrooms and separated dry and wet kitchens.

Built-up areas range from 2,089sq ft for an intermediate to 2,290sq ft for a corner.

With slightly more than twice the budget (from RM662,625), buyers can set their sights on one of the 24 units of two-and-a-halfstorey link bungalows fashioned from 48ft by 70ft of land.

These will accommodate two master bedrooms with premium en-suites and three bedrooms with deluxe en-suites in between 3,487sq ft and 3,812sq ft of space.

Buyers will also be entitled to the chance of putting a BMW 320i in their car porch.

Every bungalow includes "hisand- hers" wash basins in two bathrooms, a water filtration system, security alarm system, motion detector lights, automated main gate and three-phase power supply.

Aside from the terraces and bungalows, the other components of Mutiara Indah are 186 units of two- and two-and-a-halfstorey link semi-detached houses, 20 shop-offices, 118 link semidees and 39 superlinks.

Being developed on elevated land, the development is accessible to Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya via the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), the Shah Alam Expressway, the North-South Central Link and the South Klang Valley Expressway.

Within a 5km radius of it are institutions of higher education, banks, hypermarkets, shopping malls, entertainment outlets and golfing greens, while its neighbours include the ongoing townships of Taman Bukit Puchong, Saujana Puchong and Equine Park.

Cyberjaya and Putrajaya are 15 minutes away.

Source: NST, 22 October 2007

Lake Edge Sets New Benchmark For Resort Living

SOME property developers are like magicians. Like magicians who can turn a toad into a prince, developers such as YTL Land & Development Bhd can also transform a 100-acre leasehold land beside a former mining lake in Puchong into a fairly high-end residential enclave called the Lake Edge.

The name is apt as this gated and guarded community is beside a former mining pond where part of it has been turned into a nice park.

It is a quiet haven, cloistered from bustling Puchong where the Tesco hypermarket is a mere stone's throw away.

Indeed the Lake Edge has been transformed beyond recognition into the best residential development in Puchong!

Gurkha guards check on everyone at the guardhouse. The state-of-the-art security with perimeter fencing and panic buttons in every house also give residents peace of mind.

Unlike some neighbouring projects that still adopt conventional designs, the Lake Edge houses are all landed and “speak” the same architectural language featuring a collection of courtyard, terrace, semi-detached homes and bungalows, all with clean-cut designs and wide-open windows in a pleasant surrounding.

For example, there are broad curved streets to promote a safe environment for residents particularly children, thus creating a picturesque effect.

The Water Edge (a chic waterfront esplanade with a skate park, water promenade, and nice playground equipment) and Linear Park (meandering forest footpath, spice garden, and reflexology trail) all foster healthy living and a peaceful environment.

A modern clubhouse, completed about a year ago, now stands beside the lake. The moderate size clubhouse is for the residents' exclusive use. It boasts of a nice swimming pool, a cafe on the first floor and tennis and basketball courts.

Behind is a big open space planted with trees, children's playground, boardwalk, jogging track and a row of 33 units of Promenade Terraces houses overlooking a small lake.

These 24ft x 85ft houses with 3,430 sq ft built-up area were completed last October and the last few units are being offered for sale from RM799,000. The 350 sq ft master bedroom on the top floor has an attached bathroom, and an exotic outdoor shower area.

Some of the purchasers have also moved into their Pavilion (37 units) and Garden Terraces (47 units) 22ft x 100ft homes. They were handed over around last July.

When these 4+1-room, 2½-storey houses were launched a few years ago, they drew many people with their innovative concepts.

Buyers are offered a choice of a spacious living room (housed in a pavilion) overlooking a 20ft private back garden for the Pavilion Terraces (RM680,000/3,186 sq ft built-up) where the Phase 1 units have been sold out and an outdoor jacuzzi for the Garden Terraces (from RM582,000/3,117 sq ft).

Both types have 4+1 rooms. Prices of some of the houses are said to have gone up by 50%.

The first to be launched were the 192 units of two-storey 24ft x 85ft Courtyard Homes. Phase 1 that was sold out within three days of official launch in April 2004 was completed in January 2006.

They have two built-up sizes of 2,583 sq ft and 2,560 sq ft and were priced from RM380,000 to RM788,000.

Everything looks fine except the rubbish compartment that is rather small. YTL Land should perhaps plant some tall pine trees so that they could serve as a natural boundary and partly block the not-so-nice view of other housing projects.

