Caring developer integrates property development via seamless connectivity.
EkoCheras is targeted for completion in 2017, showcasing an integrated commercial development that encases a lifestyle mall as well as a 400m frontage along Jalan Cheras.
The infamous rule when it comes to being a successful property development is its location. however, a property’s success also relies on how efficiently it is connected to highways, public road and rail transport. Ekovest Bhd is planning to add more value to its mixed developments by providing easy access as well as connectivity to and from its surrounding development areas.
The developer is the holding company of Konsortium Lebuhraya Utara-Timur (KL) Sdn Bhd, the concession holder of the DUKE highway. This gives the company an edge when it comes to having the required skills as well as knowledge, to ensure that development planning integrates two important aspects of property development namely project planning and infrastructure development, and bridges the unique entities of both.
The DUKE Phase-3 has been selected as the pioneer highway infrastructure project in Malaysia to be rated under the envision Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System. Ekovest Bhd managing director Datuk Lim Keng Cheng says, “Envision is the product of a joint collaboration between the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the harvard University Graduate School of Design and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.”
Envision provides a holistic framework for evaluating and rating the community, environmental, and economic benefits of all types and sizes of infrastructure projects. It evaluates, grades and gives recognition to infrastructure projects that use transformational and collaborative approaches to assess the sustainability indicators over the course of a project’s life cycle.
A sectional view
of how the flood tunnel system would assist in mitigating potential flooding at the EkoTitiwangsa development site located along Jalan Pahang.
Ekovest is also a member of the “Sustainable Infrastructure in Malaysia Pledge”. Signed on April 10 this year to reduce environmental damage and the maintenance cost of buildings. here ekovest has an additional advantage as the company is on the forefront with regards to the construction industry, having given its commitment to work toward enhancing the sustainability and resilience of Malaysia’s building industry as well as environment.
Ekovest is currently embarking on two unique projects. The first is located along Jalan Pahang in Kuala Lumpur and the other are within the matured Cheras locale. The developments, respectively dubbed EkoTitiwangsa and EkoCheras, both currently enjoy sales of around 90% with their works completion currently at around 38%.
EkoTitiwangsa is a property development that has been well received by investors and property buyers alike. Comprising of service apartments, it is a component of the larger ekoRiver Centre, a mixed development with its main highlight being the 2.1million sq ft gross floor area (GFA) commercial-retail-office- hotel development spread over 6.6 acres of land.
An iconic 68-storey tower stand proud within this expanse, housing a corporate office tower as well as a hotel on top of an 800,000 sq ft retail-convention centre with a total gross development value (GDV) of RM2.1bil. EkoTitiwangsa’s Towers A and B comprising of 696 service apartments will also be launched soon.
The EkoRiver Centre is set to become a prominent hub of the KL River City project offering public amenities such as a waterfront promenade, retail, food and beverage outlets, waterways, water taxis as well as a linkage to Taman Titiwangsa via an underpass. The development is accessible to and from Kuala Lumpur and Mont Kiara via a grade existing Jalan Pahang or alternatively via the soon to be completed elevated DUKE 2.
As certain sections along Jalan Pahang are known to be prone to occasional flooding, ekovest has taken the initiative to carry out and coordinate discussions with Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and its consultants to provide a long term solution. As such, the storm water discharge from the EkoRiver Centre’s development site will be properly streamlined to be channeled downstream via a dedicated tunnel into the Gombak river to further mitigate any potential future flooding.
Ekovest managing director Datuk Lim Keng Cheng believes that the tenants as well as business owners
of EkoCheras will be made up mostly from the existing locals residinginthe mature Cheras vicinity.
Ekovest’s first integrated development at EkoCheras is situated in the mature Cheras locale and is targeted at buyers with high disposable income.
The integrated commercial development once completed will feature a lifestyle mall with 400m of frontage along Jalan Cheras and is targeted for completion in 2017.
This mixed development will serve a ready catchment presented by the existing Cheras population. Lim says, “We foresee that the current residents of Cheras will become future owners as well as tenants of the ekoCheras service apartments while some Cheras locals may become owners of food and beverage outlets as well as entertainment businesses.”
Some of the unique highlights to this mixed development include a gymnasium, a cineplex, a supermarket, landscaped areas as well as ample car parking. Apart from this, the ekoCheras Mall will also be linked to the Taman Mutiara Station via a dedicated link bridge, making it a breeze for those frequenting the mall as the MRT Line 1 will connect to other major stations across the Klang Valley.
Since its launch, EkoCheras has been offering three investment options targeted at different groups of property buyers and investors. Buyers can choose to purchase the service apartments totaling 1,516 units spread across three towers priced at RM700 per sq ft, the office suites totalling 105 units priced at RM750 per sq ft or the 260 units of hotel suites tagged at RM1,000 per sq ft.
