Sta. Lucia, DoubleDragon set shopping mall expansion

Property developer Sta. Lucia Inc. has expanded its shopping mall portfolio with the opening of a new two-level shopping complex in its Sta. Lucia complex in Cainta.

The new premier mall called “Il Centro,” which has a total gross floor area (GFA) of 50,000 square meters, would bring the total area of its shopping complex in the area to 230,000 sqm, the company told the Philippine Stock Exchange Monday.

Being at the heart of a business and leisure hub in the eastern part of Metro Manila, Il Centro is seen serving the cities of Pasig, Marikina, Antipolo apart from the municipality of Cainta.

Il Centro is envisioned by SLI to be the upscale shopping mall for the growing needs of the middle class living and working in the area.

The new shopping hub is located near educational institutions such as La Salle Sumulong Highway, College of San Benildo, Assumption Antipolo, St. Scholastica’s College as well as major hospitals like Amang Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and St. Camillus Hospital. The nearby churches are Padre Pio, Sta. Clara Monastery, Our Lady of Light, Our Lady of the Concepcion Parish and St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish Shrine.

Il Centro is also located within the planned five-tower development called Sta. Lucia Residenzes. The first of the Mediterranean-inspired towers called Monte Carlo is now nearing completion and the second tower called Santorini is starting construction.

SLI’s Monte Carlo and Santorini are both 21-storey buildings with resort-type amenities such as swimming pool, kiddie pool, children’s playground, fitness facilities, open gazebo, landscaped garden and 24-hour security. It will also have several function rooms for meetings, parties and special events. Residents and guests of Sta. Lucia Residenzes will have elevator access to IL Centro.

Another property developer, DoubleDragon Properties Corp., has found two more bustling locations for its shopping malls in a nationwide chain under the CityMall brand: Cotabato City and Dau, Pampanga.

The two new property deals bring to 10 the sites secured by DoubleDragon’s shopping mall development arm CityMall Commercial Centers Inc. (CMCCI) so far, the company disclosed to the PSE Monday.

“Dau Pampanga is targeted to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2015 and Cotabato is targeted to be completed by the third quarter 2015,” DoubleDragon chair Edgar Sia II said in a text message. He said these were “part of the total of 25 operational CityMalls targeted to all be up and running by the end of 2015 around the country and mostly in Visayas and Mindanao.”

The first prime lot acquired by DoubleDragon was a 1.5-hectare property along Gov. Gutierrez Ave. in Rosary Heights VII in Cotabato City, near the Lebak Terminal and the New City Hall dubbed People’s Palace. It is located in a high-density area, surrounded by numerous residential villages and schools.