Geo-Estate Development Corp.’s maiden venture, The Beacon Makati, is now taking shape amidst more than 10,000 sqm of prime land with a strategic location on the corner of Chino Roces (formerly Pasong Tamo) and Arnaiz (formerly Pasay Road) Avenue. Recently, Geo-Estate president and Chief Operating Officer Miriam O. Katigbak expressed confidence that The Beacon will emerge as the only condo development of its kind in the area with a distinguishable and unparalleled “residential resort” theme.
This pronouncement is related to the impending turnover of The Beacon’s first building, Roces Tower, by the middle to the third quarter of 2011. Now in its finishing stages, construction is deemed right on track and even ahead of schedule.
“We started construction of Roces Tower in the middle of 2008 and this 42-storey structure is now set for completion very soon. For the second phase which is Arnaiz Tower, we started construction in August this year and it is scheduled for turnover in 2013. Amorsolo or Tower 3 is presently in its planning stages and will be launched soon,” Katigbak stated.
With sales averaging well across the market segments, Katigbak said that the industry has started to take notice of Geo-Estate as a formidable developer even if it is a young company.
“The ones who head the company come from different companies and fields within the real estate industry, and so we bring in a lot of views that I believe is important, to give the public a fresh product. And for the top echelon including our Chairman Mr. Francisco Licuanan and myself, we have accumulated over 100 years of experience in the business, so I believe that this plays a huge part in the decision-making of our buyers,” she added.
The unit mix of Roces Tower suits the profile of unit buyers at The Beacon: studio for single, young professionals working in Makati or the immediate vicinity, 1-bedroom for newlyweds or those hoping to get married, and 2- to 3-bedrooms for families with children.
“Many of them work in Makati but are living elsewhere, so moving to The Beacon is a way of being more located conveniently near their workplace, as well as transportation around the CBD. We are lucky to get this intersection because it is within the Makati CBD, and this corner is very convenient for public transport, jeeps and taxis. When Tower 3 comes up, part of the plan will give us access to the intersection of Pasong Tamo, which gives you a quieter side and a second access to the development.
The location also gives allows proximity to convenience stores, a major grocery chain, and even a major shopping complex where residents can go to for leisure and recreation. But if they wish to stay at home, there will be plenty of activities to enjoy because of the residential resort amenities, Katigbak noted.
“The positioning of project was very clear to us, and the residential resort was just a frame that captured the concept that we wanted. Because the smallest unit is sized at 21 sqm, we see that as a rather tight unit, so the idea is to provide the residents with a very good set of indoor and outdoor amenities. This means you don’t get cooped up in your own unit because you can go out and enjoy all these open spaces. We are proud to say that we probably have the most number of amenities among the residential towers of Makati. We have a large swimming pool which has a 450-sqm long lap pool, toddler pool, kiddie pool, 300-meter long jogging path, indoor and outdoor play areas for kids, a 500-sqm bi-level gym, a spa area with individual rooms, a clinic and function rooms. Our common areas are all Wi-fi ready and of course we have a lush garden with gazebos where you can just walk around.”
Roces Tower upon turnover will also have its own roofdeck which can be used for barbecue parties. This quality space will be landscaped and designed well to give another open space for residents.
Arnaiz Tower meanwhile will host the 6th level podium that will contain the most number of the indoor and outdoor amenities. Aside from these, it will have a Sky Lounge on the topmost level that will provide access to magnificent city views. The amenity will be divided into three sections: a lounge area, a bar area that opens to a garden, and a mini-theater with 20 seats that also leads to a separate garden.
“We’ve been very conscious in trying to add as much green and open space as we can, as well as specific amenities that we believe are comparable to none. I don’t think there are other buildings which can boast of such,” Katigbak declared.
Despite all these advantages, prices of units at The Beacon are still very competitive with the middle market products, she said. Unit finishes are also much better in quality, even when compared to products with roughly the same price points. These include a shower enclosure and water heater in the bathroom, a kitchen counter top with cabinets on top and below the counter, a convection cook top and exhaust hood, a grease trap under the kitchen sink, a 3.2-meter clearing for the ceiling, and bigger windows and glass panels.
With The Beacon still the only product in their portfolio, Katigbak noted that the company wants to take the time to create a development that Geo-Estate can be truly proud of. They are however intent on launching a new project by next year, still under the middle market segment where they want to carve their niche.
“Right now, that is a very large segment and we believe that we can contribute significantly to improving the lives of people. There is no intention to go up because that is a completely different animal altogether. The size of the lower end market is much bigger but again when it comes to the real estate discipline, it’s different for every segment. Right now since we are still young and growing, we would like to be good at what we are doing and take our time, and just focus on this market,” Katigbak concluded.
To know more about The Beacon, visit their website at www.thebeacon.com.ph.