This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 11, 2019 - November 17, 2019
MENTION | PHASE 27, AMBANG BOTANIC 2 | GAMUDA BHD — PROPERTY DIVISION
Gamuda Bhd (property division) is no stranger to The Edge Malaysia-PEPS Value Creation Excellence Award. This year, it garnered a mention through Izumi, Phase 27, Ambang Botanic 2 project.
Launched in 2014, Phase 27 is an 18-acre, RM251 million residential component of Ambang Botanic 2. It comprises 55 two-storey deluxe link houses (built-up: 2,469 sq ft; lot size: 22ft by 75ft), 74 three-storey semi-detached houses (4,848 sq ft; 40ft by 90ft) and 64 three-storey deluxe link houses (3,154 sq ft; 24ft by 75ft).
The three-storey deluxe link houses, called Izumi, received its certificate of completion and compliance in January 2016. Its monthly maintenance fee is RM300.
Ambang Botanic 2 is part of the 1,240-acre Bandar Botanic. Made up of Botanic East and Botanic West (Ambang Botanic and Ambang Botanic 2), the freehold Bandar Botanic is the first gated development in Klang with 180 acres of parks and waterways.
Work on the construction of Bandar Botanic, which has a gross development value of RM4.5 billion, began in 2002. Botanic East is fully occupied, Ambang Botanic, 90%, and Ambang Botanic 2, 70%.
The township’s facilities include a central park, pocket parks with children’s playgrounds and outdoor exercise equipment, lakes and a clubhouse. The clubhouse features badminton, squash and tennis courts, a 50m Olympic-length swimming pool, gymnasium, Jacuzzi, steam bath, changing room and F&B outlets.
It is close to other amenities, such as shopping (AEON Bukit Tinggi, Giant Hypermarket Klang, Tesco Klang and GM Klang), healthcare (Manipal Hospital Klang, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital and Klinik Kesihatan Klang), education (SJK [C] Hin Hua, SMK Bukit Tinggi Klang and Q-dees Bandar Botanic) and various motor vehicle 3S centres.
General manager (Bandar Botanic) Chu Wai Lune tells City & Country that Phase 27 was the last to be launched in Ambang Botanic 2 and received overwhelming response due to the track record of the earlier phases of the township.
“The units were launched at an average price of RM1 million, and the average capital gain is about 7% to 8%, annualised over three years. Contributory factors to the appreciation include a well-managed township in a maturing area with a growing population and plenty of nearby amenities to sustain the community,” he says.
“When we got the land, we conducted a study and found that this part of the neighbourhood lacked a premium enclave with a green theme that could provide an affluent and tranquil lifestyle. It inspired us to forge ahead in creating Bandar Botanic.”
The five intermediate units that Gamuda submitted for the award have seen a capital appreciation of between 24.4% and 34.7% since 2014 or an average capital appreciation of 29% each. The annual rate of appreciation is 16%.
Bandar Botanic is connected to Lebuhraya Shah Alam and is located close to the upcoming Bukit Tinggi LRT station. Chu believes the rail infrastructure and enhanced connectivity will help sustain the capital appreciation of Phase 27 in the following five years at least.
“When we design a township, we put efforts in the placemaking … we don’t just build the houses but we build homes where everything is connected to bring convenience to the residents. Also, we are the first development in Klang with retention ponds in recreational parks that are surrounded by jogging tracks so that families can spend time together,” he explains.
“There is a clubhouse for residents and recently, we opened it to the public on the basis of annual membership. Also, we are still working with the resident associations to improve on the development, thus adding value to it.”
What will also contribute to the capital appreciation is that most housing projects within a 5km radius of Phase 27 currently are high-rises targeted at a different market segment, Chu adds. Being within a well-planned development such as Bandar Botanic with its mature infrastructure connectivity has also been an advantage.
More amenities are coming up in Klang, including educational institutions such as Big Apple Private Academy and Inspiros International School.
As for the sewage problem in Bandar Botanic, Chu says Gamuda has been working closely with the relevant authorities in the past two years, and restoration work has been going on since the middle of the year.
“We (Gamuda and the authorities) are sharing the cost to rectify the issue … we are committed to work together and get things done by the end of the year. The system will be back to normal by then. Currently, we have a monthly progress meeting with the authorities and resident associations and work is well ahead of time,” he says.
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