Freehold project located next to Bukit Lanjan Forest Reserve

New phases: Low (right) and Ferdaus with the scaled models of Damansara Foresta.

With the scarcity of land in Selangor and especially in the greater Petaling Jaya, condominium dwellers don’t have the luxury of being surrounded by a green lung or natural environment. But now they will, with the ongoing freehold residential development of Damansara Foresta, being developed by Land & General Bhd in Bandar Sri Damansara.

Positioned as freehold “residential homes within nature”, this project is located next to the Bukit Lanjan Forest Reserve.

The overall project site consists of 17ha whereby only 8.5ha will be developed for residential development, leaving the remaining half as green lung especially for residents.

“The land area will be filled with no less than 3,000 trees to filter out city noises and airborne pollutants and supply natural fresh air,” said the company’s managing director Low Gay Teck.

The prime development will have good access to all parts of the Klang Valley via the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), MRR2, New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) and Sprint Highway.

Phase 1 of the project consists of four blocks ranging from 227 to 327 units for each block. The unit size ranges from 1,400 to 1,600 sq ft to a luxurious penthouse of above 3,000 sq ft.

The selling price for Phase 1 ranges from RM500 to RM600 psf with a maintenance fee of 25 sen psf.

“We have sold 99% of Block 1 and 95% of Block 2. Our theme is to provide living in harmony with nature.

“We are now constructing Phase 1 which consists of four blocks of condos on a 6.9ha site. Registration is now open for the third block and the official launch will be held this month,” he added.

Within the vicinity, the residents of Damansara Foresta will also enjoy a natural park as well as other facilities including a jungle trek, hammock garden, tree house, camping site, lookout points and yoga zone.

There will be a three-tier security system comprising the main entrance guardhouse, a guard at the lobby area and access card security in the elevator as well as two parking bays for each unit.

“For Phase 1, residents can enjoy a big swimming pool, roof-top garden on each block, hanging bridges and pergolas.

“As a developer, we strive to provide functionality, accessibility and practicality. Therefore, every level of the condo will be accessible from the parking ramp for added convenience.”

The units come with a spacious living room.

“We spend a lot of time designing the units so residents can enjoy a luxurious space for living in an efficient manner. It gives them a sense of spaciousness,” said Low.

The company’s executive director Ferdaus Mahmood said the entire property was 180 metres above sea level.

“We’re selling lifestyle. Each unit comes with kitchen cabinets and air-conditioning points too,” said Ferdaus.

For all the four phases, a total of 2,700 units will be built. Phase 1 has 928 units.

By The Star

Hua Yang to focus on Malaysian market for now

KUALA LUMPUR: Property developer Hua Yang Bhd, will explore the overseas market when the company achieves its targeted RM800 million revenue in the next few years, says chief executive officer Ho Wen Yan.

"We hope to grow our revenue to RM800 million by 2018. By then, we will be at a comfortable size and can start looking for opportunities overseas or other high-end segments," he said.

For the nine-month period ended December 31 2011, Hua Yang's revenue was RM222.13 million.

Ho said the company could bring its affordable housing model and technical expertise to emerging markets like Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.

"Currently, venturing overseas is not in our plan, not within the next three years. The Malaysian market is still very strong, especially for our segment, the affordable housing.

"After three years, we will take a look. I hope these countries are ready for foreign investors then. We are now exploring opportunities," he said.

On the domestic front, Hua Yang plans to launch its next township "Pulai Hijauan" in Johor in April or May.

"Everything is ready now for the official launch of the township," Ho said.

Pulai Hijauan, with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM380 million, is about a kilometre from the company's existing township, Taman Pulai Indah, in Skudai.

Ho said the total GDV for the company's ongoing projects and yet-to-be-developed ones was RM2.4 billion. Of this, the GDV for ongoing projects is about RM983 million.

By Bernama

Sime Darby Property honoured for sustainable development efforts

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Property Bhd has won two awards for outstanding achievements in the property development sector in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

It bagged the BCI Asia Awards 2011, the second consecutive year that it has won the honour. The award covers Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Sime Darby Property managing director Datuk Wahab Maskan said it was an honour to be one of the top 10 developers in Asia and to be acknowledged for its sustainable efforts in Malaysia.

"These awards reflect the appreciation of society and customers for our efforts to provide sustainable development for our stakeholders. We will continue to work even harder to be the preferred developer in the region," he said.

Sime Darby Property was also recently conferred the Prime Minister's Hibiscus Award 2012 for Notable Achievement in the Environmental Excellence Category.

It won the award for its Bukit Jelutong township, following a two-stage assessment process that included a site visit and detailed submissions on 14 areas covering a range of environmental issues.

By Business Times

Legoland Malaysia names sales director

Legoland Malaysia, the first Legoland theme park to open in the Asia-Pacific and the sixth in the world, has appointed Thila Munusamy as the Director of Sales and Marketing to strengthen its senior management team.

In a statement today, it said that Thila will oversee the theme park's overall marketing, public relations, social media, sales and regional promotion activities.

Joining Sunway Lagoon as a marketing manager in 2005, she contributed to the successful turnaround of the company. She was also responsible for many successful marketing initiatives that propelled Sunway lagoon into an award-winning theme park.

"Given her wealth of experience in the hospitality and tourism sector, we are confident that Thila will play a key role in making LEGOLAND Malaysia a household name and a preferred destination for our target visitors," said its general manager, Siegfried Boerst.

By Bernama