By Tessa Salazar
Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines–Developers seem to show no signs of slowing down insofar as setting up new upscale developments south of Metro Manila and beyond is concerned.
Adding to the reputable mix of middle and high-end residential developments such as Ayala’s 1,600 hectare Nuvali in Canlubang (with Ayala Premier in it) and Fil-Estate’s P2.5-billion project in Batangas is SM Development Corp’s high-end residences at Susana Heights.
SM Development Corp. recently cited to Inquirer Property the two high-end market possibilities:
• One addresses the market that chooses to simply live in urban centers and stay in a small condominium where convenience and accessibility is a primary concern.
• The other addresses those who choose a bigger living space in single-detached homes where going home during the weekends could be a form of “natural recharging” — away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Carlos V. Chikiamco, vice president and project director of Lindenwood Residences at Susana Heights, also said a niche market exists for those who want that suburban lifestyle in spite of the accessibility and the travel time.
“Offhand, these are people who have been raised in the south and who just continue to set up their own homes in the same environment. This is the market that Lindenwood seeks to address itself to.”
Why Susana Heights?
Susana Heights was chosen for Lindenwood Residences “primarily because of its location and the familiarity of the public to easily locate it as very near well-developed areas such as Ayala Alabang and Filinvest Corporate City.”
“We have envisioned Lindenwood to be a quaint, charming, neighborly, residential development of sufficient greens and trees to contrast it to city living. The natural beauty of Lindenwood has lent itself to this kind of development,” Chikiamco said.
Concerns for traffic congestion brought by the flood of growth in the southern suburbs has been eased via the promise of improved mass transportation, Chikiamco said. “We only hope that the national government along with the private sector can answer this need sooner rather than later,” he added.
‘City-fying’
Asked about his view on some sectors’ concerns that the south is being “city-fied” — natural habitats and settings that are supposed to be “untouched” but are being encroached upon by man-made developments, Chikiamco quipped:
“To continue to ‘city-fy’ natural habitats and the suburbs is not sustainable in the long term. Developers should always input in their development initiatives to consider long-term issues for sustainable growth. Purely ‘city-fying’ areas will not do.”
Mango orchard
The Lindenwood concept would benefit from a rolling terrain, mature trees, a high elevation and quiet surroundings. The site is part of the huge mango orchards of the Madrigals similar to the Ayala-Alabang setting.
Three hundred ninety lots have been opened for sale in its first phase and an opening price of an average of P10,000 per sq m. The average lot size is about 350 sq m.
The lot sizes in Lindenwood were primarily dictated upon by the need to preserve the natural terrain. Making smaller lot cuts would require flattening the terrain instead of preserving its original contour, making the development lose its inherent charm and appeal.
A Lindenwood lot would typically cost about P3 million to P3.5 million. Assuming a house would cost another P3.5 million, the total cost of a house and lot would be P7 million.