The developer Pakatan Perakbina Sdn Bhd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of YTL Land) will be launching the Parkville, an exclusive collection of eight semi-detached houses and eight bungalows.

The 5+1-room, 50ft x 90ft semi-detached house will have 4,102 sq ft built-up area. Meanwhile, the 6+1-room bungalow will have lot size of 60ft x 93ft and 60ft x 103 ft and built-up areas of 5,187 sq ft and 5,194 sq ft respectively.
“We have not decided on the pricing yet as we plan to sell them only after their completion,” said YTL Land executive director Datuk Yeoh Seok Kian, who showed work in progress on one of the bungalows that come with Egyptian marble slabs, Burmese teak strips and metal roof trusses.

The good thing about the Lake Edge, as Yeoh pointed out, is that buyers must abide by a strict set of rules and could not renovate, as they like. They cannot, for instance, change the house's facade or colour or build a high wall. This will ultimately protect property values.

Yeoh said 50 units of the 2½-storey semi-detached houses, called the Waterville, might be launched in February 2008.

Each of these houses will have their own lap pool!

Source: The Star, 21 May 2007

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High Demand Seen For Commercial Space

There is robust demand for commercial space in Southern Klang Valley but inadequate supply of quality commercial space.

With the increasing land value in the central business district of the Golden Triangle, buyers are slowly moving from the KL city centre to some areas outside the city.

Reapfield Properties Sdn Bhd corporate services head David Wong said the upcoming commercial projects in Puchong included the SetiaWalk project by SP Setia Bhd, expansion of the IOI Mall by IOI Properties Bhd as well as a mixed development project that would include office towers and shophouses in Bandar Puteri near the Giant hypermarket.

SetiaWalk, located on 20.8 acres in the mature township of Pusat Bandar Puchong, is one of the main commercial projects in Puchong. At its soft launch, 57 shop office units were sold.

PPC International Sdn Bhd Thiruselvam Arumugam said Puchong was an area with limited commercial development projects.

Most of its commercial developments centre along Jalan Puchong in Bandar Puchong Jaya and focus on sundry businesses.

He said the Giant hypermarket in Bandar Kinrara, Tesco hypermarket in Pusat Bandar Puchong and IOI Mall Puchong were among the significant commercial buildings in Puchong that drew in the crowd to the area.

Shopping malls such as the Alamanda Putrajaya, Jusco Equine Park and Subang Parade have continued to receive good occupation and rental prices. In Seri Kembangan, Equine Park was the only dominant commercial project, said Wong, adding that there was no upcoming commercial development in the area.

Demand for corporate offices was lower in Seri Kembangan than for retail shops.

Developers are competing to launch high-end condominium projects in Subang on commercial-titled lands.

According to Wong, there is a trend to build commercial buildings within five km from the KL city centre.

However, there would be a limit to the supply of commercial buildings in Southern Klang Valley as there was limited demand for corporate offices beyond this five km fringe, he said.

Source: The Star, 28 April 2008

Puchong Developments Going Up-Market

WITH property prices in the developed areas of Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya having appreciated sharply, young families who are keen to own landed properties but face limited budgets are venturing into the Klang Valley's southern corridor. This is especially in the popular Puchong neighbourhood.

“From standard terrace units and high-rise apartments, Puchong folks have since graduated to high-end homes such as semi-Ds and bungalows set within themed gardens and landscaped environment as well as upmarket condominiums with all the trappings of modern luxury,” SP Setia Bhd group managing director Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said.

He said that as developments moved further away, developers were compelled to stand out from the clutter and market their offerings with value-added features and innovative designs to woo buyers who didn’t mind a slightly longer drive as long as the new development offered more enticing proposition.

Property consultants said rising land prices in central Klang Valley had spurred property buyers to look for better bargains in the southern corridor that still had relatively affordable properties to offer.

“With house prices having climbed in other areas, neighbourhoods like Puchong, Seri Kembangan and other parts of the southern corridor are becoming more popular for those looking for more affordable housing,” said PPC International Sdn Bhd executive director Thiruselvam Arumugam.

SK Brothers Realty (M) Sdn Bhd general manager Chan Ai Cheng said the southern corridor was a good area for developing landed housing units such as double terrace houses, semi-detached units and bungalows for families.
She said transaction prices of property had also shown steady growth over the years.

“People normally buy the properties in Southern Klang Valley for own stay,” she added.

According to Chan, there is a good mix of buyers in the area in terms of race and income.

