TRIGGER HAPPY. Gonzales (left) and Lao spearhead the ALI team that has built the Marquee Mall and Marquee Place, and soon, the Marquee Residences. All three projects are expected to trigger a flurry of developments in the area. Photo by Tessa R. Salazar
CENTRAL LUZON is ripe for a growth spurt in the property sector. And what better way to set off the expected build frenzy than with Ayala Land Inc.’s first mid-rise condominium in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Robert S. Lao, vice president and group head of sales, marketing and business development for Alveo Land, an ALI subsidiary, believes that the rise of Marquee Residences could trigger other developments in the three key areas of Central Luzon, namely Angeles City, Subic and Bataan.
“The North part of Central Luzon has always been a key area for growth in the country. It has been recognized for its burgeoning commerce, leisure and recreational elements. Because of this, a city such as Angeles has been touted as a rising regional hub. For this very reason, Ayala Land spearheaded the evolution of what we call the ‘Growth Corridor of the North’ with the intent of creating and building distinct spaces that would accommodate the evolution of the cities and the lifestyles of the residents within each,” Lao said.
Regional hub
But several years before the Marquee Residences, ALI had already recognized these areas’ potential as a regional hub. Alveo Land, which was responsible for such upscale in-city residential developments as the Columns Legazpi Village, Makati, the Lerato (across The Columns Ayala Avenue) and Two Serendra in Bonifacio Global City, had launched the three-level Marquee Mall and the 35-hectare Marquee Place in 2007, and since then had called it the region’s premier lifestyle destination of the north.
Accessible from Metro Manila through the North Luzon Expressway via the Angeles Exit, Marquee Residences will stand directly across Marquee Mall, Robinsons Place Angeles and SM Clark. It would also be near educational institutions such as Angeles University Foundation, University of the Philippines-Clark, Holy Angel University, and recreational spots such as Mimosa Leisure Estate, Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino, Casino Filipino, Paradise Ranch and Clark Special Economic Zone.
The P1.7-billion mid-rise condominium project features 6,605 square meters of land area, with the cost pegged at P87,000 per square meter. In contrast, the Serendra costs about P120,000 per sq m, while the Lerato costs P110,000.
Long overdue
Proving that the upscale market in the area is long overdue for a property boom, Marquee Residences was 63 percent sold in just one day, for a total single-day revenue haul of P370 million, as revealed by Alveo Land division manager for project development Aries Gonzales, who also sees the continuous influx of entrepreneurs and residents from the North.
A total of 199 units will comprise the two buildings: Towers A and B will be eight and 13 stories tall, respectively. As with other Ayala and Alveo developments, Marquee Residences will offer recreational amenity areas such as the garden deck, multipurpose lawn, meditation and play areas. It will have a fully equipped gym and a 25-meter lap pool with kiddie pool, and game, audio visual, and function rooms. Of course, it will also offer a Wi-Fi zone.
A one-bedroom unit has an approximate area between 53 and 57 sqm with a master bedroom, toilet and bath, a living/dining area, kitchen, balcony and a garden. A two-bedroom unit has an area between 73 and 79 sq m, while a three-bedroom unit has between 105 and 114 sqm of space.
Gonzales said that all units have been thoughtfully designed “to complement the living ideals of its future residents, putting a premium on convenience and the realization of an integrated lifestyle.”