Ayala Land P80-billion business and lifestyle district, on the rise in Taguig

Arca South scale model (from arcasouth.ph)

Real estate development giant, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) has sunkP80-billion into Arca South, a brand new central business district rising on the 74-hectare land of what was formerly the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI).

Located by SLEX and C-5, a mere 4.7 kilometers from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the development is tied with the public private partnership (PPP) projects of the government, which will connect Arca South to the rest of the metropolis.

What was once rows of dilapidated warehouses will be developed into a highly-connected, master-planned modern business and residential district designed to be the “gateway to the south.”

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano told reporters from the Manila Bulletin that Ayala “plans to do a mix-development with office buildings for Process Outsource companies and commercial and residential establishments.”

Arca South aims to offer office space for 400,000 workers. Two BPO towers are set to open by 2017 , and three more in 2019.

Those looking to invest in residential space will be pleased to know that Arca South will showcase properties from its three brands: Ayala Land Premiere, Alveo, and Avida.

Nine office buildings, the Lifestyle Mall, a 200-room Seda hotel, an integrated basement parking network, and numerous commercial and entertainment centers will also rise on the development.

Likewise, a 250-bed QualiMed Quaternary Hospital will be built in partnership with the Mercado group. The medical facility is designated to be the south’s central medical destination.

Arca South will also boast of a 24-hour operations center which will not only manage traffic on the project’s roads, but also serve as a hub for real-time emergency response systems.

ALI Vice President and Strategic Landbank Management Group head Meean Dy added that, “we will have multiple retail formats – from a transit-oriented mall to serve the commuters of the ITS; to a regional mall which offers a complete retail experience; to a lifestyle mall offering a wide array of upscale fashion stores; and specialty retail and select dining establishments.”

As for accessibility, ALI Project Development Manager Stephen Comia said that the project “will be a well-connected mixed-use development, capitalizing on the planned government infrastructure projects improving accessibility to and from the CBD.”

And to offer as much green space as possible, ALI VP and chief architect Joel Luna explained that “about 40% of the entire development will be dedicated to roads and open spaces. The first housing community to be rolled out, Ayala Land Premier’s Arbor Lanes, is designed to be 60% landscape and open spaces surrounding five blocks of 13-15 storey condominiums.”

Arca South development plan (from arcasouth.ph)