Arthaland sells 100% stake in realty subsidiary

INQUIRER - Boutique property developer Arthaland Corp. (Alco) has sold 100 percent of its interest in realty subsidiary Irmo Inc., an exercise seen to “significantly improve” yearend income and prepay some of its loans.

Irmo—which is engaged in the realty development business including home building and development—has an interest in a portion of a subdivision plan located at E-Square on the corner of 32nd Street and Third Avenue in Bonifacio Global City.

Alco said the buyer, Future State MySpace, was not related in any manner to Alco or any of its subsidiaries, directors, stockholders and officers.

“The consideration for the sale was based on management’s judgement of the fair value of the proportionate share of Irmo Inc. over Lot 1, Block 7,” Alco said in a regulatory filing.

It was earlier reported that Alco is investing P3.54 billion to build the second tower of an upscale development in Bonifacio Global City that is envisioned to be the first “green” residential skyscraper in the country. After topping off the first tower of the plush Arya Residences, Arthaland has broken ground for the second tower, a 43-story building that will offer 211 residential units with a large living space.

Alco earlier signed an agreement with the Philippine Green Business Council (PhiGBC) for the building to be the benchmark project for the Berde (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) residential rating system.

Arya Residences is also registered under the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program) with a gold certification.

For more details on Arya Residences, you may contact Reby Ramirez: 0922.883.9308 / 0916.4044.555 / 0919699.3572 or reby_ramirez@yahoo.com.

For latest information on the Philippine Real Estate Industry and the Real Estate Service Act (RA9646), please visit www.ra9646.com.ph.   

ArthaLand turns green to ‘Gold’

 

ARYA Residences is currently the benchmark Berde project for vertical residential buildings in the country.

The race to being green is on.

While the development of green buildings in the Philippines is regarded by some analysts as still being on its pilot stage, a great number of industry players have already begun to incorporate the so-called “green features” to tap the numerous benefits that sustainable structures can bring.

If before, the mantra was location, location, location, the numbers today direct investors to three things: certified sustainability measures, niche potential and the location’s future readiness—factors that are especially crucial in the residential category.

Property hunters are thus on the lookout for green structures that will not only deliver operational efficiency and environmental performance, but will also bear that authentic seal of sustainability.

Globally, there is a recognized standard for green buildings to ensure that the quantifiable sustainability measures are employed. The US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is a pool of industry experts-led monitoring system that calibrates the building’s sustainability features.

In the Philippines, world-class boutique developer ArthaLand has built Arya Residences, the first and only top-end development to be registered under this LEED program in the residential sector. This top-end flagship project was built to achieve the Gold certification.

Savings
Based on the LEED standard, Arya Residences was designed to provide as much as 40-percent savings in potable water usage, and at least 14-percent savings in electricity usage. This projected efficiency stemmed from the integrated sustainability design features such that the towers will receive lesser heat, require less potable water to maintain, and use technology that provides residents the opportunity to reduce reliance on valuable resources.

ARYA Residences is a top-end two tower condominium development.

ArthaLand is also a member of the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC), the proponent of the country’s national green building rating system called Berde or Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence. And Arya Residences is currently the benchmark Berde project for vertical residential buildings in the country.

“Greening the real estate sector is a very important step for all the stakeholders in the industry. Standardizing the greening measures is a major step to encourage developers to take the sustainability thrust seriously,” said ArthaLand president and CEO Angie de Villa-Lacson.

“By cooperating with the PhilGBC in putting together the benchmark for green residential condominium, we believe that we are encouraging our peers in the industry to up the ante in integrating efficiency and responsible usage of resources in the developments that we build,” she added.

‘Tricky matter’
Lacson admitted that the greening of developments is a “tricky matter” and this is why ArthaLand, together with PhilGBC, would like to espouse the use of calibrated and strictly monitored sustainability procedures.
“Greening should go beyond the landscape greens and waste management. To fully reap the benefit of sustainability, developers should be able to measure the inputs and the outputs of the eco-friendly features that we build into our buildings,” Lacson explained.

Despite the proliferation of low and mid-market developments, it is notable that the top-end, luxury niche presents better prospects as an investment instrument, according to ArthaLand.
Citing the Philippine Real Estate Market Report released by Colliers International Philippines Research, ArthaLand said that in the first quarter this year, rental rates for a three-bedroom, high-end condominium at the Bonifacio Global City were up by 7 percent year on year, and are further projected to rise by another 6.33 percent in the first quarter of 2013.

These are the larger units and more luxurious apartments that are often preferred by quality expatriate tenants who are willing to shell out roughly $4,000 a month for a 250-sq-m three-bedroom unit.
And Arya Residences is poised to serve that demand, as it presents buyers with a “very attractive investment option given its strong position in the green and luxury segment.”

