The place to go if you want to go ‘up’

Written by Rizal Raoul Reyes / Correspondent

Wednesday, 04 February 2009 17:59

For the majority of Filipinos, buying and owning a condominium unit is not wise spending. The main reason is that there’s no actual land title attached to their ownership. However, the reality is the population is expanding and land area is not. “Many people resist going into condominiums since there’s no actual land title attached to their ownership. Very traditional Filipino families still believe in owning titled lands because they intend to bequeath it to their children in the future,” said Patty Porto, project development manager of DMCI Homes, in a press statement. Since land available in Metro Manila for subdivision developments is not that big, Porto said most developers are now going up (literally!) to provide families the homes they need. While there are still a number of people who don’t want to go “up,” Porto said modern families buy units in vertical housing because they’re proven to be more practical in the long run. In response, DMCI Homes is now building Mahogany Place 3, a subdivision development in its Township Central in Taguig City. PORTO “Mahogany Place 3 is the newest subdivision nearest Bonifacio Global City and Makati,” said DMCI Homes’ business development director Rey Salazar. “It will also probably be our last subdivision development in the area because the cost of such a development is quite prohibitive. For that reason, Mahogany Place 3 is really an exclusive development,” said Porto. Porto said DMCI Homes is targeting the successful business executives, balikbayan and professionals working abroad. Mahogany Place 3 is a low-density, Asian-themed residential enclave situated within DMCI Homes’ Township Central in progressive Taguig City. It offers a quality pedestrian environment and landscaped community spaces for affluent families with sophisticated taste in search of a home environment with themed gardens. The eco-friendly residential subdivision also offers concierge service, a plus that marks it as an exclusive community. Mahogany Place 3’s location is very accessible to the Makati and Ortigas business districts, as well as major commercial centers, schools and medical facilities in the area. With its Asian contemporary designed houses, owners are assured of homes that are suited for tropical weather that will not date over the years. To ensure quality living, Porto said Mahogany Place 3 will only offer a limited number of house and lots within the property’s eight-hectare expanse. This assures buyers of a low-density community with 24-hour security, a gated entrance and electrified perimeter fence. Its design of tree-lined avenues make walks around Mahogany Place 3 possible, while pocket gardens and public spaces bring nature close to you. A central area houses the Grand Clubhouse with country club-like amenities, including a minitheater, sauna, dance room and fitness gym, lounge areas and both adult and kiddie pools. The Grand Clubhouse will also have service facilities such as laundry pickup and water-refilling stations and a minimart. There are four unit types available for Mahogany Place 3: Tamara, a 120-square meter, three-story duplex unit; Bela, a 240-square meter, two-story single-detached unit; Helena, a 120-square meter, three-story duplex unit; and Ariana, a 240-square meter, three-story single-detached unit. Tamara and Bela offer fixed designs, while homeowners have the option to customize the Helena and Ariana units to suit their needs. Both the Tamara and Bela units have large windows and door openings, landscaped frontage, wide hallways on the upper floors and dining rooms that extend to a garden. However, in the Bela unit, the upper hallway can be transformed into a study area, and the master’s bedroom has a separate balcony area. There is also extra bedroom for guests at the Bela unit located at the ground floor. Lolo and lola no longer need to climb upstairs to sleep at the end of the day. The kitchen also has a center island, a feature unique to this unit, that doubles as a preparation area and cocktail bar, giving homeowners more room for flexibility when entertaining guests. In the Helena and Ariana units, homeowners can easily access the outdoors from almost any part of the house through sliding doors. The large frameless glass windows add not just a sense of openness but also provide excellent cross ventilation and natural lighting inside. Adding further to this sense of openness and space are the double height ceiling in the living areas and high ceilings throughout the house.