Double-storey terrace houses in prominent existing projects such as Putra Heights, Bandar Puteri, Bandar Bukit Jalil, Taman Puncak Jalil, Bandar Kinrara and Bandar Puchong Jaya are sold from RM200,000 to RM750,000.

Thiruselvam said the rental for a standard double storey terrace house in these areas ranged from RM400 to RM2,000 per month.

He said the rental appreciated only by 2% to 3%, whereas capital appreciation for houses was good with prices rising 100% over the past decade.

According to him, Southern Klang Valley units are mainly for residence, rather than bought for speculation or investment.

Reapfield Properties Sdn Bhd president David Ong said the main draw to Southern Klang Valley was affordable house prices although factors such as value investing and property speculation could not be easily discounted.

“Prices of houses have peaked significantly in the central region of the Klang Valley, giving rise to an outward flow of the purchasing population to both the north and south of the Klang Valley,” he said.

Many buyers have sought investment opportunities by purchasing large bungalow plots, bungalows and semi-detached homes in this area on expectation that prices will increase significantly over the course of the next decade.
“While property prices can be said to be affordable or cheaper here than in the prime city areas, the high petrol prices and higher toll rates have started to cause a reverse migration effect,” Ong said.

Many buyers who bought in the fringe or secondary areas of the Klang Valley are starting to drift slowly back to the city as the benefits of lower housing instalments become significantly offset by higher price of fuel and toll rates.

“It now makes sense to some people to buy smaller apartments or flats in strong city locations rather than pay for cheaper houses outside central Klang Valley but end up bearing increased living expenses via higher fuel prices and increasing toll rates,” he said.

Source: The Star, 28 April 2008

The Draw Of Southern Corridor

The Klang Valley's southern corridor is growing rapidly, with the landscape going through dynamic changes over the last decade. More trendy residential and commercial projects can be expected.

THE Klang Valley's southern corridor is set for more activities as developers and property investors continue to see good upside potential in the bustling corridor.

Until a few years ago, it was one of the few corridors in the Klang Valley that had large tracts of estate land that were suitable for property development. But in the past decade many new townships and projects have emerged.

However, with building activities increasing in the past decade, sizeable pieces of land are not easy to come by these days. As land sizes shrank, the cost of land has escalated.

Land prices in Cyberjaya and Putrajaya have risen to between RM25 and RM100 per sq ft (psf), depending on location, from less than RM10 psf about eight years ago.

Developers who have the foresight to lock in vast tracts of land here have secured “goldmines” and went on to reap a fortune from their developments.

Key property developers in the robust southern corridor include IOI Properties Bhd, SP Setia Bhd, Island & Peninsular Bhd, Bukit Hitam Development Sdn Bhd, Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd and Setia Haruman Sdn Bhd.

According to IOI Properties director Datuk David Tan, the large land tracts have enabled the development of well planned integrated townships with good infrastructure, commercial hubs, modern amenities, employment opportunities and secure neighbourhoods in the corridor.

“The southern corridor has proven to be a preferred choice with its high accessibility, modern infrastructure and employment opportunities,” Tan said.

The pull of the corridor has been further enhanced with the good road network including the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), North South Expressway Central Link (Elite), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), KL-Putrajaya dedicated highway and the North-South Expressway.

Stretching from Puchong and Seri Kembangan to Sepang, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, remarkable growth in the form of new townships and infrastructure network, have spawned many new opportunities.

“The pull of Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, KL International Airport and Sepang International Circuit remains strong, and this has contributed to Klang Valley's new centre of gravity moving southwards towards Sepang.

“The northern part of Sepang that covers Cyberjaya and Putrajaya will experience a faster growth rate, especially with the completion of the SKVE project and the dedicated Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Highway that was completed last December.

“Within the next three to five years, the growth in this corridor will continue to outpace other parts of the Klang Valley,” Tan added.

SP Setia Bhd group managing director Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said that based on the draft local plan, Puchong could look forward to more exciting times as an estimated RM3.1bil was expected to be pumped in for infrastructure improvement by the local council over the next 12 years.

“Among the facilities and amenities that residents can expect in the near future are the proposed Puchong light rail transit station and a RM10mil international camping site at the gazetted Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve,” Liew said.
He said Puchong was at the forefront of the transformation of the southern corridor with a rapidly expanding population, which is estimated at 250,000 today.

The completion of highway networks has largely elevated Puchong into one of the fast-growing centres in the corridor.
Tan said that under the Selangor Structure Plan, parts of the southern districts of Sepang and Kuala Langat had been designated as Klang Valley 2.

