BUYERS looking to invest in homes where they can be closer to nature should look into Sunway Cassia located in Batu Maung, Penang, which is built with the green concept in mind.

True to its theme, the developers of Sunway Cassia, Sunway City Berhad, has set up 0.8ha (two acres) of Nature Reserve Park in its vicinity where residents can jog or go jungle trekking to unwind after an arduous day at work.

According to Sunway City general manager Tan Hun Beng, the nature park is the first of its kind in Penang and the concept would be well received by buyers and investors.

“Besides designing a conducive home, the environmental aspect is also very important as you do not want to come home to an unpleasant environment,” said Tan.

“The environment has to blend in with the home and this will make residents who live there feel fresh and energetic whenever they come home.”

The Sunway Cassia is divided into two phases whereby Phase 1 will involve the completion of 33 units of three-storey terrace houses with a built-up area of 2,808sq ft to 3,265sq ft. The price per unit will start from RM850,000 onwards.

Phase 2 of Sunway Cassia is expected to be completed in 2012, while other future developments for Sunway City include Sunway Merica in Sungai Ara and Sunway Aspera in Sungai Batu.

For Sunway Merica, there will be 98 units of three-storey terrace houses as well as semi-detached units.

Expected to be completed at the end of the year, the Sunway Merica units have a built-up area of 2,715sq ft to 3,021sq ft for the terrace houses priced from RM919,700 onwards, while the three-storey smi-detached units will be of 3,973sq ft at a starting price of RM1.5mil.

The Sunway Aspera consists of 85 two-storey and three-storey terrace house units, with a gross built-up area of 1,840sq ft to 2,718sq ft for the two-storey terrace houses, and about 2,040sq ft for the three-storey houses.

Expected to be completed by next year, the project is within proximity to the Penang Interna-tional Airport via Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and the second Penang bridge link in Batu Maung.

Touted as Penang’s premier pro-perty expo, the fair’s ninth edition will be held at Gurney Plaza and the adjoining G Hotel from July 21 to July 24.

To date, 28 major developers —representing almost all the big boys in the industry — along with several financial institutions, have taken up booths in the fair.

The RM30,000 worth of prizes for the ‘Surf, Click & Win’ contest are sponsored by IJM Land.

The fair, which will be open to the public from 10am to 10pm daily, is organised by The Star in collaboration with Henry Butcher Penang. Admission is free.

For enquiries, call 04-6473388 ext 3357 (Shirmein) or ext 3418 (Bessie).

Source: The Star

QUAYSIDE, the waterfront development of Seri Tanjung Pinang, has been called the most complete luxury seafront condominium development in the region.

Sitting on 8.49ha (21 acres) of prime seafront land, the project, developed by E&O Group, is the region’s only condominium with a 1.82ha (4.5acre) exclusive waterpark within a gated com-munity.

Designed by Seattle-based landscape architect Geyer Coburn Hutchins, the grounds of Quayside feature a jogging path, a bicycle track and a wellness area.

The waterpark is exclusive for residents’ use and there is also a Quayside Clubhouse where you can book a private room for dinner, serve guests from your own collection of wine from the clubhouse’s cellar or invite friends over for a movie night at the theatre.

The clubhouse also has private spa treatment rooms and a fully-equipped gym.

As a resident of Quayside, E&O Hotel’s legendary concierge and housekeeping services will be at your beck and call and just next door, you will find Straits Quay, the island’s only seafront retail marina.

The E&O Group also owns and manages premier high-rise condominiums such as Dua Residency and St Mary Residences in Kuala Lumpur.

Visit the group’s booth at The Star Property Fair and discover the plea-sures of Quayside.

For enquiries, you can also call 04-8909999 or e-mail to eopenang@easternandoriental.com or visit www.quaysideresort.com.

Source: The Star

THE 24km-long second Penang bridge is 54% completed and it is on track to be completed by Nov, 2013, said former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said this assurance was given by the host of contractors involved in constructing the super structure linking Batu Maung on the island to Batu Kawan in Seberang Prai.

Abdullah also said that the project would also incorporate a uniquely designed technology known as High Damping Rubber Bearing (HDRB).

The RM4.5bil project is the first to use the HDRB technology which is designed to withstand the effects of earthquakes.

“HDRB is an innovative tool to protect not only the structure but also the materials and contents inside the structure,” Abdullah said.

