Contractors setting up booths inside G Hotel's grand ballroom in preparation for the Star Property Fair 2014.

Preparations are in full swing for the Star Property Fair 2014 which will take place at Gurney Plaza and the adjoining G Hotel starting tomorrow until Sunday.

An army of contractors were busy setting up booth structures, bringing in exhibits, and sprucing up the event venue in time for the grand opening at 11.30am tomorrow.

Stacks of exhibition and construction materials will be transformed into gleaming booths featuring both local and international properties.

With a total of 33 exhibitors participating this year, investors and buyers will be spoilt for choice.

Offerings range from landed homes to residential and commercial high-rises, integrated developments, as well as retail and office spaces, among others.

There will be 33 booths at G Hotel’s grand ballroom and foyer area along with the Salon I, II and V function rooms. Over at Gurney Plaza, there are nine booths at the Centre Atrium, New Wing Atrium and near the Gurney Entrance.

Besides properties, the fair, currently in its 12th edition, will also feature a series of property-related talks by industry experts daily.

Visitors to the fair can also look forward to winning Ipad minis, Samsung tablets, mountain bikes and gift vouchers daily by taking part in the ‘Dip & Win’ Property Fair contest.

Participants simply need to purchase a copy of The Star, fill in the cutout of the contest coupon, and answer two simple questions to be in the running. Ivory Properties Group Berhad is the contest sponsor.

Zeon Properties Sdn Bhd is the event partner of the fair, which is open from 10am to 10pm daily. Admission is free.

Source: StarProperty.my

THE Penang Development Corporation (PDC) is holding a Request For Proposal (RFP) for a joint development project on a 1.7ha plot at the Sandilands foreshore in Jalan C.Y. Choy.

The project will comprise medium-cost apartments, low medium- cost flats and related commercial facilities.

PDC was appointed by Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), the registered plot proprietor, to develop and manage the land.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also PDC chairman, said they were calling for RFP from incorporated local companies to design and build the whole project.

He said the development was initiated at the request of local residents who have been staying in 54 houses with Temporary Occupation Licences.

“The residents have been complaining of floods in the area that has fast become a mosquito breeding ground.

“We will ensure that there are sufficient units for the affected households. Each household will be given a unit as compensation while the extended families will also be given priority to purchase a unit.

“Besides, the CMI has always been supportive of the state government’s efforts to develop more affordable homes. If everything goes as planned, construction will begin next year and the project will be completed within 60 months,” he told a press con- ference at his office in Komtar yesterday.

The project when completed will have 482 medium-cost apartments — 241 units with a minimum 1,000sq ft priced at RM400,000, 161 units at minimum 900sq ft each at RM300,000 and 80 units at 800sq ft each at RM200,000.

There will also be 321 units of low medium-cost flats of 700sq ft each set at a ceiling price of RM72,500.

The development component will also have commercial content with a build-up area of not more than 90,014 sq ft.

The apartments and low medium-cost flats will be provided with finishes and facilities such as closed-circuit television cameras as well as electronic access cards at the entrance gate and inside the lifts.

Lim said the reserve price for the land premium was RM125 per sq ft, adding that interested parties could purchase the RFP documents for RM1,000 during office hours at PDC starting today. The deadline is Sept 3.

When being told that a similar RFP on the same plot was announced early last year, Lim said the move failed to take off due to some ‘legal complications’.

Source: StarProperty.my

Earmarked for development: A view of Kg Chetty in Batu Ferringhi. The proposed project on the 30-acre plot of land comprises low medium-cost units, semi-detached houses, condominiums and a hotel.

RESIDENTS of Kg Chetty in Batu Ferringhi, Penang, have been given a flat each to make way for a housing project.

The developer of the 30-acre village has agreed to allocate each of the 350 householders a low medium-cost (LMC) unit according to the state government’s “one-to-one” housing policy.

State Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said all the householders in Kg Chetty had agreed to the deal and had submitted applications for the LMC units.