Klang Valley 2 encompasses the federal administrative capital of Putrajaya and the information and communications technology-centred Cyberjaya on one end, and the KLIA and Sepang F1 racing circuit on the other. It also includes the area along the coast north of Sepang GoldCoast as far as Morib.

“It is a worthwhile initiative to ensure more well-planned developments, both residential and commercial, whereby private developers will complement the efforts of the public sector to further enhance the vibrancy of the corridor.
“To ensure more quality lifestyle for the people, Klang Valley 2 should avoid the problems of the existing Klang Valley and provide the right environment for living, recreation, education and work,” Tan said.

Source: Angie Ng & Shannen Wong, The Star

Residential Property Prices & Rental Rising

The many developments that have sprouted in the southern corridor have given a boost to property values. These developments range from townships and niche residential enclaves in Puchong, Bandar Kinrara and Seri Kembangan to the intelligent cities of Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

Zerin Properties chief executive officer Previndran Singhe said that in the past five years, prices of residential properties had appreciated by at least 30% to 40% while rental rates in Cyberjaya were more than RM4.00 per sq ft.

With Puchong fast transforming into a robust residential and commercial address, the iconic Putrajaya and Cyberjaya cities are in line to see a boom next.

The federal administrative capital of Putrajaya with the advantage of a well thought-out master plan incorporating the best of what technology and nature have to offer has shaped up as the country's first intelligent garden city.

The city also benefits from first-class amenities such as the Garden International School, Alamanda Shopping Centre and a medical centre.

Cyberjaya is also shaping up well as a world-class intelligent city for international information and communications technology (ICT) enterprises, complete with residential and commercial enclaves.

IOI Properties Bhd director Datuk David Tan said the garden concept of Putrajaya and Cyberjaya was setting the tone for development in the other parts of the southern corridor with more inclination towards modern aesthetic buildings with lush landscaping.

IOI Properties, which is one of the pioneer property companies that have made it big in the southern corridor, notably Puchong in the early 1990s, still believes in the corridor’s potential.

According to Tan, the company's developments in the Klang Valley have been moving southwards, stretching from Taman Mayang in Petaling Jaya to Bandar Puchong Jaya and Bandar Puteri Puchong.

Having built the 926-acre Bandar Puchong Jaya and 930-acre Bandar Puteri Puchong, the company has gone on to develop the IOI Resort City on 788 acres on the fringe of Putrajaya.

Tan said the next project lined up would be Sierra Puteri on 550 acres at the entrance to Cyberjaya, which has direct access from the LDP-Serdang Interchange.

“Sierra Puteri has been carefully planned after taking into consideration the needs of house buyers. We have gained valuable feedback from our buyers and have new concepts and ideas on housing and environmental designs that will fulfil their more discerning expectations,” he added.

Earthworks for the new township have been completed and infrastructure work is in progress now. Sierra Puteri will comprise terrace and semi-detached houses, bungalows and apartments as well as a town centre fronting the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) and South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE).

In Puchong, IOI Properties will be launching IOI Boulevard comprising retail/office blocks with lifts and basement carparks next month.

Coming up next will be the Puchong Financial Corporate Centre (PFCC) in Bandar Puteri Puchong comprising Class A office buildings.

At the IOI Resort, which still has 540 acres available for development, plans are underway to build lake-front offices fronting the main entrance into Putrajaya; exclusive bungalows in Diamond Hill that overlook the scenic Putrajaya views; a mega shopping mall and office buildings along the SKVE; and condominiums.

At IOI Resort's Beverly Row, 80 exclusive bungalows will be built for long-term lease to corporate clientele. So far, 37 bungalows have been completed.

SP Setia group managing director and chief executive officer Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said that with the sophisticated population flocking to Puchong from all parts of the Klang Valley, “the time is ripe for more commercial action in the area.”

SP Setia Bhd's 700-acre Pusat Bandar Puchong has grown into a mature township with 8,000 units of properties and a population of some 32,000.

“Our next challenge is to change the face of Puchong with a niche commercial project, SetiaWalk, that will revolutionise the people's lifestyle experience. The integrated residential and commercial development comprising retail blocks, offices, an entertainment complex, service apartments and residential apartments will appeal to the trend-conscious younger clientele.

“SetiaWalk is set to combine all the elements of live, learn, work and play through a seamless blend of astute planning, imaginative architecture and creative landscaping,” Liew said.

In Putrajaya, SP Setia's associate Setia Putrajaya Sdn Bhd is developing Precincts 9 and 15.

