Friday, August 29, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]
Divisoria’s newest mall, Benisons Shopping Center, on Thursday launched a town homes community which would be built on the topmost level of the mall.
Dubbed “The Top at Benisons,” the project would see 47 two-story townhouse units rise on the 5,972-square meter fifth floor of the shopping center.
“The Top at Benisons is the first of its kind in the Philippines—an exclusive town homes community on top of a mall, offering a real sense of space, in an area [Divisoria] where space is at a premium,” said Miguel Marco Bitanga, Benisons managing director.
According to Benjamin Bitanga, Benisons president, this added investment costs around P250 million.
Construction for this residential project would start next month, and would be ready for turnover by the fourth quarter of next year.
The Top at Benisons targets to sell mainly to businessmen, traders and entrepreneurs who would like to live within close proximity of their (business) operations in the Divisoria shopping district, the company’s managing director said.
He explained that quality living space has been scarce in the Divisoria area, forcing businessmen to reside elsewhere, such as in posh villages in Quezon City and San Juan.
The Top at Benisons hopes to cater to this upper class market looking for abode in the booming shopping district, he said.
The managing director said that unlike cramped condominium residences sprouting all over the area, this upcoming residential community would provide larger living spaces.
He said that Ayala’s Greenbelt residences are also attached to the mall, but The Top at Benisons is the only one with driveways and even built-in car garage.
Units range from two-bedroom 97.47-square meter lofts to three-bedroom 163.23 square meter houses.
The townhouses would be sold at P84, 000 per square meter, or an estimated P9 million to P12 million per unit.
Benisons Shopping Center started full operations in October 2007 and currently has about 350 retail stalls for various dry goods on the ground level. Puregold Supermarket is also slated to start operations in the mall by November, and would occupy some 30 percent of space on the first floor, the company president said.
Investment for the mall, including the upcoming residential project, would amount to P1.3 billion, he said.
He disclosed that they are also looking at constructing shopping malls with attached residential units in other areas such as Quezon City in the near future. --Ben Arnold O. De Vera
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