Rising at the prestigious McKinley Parkway at the BGC, the first tower of Arya Residences houses only about 300 units of one- to three-bedroom apartments, with cuts ranging from 66 sq m to sprawling 300 sq m. The second tower, which was recently launched, will house only about 200 units of two- to four-bedrooms with larger sizes ranging from 114 sq m to over 500 sq m.

“We are very bullish of the market prospects. We are confident that Arya Residences will provide a fresh and rich option for the wiser property investors,” Lacson concluded.

For more details on Arya Residences, you may e-mail reby_ramirez@yahoo.com or contact her at 0922.883.9308 / 0916.4044.555 / 0919.699.3572 / 4044-534.

For latest update on real estate development and its RA 9646, the Real Estate Service Act of 2009, visit www.ra9646.com.

Arthaland eyes P7-B sales from Arya Residences

ABS-CBN - - Arthaland Corp., partly owned by leading fish canning firm Century Pacific Group of the Po family, is looking to generate around P7 billion in sales from its flagship project, Arya Residences in Bonifacio Global City.

In a briefing yesterday, Nina Sayson-Cordero, vice-president for Arthaland’s project and business development, said construction of the second tower of Arya Residences is underway, which should bring the total development cost of the project to around P6.2 billion. Tower 2, which comprises 43 floors and 211 units, will feature two- to four-bedroom units with sizes ranging from 124 to 385 square meters.

Cordero said the company has yet to finalize the price range for the Tower 2 units.

She said the first tower, which features 301 units,is almost sold out since it was launched in August 2010.The units are now selling at P145,000 per square meter.

Arya rEsidences will bring to the market a fresh inventory of 512 units.Itis the first residential high-rise in the country to be registered under the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

Passing this internationally recognized third party rating system translates to top building efficiency, less maintenance cost, and healthy environment.

Arthaland president Angie de Villa Lacson said the company wants to promote the use of calibrated and strictly monitored sustainability procedures. In fact, the company is vying for dual green building certification.
“The dual certification that we are vying for reflects our seriousness in our goal to achieve the optimal results on going green. We are on target to achieve the world standard in green buildings,” Lacson said.

She said the company is not in a rush to develop new projects, noting that “everything we do will be special and unique.”

Arthaland is now going over proposals from several landowners for possible joint ventures. One includes a 400-hectare property located in the northern portion of the country. “This would be our first horizontal development outside Metro Manila. Plans involve the construction of a mixed-use complex,” Lacson said.

Cordero said the company owns 35 hectares of land in Tagaytay, which is under study for development.
Arthaland’s decision to go green and sustainable is in response to a shifting global trend towards healthier environments that enable people to live well, and live right.

Last year, CPG Holdings Inc., the Po family’s holding firm, bought a third of Arthaland.

For more details on Arya Residences, you may contact Reby Ramirez: 0922.883.9308 / 0916.4044.555 / 0919699.3572 or reby_ramirez@yahoo.com.

For latest information on the Philippine Real Estate Industry and the Real Estate Service Act (RA9646), please visit www.ra9646.com.ph.   

Arthaland to develop 400-hectare property north of Metro Manila

INTERAKSYON - - Arthaland Corp. is beefing up its land bank as the property firm gears for the launch of the second tower of its "green" development in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig next week.

In a briefing, Angela de Villa-Lacson, Arthaland president and chief executive, said the company recently signed an agreement with a landowner to develop the latter's 400-hectare property in the north, marking the real estate firm’s maiden foray outside Metro Manila.

Arthaland is preparing the master plan for the property, but refused to identify its location.

"In terms of land bank, we're beginning to spread our wings. There are several landowners who have been approaching us. They approach us because they want something like Arya Residences which is a sustainable project," said Lacson.

The acquisition will expand the company's land bank, which includes two prime lots in Bonifacio Global City, one of which is located across the street from the proposed Shangri La Hotel and the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The said 2,233‐square meter property, considered as the company's "crown jewel," may feature a leasing component, Lacson said.

Arthaland also has a 35-hectare raw land in Tagaytay. The master plan for the project may have a "leisure play" into it, said Arthaland vice president Nina Cordero.

Arthland will spend P3.54 billion for the second tower of Arya Residences, bringing its total investment in the two-tower residential development to P6.20 billion.

The 43-storey tower will offer 211 units ranging from two-, three- and four-bedroom penthouse units of 124 to 385 square meters.

Unit prices in the second tower have increased by 5 percent to an average of P145,000 per square meter from that in the first tower, which has attracted high-net individuals as buyers.

The first tower of Arya Residences is already 75 percent sold, prompting the company to start excavation work on the second tower.

The two towers will be delivered in the first quarter of 2014 and 2016, respectively.

For more details on Arya Residences, you may contact Reby Ramirez: 0922.883.9308 / 0916.4044.555 / 0919699.3572 or reby_ramirez@yahoo.com.

For latest information on the Philippine Real Estate Industry and the Real Estate Service Act (RA9646), please visit www.ra9646.com.ph.