Park Village - a high-end residential private condominium villa complex within a secure, gated compound – will be launched in Precinct 15 in the third quarter of this year.

The project comprising 120 luxury villas in the sky will incorporate contemporary tropical designs.

Source: The Star, 28 April 2008

Culvert At 8th Mile Jalan Puchong To Be Widened

THE flood problem affecting Jalan Puchong residents will come to an end soon, with the widening of a culvert.

Former Kinrara assemblyman Dr Kow Cheong Wei, who initiated the project, said the current 3m-wide culvert at the 8th mile of Jalan Puchong was built in 1974, and it would be replaced by a 9.5m-wide one.

“Flash floods that hit the area during heavy downpours have been occurring since 2005 when water from Lebuhraya Bukit Jalil was directed to flow into Bandar Kinrara Section 3, causing the water volume in this culvert to increase by at least half,” he said.

This project was first mooted to the Public Works Department (JKR) in 2006 and was approved in December last year. It is expected to be completed by November this year.

Source of problem: Kow (third from right), Puchong MCA division chairman Wong Hock Aun (second from left) and other MCA members at the construction site at Jalan Puchong.

“Besides this new culvert which is 70m long, 300m of side drains along Jalan Puchong will also be rebuilt,” said Kow.
As traffic along this particular stretch of road would be obstructed for the time being, Perunding Aidid Sdn Bhd project manager Jorafozi Ruhmat said the road shoulders would be turned into temporary roads.

“Currently, there are four lanes of dual-flow traffic and this will remain when we occupy the road shoulders later.

“Residents can also try to avoid Jalan Puchong by using the inner roads in the housing areas nearby,” he said.

Kow urged the related parties involved – including Telekom, Syabas and Bomba – to give their cooperation to ensure the success of the project.

“The construction works were delayed as some of them hadn't submitted the relevant reports to us,” he said.

He added that once the project was completed, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) would be able to start widening the monsoon drain which flows through Taman Kinrara Section 2 before joining the Klang River.

“The works should commence this year to curb the flood problem,” said Kow.

He also urged the Selangor government to release the promised RM4.5mil allocated for this project as they had received only RM3.07mil so far.

“Besides the physical construction, we also need to take into account many other aspects, such as road safety,” he said.

Source: Thio Xin Yi, The Star

Setia Walk Set To Transform Puchong

Located on 20.8 acres in the matured township of Pusat Bandar Puchong, the project enjoys good frontage and visibility to the LDP and Jalan Wawasan, the township's main thoroughfare. At the recent soft launch of the shop offices, 57 units were sold. Phase two will comprise the hotel, entertainment complex and an office tower. The apartments will be built under phase three.

Liew said with projected rental of RM15 to RM16 per sq ft for the shop offices and RM8 per sq ft for space in the entertainment complex, property owners could expect annual rental yields of 10%.

“While preference would be given to owner occupiers, we are going the extra mile to provide pre-leasing services to match the owners with the right tenants.

“Our dedicated pre-leasing team has identified a list of potential suitors to be matched with the buyers to ensure a vibrant tenancy mix and add value to the entire development,” he added. For the office space, the company is targeting investors and owner-occupiers such as consultancy firms and clinics. Explaining the concept of the commercial component, Liew said it would have three main zones - active zone (child development centre, play-zones and children-centric products); sanctuary zone (fine dining, spa and beauty care centres) and the escape zone (ideal for relaxing and unwinding with alfresco dining, cafes and bistro). The business hotel and entertainment complex will be the anchors on both ends of the commercial precinct. The entertainment complex with over 300,000 sq ft of gross lettable area will have cineplexes, bowling alleys and karaoke lounges.

Liew said the many attractions and experiences would make Setia Walk ideal for families and businesses. Among the value added features provided for the business operators and customers are round-the-clock security, two-level basement parking, elevator and escalator access and pedestrian-only walkways. Lush landscaped pedestrian areas will link the activity nodes while soothing waterways complete with children-friendly facilities will form the central spine of Setia Walk. The water features consist of water jets, fountain, water column, cascading waterfall, sand dunes, wading pool and modern sculptures.

Meanwhile, home seekers in search of a refreshing and unconventional lifestyle should consider the residences at Setia Walk that come complete with facilities. There are three, 27-storey blocks comprising 759 apartment units that are priced from RM210,000. There are also 46 units of small office home office (Soho).

As the site is just opposite the proposed new light rail transit station for Puchong, the market response for the residential units looks promising.

Source: Angie Ng, The Star