Local developer pioneers child-friendly condo in Phl

CEBU, Philippines - A local-based developer is positioning the safety of children at the core of its condominium venture as it tries to penetrate the buoyant real estate market here in Cebu.

Worldwide Central Properties (WCP) intends to tap the lively industry experienced by local real estate players with its formal launching last week of the first tower of Sundance Residences.

WCP president and chief executive officer Kent Ong, an engineer, said that Sundance Residences will put the security of the kids at the forefront of its plan while allowing their “busy” parents to work at the same time.

Ong said Sundance Residences will cater to the needs of the “young, modern Filipino family”.

“The parents are so much preoccupied with their work already that they should not bother where to send their kids for tutorial classes, for example, or where to find leisure activities for them,” said Ong.

“As a parent myself, I can relate to other parents wanting a place where they could work while having that peace of mind that their kids are safe,” he said.

Company officials pointed out that Sundance Residences will be the first child-friendly condominium in the Philippines.

Among the features that would support this claim are its anti-mosquito environment, kiddie toilets and urinals, columns with rounded corners and balconies with higher than standard railings.

They are also proposing to house and prioritize kid-related commercial establishments such as a pre-school and offer kid-related services like tutorial classes.

Sundance Residences is a mid-rise development composed of two towers. The first tower is 16 storeys high while the second one is just about the same height.

The units in the first tower are expected to be turned over to the tenants within the second quarter of 2015.

Officials also said a cutting edge for Sundance is its accessibility. Located in a 3,200-square meter property along S. Duterte St. in Barangay Banawa, Cebu City, Sundance Residences is some three-minute drive to grocery stores and five to 10 minutes away from hospitals, schools, universities and the central business district.

Ong mentioned that WCP is going to pour in P600 million for this investment, which is their first bid to vertical development. WCP is one of three companies comprising the Worldwide Group founded by couple Francisco and Lina Ong, who are both Cebuanos.

Ann Leslie Ngo, president of Worldwide Group, shared that before deciding to step into the real estate business with this particular project, it took them two years to do all the research and planning.

“It’s a well thought out project,” Ngo said. “Since it’s our first project, we wanted to make sure that we hire the best consultants in town.”

For this development, WCP has hired the technical assistance of celebrated furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue for the building’s interior design, while Antonio Trillanes, the older brother of the senator, serves as the project architect.

The studio units, taking up a total area of 29 square meters including the balcony space, are currently selling at P1.9 million. One-, two- and three-bedroom units are also obtainable.

WCP, an affiliate of Worldwide Steel and Worldwide Home Depot, is also eyeing to go on horizontal development towards the end of the year with its project in Lapu-Lapu City already on the drawing board. (FREEMAN)