[ bworldonline.com ]
By Francis Anthony T. Valentin
Special Features Assistant Editor
GOLDEN BAY Fresh Landholdings, Inc. is looking to complete the
construction of Aspire Corporate Plaza, its P2-billion office building
in the Pasay City section of the Manila Bay Area, by 2020, earlier than
initially planned.
The project was originally slated for completion in early 2021,
Jardin Brian B. Wong, chief operating officer of Golden Bay, said at a
press briefing on Feb. 21.
“We started developing the property even though we didn’t have any
sale. That represents our confidence in the project,” he said.
Touted as the “first and only property in the Macapagal Bay Area to
sell office spaces,” Aspire Corporate Plaza is aimed primarily at small
and medium-sized enterprises, especially those in places like Binondo in
Manila and those that prefer to own an office space rather than only
leasing it.
“We offer them a chance to own their units in the booming Bay Area,”
Mr. Wong said. “In the years to come, more and more people will see the
benefits of relocating here. They’ll see the benefits of having
relocated to an area closest to the airports and closest to key
expressways.”
Golden Bay enlisted several firms, including Megawide Construction
Corp., Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corp., ASYA Design
Partner and Meinhardt Philippines, Inc., to put together the structure
on a 3,500 square meter-property behind its food business, Golden Bay
Fresh Seafood Restaurant, on Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard.
“Once we asked them to go full blast at an earlier time, kinaya nila,” Mr. Wong said.
Construction of the 10-story structure began early last year. Mr.
Wong said the topping off would be held this year and the turning over
of the units to the owners in 2020.
Part of the reason for fast tracking of the building is that their
company is going to transfer there from its office in Binondo. “We
personally bought a handful of units,” Mr. Wong said.
Aspire units have been selling briskly. “We sold already around 40 [units],” Mr. Wong told BusinessWorld
on the sidelines of the briefing last Thursday. Their buyers include
manufacturing, logistics and construction companies. An office unit
starts at around P250,000 per square meter.
Golden Bay conducted a two-day open house earlier this month to
generate sales as well as buzz for its office building that will feature
a sky garden, six high-speed passenger elevators and a parking space
for 261 vehicles. Another one is scheduled to take place on March 9 and
10.
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