According to Jagdeep, applications would be rejected if applicants were found to own houses elsewhere but Kg Chetty residents would be given exemption on appeal.

“Under standard operating procedures, applications for LMC units will be rejected if applicants owned houses.

“But (in this case) they will be given approval on appeal as it is a compensation issue and not eligibility,” Jagdeep said after attending a fire-walking ceremony at the Arulmigu Sree Bathrakaliamman Temple in Persiaran Sg Batu, Batu Ferringhi on Saturday.

On the “one-to-one” policy, Jagdeep said developers of state land were to compensate displaced residents with a low-cost unit each at the minimum.

“We are encouraging developers of private land to do likewise.

“Kg Chetty residents are being compensated with LMC units.

“If they don’t want the LMC units, they will be given RM72,500, the cash equivalent of an LMC unit, by the developer. Kg Chetty residents should be happy,” Jagdeep said.

He said the state government would draw up the guidelines on the “one-to-one” housing policy, which would be the yardstick for relocating residents.

The developer of Kg Chetty plans to build 500 LMC units, semi-detached houses, condominiums and hotel on the plot of land.

On the relocation of Arulmigu Sree Bathrakaliamman Temple, Jagdeep said a suitable plot in Batu Ferringhi had been identified.

“We are in the process of obtaining the necessary approval for the new site where the temple would have a bigger and permanent place after the relocation,” he said.

Also present at the temple’s fire-walking ceremony was Bukit Bendera MP Kairil Khir Johari.

Source: StarProperty.my

An artist’s impression of the new look to the entrance of the Perda City Mall (PCM), Seberang Perai, Penang

Aeon Seberang Prai City, the largest mall in Bandar Perda, Penang, will be renamed Perda City Mall (PCM) after undergoing asset enhancement works.

Work has started on the mall and is expected to finish before Christmas this year. Its owner Northern Mall Sdn Bhd said in a press statement that the temporary closure is necessary to further strengthen the mall’s commitment and continuous efforts in enhancing its retail environment and shopping experience for today’s discerning customers.

The renaming of the mall is aimed at giving it a new identity to portray its close association with the new township as the main provider for most of the needs of the residents in the surrounding areas. The mall was opened in 2008 and has a net lettable area of 79,000 sq ft.

“The major work would involve asset enhancement initiatives on the second floor to convert underutilised areas into additional retail areas, thus offering more space for retailers,” said Adzman Shah Mohd Ariffin of ExaStrata Solutions Sdn Bhd, the property manager of the mall.

PCM is retaining a majority of its tenants including Sen-Q, McDonald’s and the Apple Store. Parkson and Econsave will be the new anchor tenants.

“Our goal is to wrap up the upgrading project just in time for the year-end holiday shopping season, and it is going to be an exciting time for PCM and all our shoppers,” said Adzman.

“We are really excited about the changes to the mall as these will bring some interesting updates to our shopping mall. We are sure that our customers will love these improvements,” he said.

The upgrading of the mall will be in tune with the current trend so that it will have a more refreshing air, added Adzman.

“We believe as a regional mall, we will be the price-setter in terms of rental and valuation of properties.

“Our aim is to enable shoppers to get all their needs under one roof, besides enjoying the facilities and modern cum soothing ambience offered by the mall.”

Source: The Edge Property

Vona Sky Condominium, part of Vona Parkcity mixed development by Vona Properties Group in Bukit Gambier, Penang. This project comprises two high-rise tower, a total of 516 condo units with size ranging from 1,100 sq.ft to 1,800 sq.ft. It is strategically located along Jalan Bukit Gambier, next to Jade View Apartment.

More details to be available soon.

Property Project: Vona Sky Condominium
Location: Bukit Gambier, Penang
Property Type: Condominium
Built-up Area: 1,100 sq.ft. – 1,800 sq.ft.
Total Units: 516 units (Condominium)
Developer: Gambier Sanctuaries Sdn. Bhd. (Vona Properties Group)