“This feature is useful for critical structures as it can stand the test of time.

“I an also proud that the HRDB is designed by a Malaysian and like all Penangites, I am eagerly awaiting the completion of the bridge.

“The bridge will definitely be breathtaking,” he said.

He was speaking after attending a briefing session on the bridge’s progress work at the China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC) (M) Sdn Bhd office in Batu Maung yes-terday.

Present was Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Dr Ismail Mohamed Taib.

Abdullah also expressed satisfaction with the progress of the construction which comprised five packages. including the RM2.2bil substructure by China-based CHEC and the RM1.5bil superstructure by Malaysia’s own UEM Builders Bhd.

The three main contractors for overland connections are Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd (for the RM67mil Batu Maung link), IJM Corp Bhd (RM350mil Batu Kawan link) and HRA Teguh Sdn Bhd (RM152mil link to North-South Highway).

BUYERS and investors looking for modern contemporary living may want to consider the Legenda@Southbay resort bungalows by Mah Sing Properties.

Situated in Batu Maung, Penang, the Legenda@Southbay is a luxurious development project consisting of three-storey and four-storey resort bungalows in a gated and guarded community.

Mah Sing Properties northern region general manager Low Eng Hooi said that there are three variations to the bungalows – Scenic, Deluxe and Grande – which are complemented by a diverse range of features.

“Among the features are a private lift, home automation system, a personal pool with a spacious deck, as well as multiple-decked balconies,” he said.

A unique feature is that each variation is built on different types of terrain.

“The Legenda Grande, for example, has an infinity pool in the lower ground floor which makes it the only four-storey bungalow variation offered at Legenda@Southbay,” said Low.

“It is also convenient for the future residents there as it is only 1km away from the up-coming second Penang bridge that is expected for completion in 2013.”

Currently, the Legenda@Southbay is 40% sold and expected to be completed at the end of 2013.

The whole development of Legenda@Southbay comprises 76 units with built-up areas of between 6,800sq ft and 7,000sq ft, and a land area of 7,500sq ft.

The unit price ranges from RM4mil to RM4.7mil.

Mah Sing Properties will be highlighting the project to those in the northern states when it takes part in the Star Property Fair 2011 later this month.

Touted as Penang?s premier property expo, the fair?s ninth edition will be held at Gurney Plaza and the adjoining G Hotel from July 21 to 24.

To date, 28 major developers ? representing almost all the big boys in the industry ? along with several financial institutions have taken up booths in the fair.

The RM30,000 worth of prizes for the ?Surf, Click & Win? contest are sponsored by IJM Land.

The fair, to be open to the public from 10am to 10pm daily, is organised by The Star in collaboration with Henry Butcher Penang. Admission is free.

For enquiries, call 04-6473388 ext 3357 (Shirmein) or ext 3418 (Bessie).

SOURCE: The Star

The Penang-based developer's share price has appreciated by slightly more than 20 per cent this month, after slumping to a 52-week low of 90 sen on June 23 this year.

Last Friday, Ivory shares closed 2 sen higher to RM1.16 a share, after having reached an intraday high of RM1.19 a share.

Business Times understands that the Penang Development Corp's (PDC) board of directors are scheduled to meet early this week to decide on the matter.

The meeting will be chaired by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Apart from Ivory, SP Setia Bhd had also put in a bid to develop the landbank. The cost of developing the land surpasses the RM1 billion mark.

The Bayan Mutiara tender is part of the state government's efforts to unlock the value of the land it owns in selected areas.

The reserve price for the tender is believed to be in the RM200-per- sq-ft range.

The Bayan Mutiara area is considered prime land for hotels and resorts as it is located south of the Penang Bridge, overlooking Pulau Jerejak.

Early this year, the Penang state government had asked for a request for proposal (RFP) via PDC to develop an initial 24.8ha.

The RFP comes with the potential to develop an additional 14ha via a future reclamation after the development of the initial 24.8ha.

The property developer, listed barely a year ago, last month confirmed that it had indeed submitted a bid to help develop the land.

"I can confirm that we have submitted a bid by responding to the Penang government's request for proposal to develop the land and are now awaiting word from the state authorities," the company's deputy chairman and executive director Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff Mushir Ariff told Business Times about a month ago.

SOURCE: Business Times