By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) Updated December 16, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The family of Ambassador Jose E.B. Antonio, through real estate arm Century Properties Inc., has teamed up with Columbian Motors of Jose Ch. Alvarez to build a P6-billion urban residential enclave in Parañaque City.
The nine-building residential project, dubbed Azure Urban Resort Residences, will be Century Properties’ first foray into the local middle income property market. It will be launched under Century Limitless, a new brand category that will develop affordable yet high-value residential projects.
John Victor Antonio, chief operating officer of Century Properties, said Azure will be offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom units in bare or fully fitted options. The first building, Rio, will make available a total of 756 units to be sold at an average price of P1.9 million for a 26- square meter unit with a balcony area, or for as low as P17,000 a month.
Azure will rise on a six-hectare property located in Brgy. Marcelo Green, Parañaque, right beside SM Bicutan and accessible via the Bicutan exit of the South Luzon Expressway. To be designed by award-winning firm Broadway Malyan, the project shall feature resort-style amenities including a sizeable man-made beach cove complete with pristine white sand and multiple water slides.
“Azure will be built on only 20 percent of the 6-hectare land. The rest will be devoted to open space, amenities, landscape, and a circumferential road around the property,” Antonio said.
Other amenities include an open park, Zen garden, multiple playgrounds, an interactive water play area, lap pool, kiddie pool, outdoor picnic grove, central bar and a basketball court.
“All the amenities have been incorporated into the master plan to promote recreation, health and wellness,” Antonio said.
Antonio said Century Properties is currently applying for a Pag-IBIG Fund accreditation in order to service the affordable housing market.
Century Properties, a 24-year old property firm that has earned a solid reputation for developing premium high-rise condominiums in the country, is branching out into the middle-income residential segment in a bid to expand its customer base and boost sales.
It is the developer of the upscale Essensa East Forbes in Bonifacio Global City and Canyon Ranch, the country’s first Wi-Fi integrated community in Carmona, Cavite.
Among its latest projects are the 3.4-hectare Century City in Makati which will include The Gramercy Residences and The Knightsbridge Residences, and Canyon Ranch at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona. It has just turned over to its clients South of Market, a twin tower residential development in Fort Bonifacio.
It is slated to also turn over Soho Central, a joint venture project with Greenfield Development Corp., a mixed-use commercial and residential project on Shaw Boulevard and EDSA.
Next year, the company is slated to deliver Grand Soho Makati, a 366-unit condominium in Salcedo Village, Makati with United Coconut Planters Bank as joint venture partner.
Century Properties registered a 29 percent growth in sales in the first seven months of the year on strong take-up of its residential units.
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