The Viridian at Greenhills: Moving forward to a bright new future

Nostalgia is always tempting.  Nevertheless, there should be an acceptance that one can never go back to the so-called ‘good old times.’ This is be- cause as change is a fact of life, what worked efficiently before may not turn out too well for the present. The Eng- lish-Australian book author Marlene S. Lewis puts it quite succinctly. She says, “You can never avoid change. It is wise then, to factor in change into everything we do—because no matter how carefully and thoroughly we construct our worlds, once formed, they will begin to change.” Lewis’ counsel likewise holds true in

building physical communities. It will happen that even the best, most carefully planned neighborhoods, will feel the demands of growing populations within their limited boundaries. And while there may be a temptation to move away and build anew elsewhere, a prime location that is in close proximity to conveniences of daily living will always be desirable for the majority of investors.

Thus, the transformation of Greenhills into a more efficient and dynamic com- munity is good news. The Greenhills Shopping Center is currently being rede- veloped by Ortigas & Company so that it will become a new city that is responsive to the current demands of urban living. A residential development which is lo- cated at the corner of Connecticut Street and Missouri Street within Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City is en- visioned to become “the crown jewel of Greenhills.”

Viridian rises as a new prime address in Greenhills

The 53-storey tower Viridian in Green- hills will certainly be an astute investment opportunity for select homeowners. With 49 floors devoted to residential units, 5 basement parking levels, two levels of retail area, outdoor amenities deck featuring swimming pools and cabanas, Sky Gardens, 6 high speed elevators, a freight elevator and a helipad, it offers city dwellers the best of high-rise living.

Going for about P7 million for a studio to a little above P30 million for a three-bedroom unit, Viridian is a reason- able alternative for those who prefer a Greenhills address. After all, properties in existing communities in the area easily go for quadruple, or even quintuple the value of Viridian’s larger units. —But only if you could find owners who would be willing to part with their first-rate properties.

“The old adage about the importance of loca- tion, location, location stands true,” says Joselito “Joey” Santos, Senior Vice-President and Gen- eral Manager, Real Estate Division, Ortigas & Co. “People have always been very comfortable living in Greenhills because it was a prime site from the start. It has always been a great place to live and the area is home to very prominent people and successful entrepreneurs.” While Greenhills is favored by businessmen as a lucky place for commerce as feng-shui’s ‘belly of the dragon,’ the area is likewise especially attractive to families with school-aged children because of nearby schools with a proven record of excellence.

Not surprisingly, there are many who aspire for a Greenhills address. Says Santos, “There are four established residential communities in the area where property values continue to appreciate. But with real estate prices so steep and values rising so quickly in good residential areas such as these, the next generation may not have an opportunity to live and raise families in the same areas where their parents raised them.”

Thus, the attraction of investing in a Viridian home. “The development is an opportunity for the next generation to continue to live in the same place where they grew up; to raise their own families in a good residential area,” Santos explains. “With a lot less money, they and their own children can afford a home in a familiar, attractive, comfortable, prime neighborhood and enjoy all the benefits that come with living in Greenhills. And with the redevelopment of the area, that lifestyle could even be better for the next generation of residents.” partnerinG with the best in the construction business

The next construction phase of the P4.8- billion Viridian residential tower continues with D.M. Consunji, Inc. (DMCI) on board for the tower’s general architectural and structural works.

“This is the flagship residential develop- ment of Ortigas & Co. This is our most pre- mier residential product,” states Santos. “We wanted to get a contractor that can deliver on our vision, and DMCI is the most prestigious construction company in the Philippines.” The ‘ceremonial pouring of concrete’ activity with Ortigas & Co. and DMCI officials in at- tendance was held last month. With construc- tion in full swing, turnover of units is slated for 2016.

But while the residential component is sig-nificant, it is only part of the entire P25- billion redevelopment plan for the area. Greenhills has established itself as a popular shopping site for many decades, and new infrastructure will further strengthen its position as a prime shopping destination.

“What has made Greenhills stand out for many years is the tiangge,” muses Cathy Casares-Ko, general manager, Shopping Center Division. “Since the organized chaos is part of the charm, the new Greenhills Shopping Center will feature a bigger area for this. We will be able to accommodate more tenants so that there can be a wider selection of quality merchandise, and this should strengthen our position as the value-shopping destination.”

To gear up for the expected influx of shoppers, necessary facilities and infrastructure continue to be built. “All of our buildings will have underground parking,” says Casares-Ko. “Eventually, all basement parking facilities will be intercon- nected so that it will be easier to get around.” She shares that close to 8000 parking slots will be available when infrastruc- ture is complete.

A thriVinG and thrillinG lifestyle with familiar faVorites and new discoVeries In its new incarnation, the old, familiar favorites at Greenhills will continue to thrive alongside new haunts. Right now, the much-loved restaurant Gloria Maris has a 7,500 square meter home in a new building, while Wafu, the restaurant that serves modern Japanese cuisine, could be the proverbial “new kid on the block” as it continues to gain a loyal following.

Another thing to look forward to is the completion of the Promenade expansion. Expected to open in June, it will house three additional cinemas and about 40 new restaurants and food outlets.

Even long-standing Unimart Supermarket, 46 years old this year, will soon have a 10,000 square meter home at the site where Gloria Maris once stood (across Club Filipino. ) Apart from underground parking, the supermarket housed at ground level will have four levels of parking space above it for the convenience of shoppers.

“Murals of the old Greenhills will be featured in the new development to elicit a nostalgic feel,” Casares-Ko informs us. Moreover, there will still be plazas and areas where the “morning society” of joggers, tai chi practitioners, exercise enthusiasts and various groups of friends can congregate.

A constantstriving for excellence

“We employ all of the best urban practices that we have learned over the years to make sure that Green- hills will continue to thrive,” assures Joey Santos. As a respected leader in building prime communities, Ortigas & Company has 81 years in “perfecting the art of life, work, and leisure by conceiving of and building master-planned developments that have become thriv- ing communities over time - paradigms of excellence in the Philippine real estate landscape.” As such, the company takes the extra effort of being thoughtful and cautious as it undertakes the task of redeveloping the new Greenhills Shopping Center. Construction, after all, can be a messy process that could disrupt daily living.

“That’s precisely why construction is being done in many phases,” explains Joey Santos. “We’re very careful so that we do not disturb our existing communities. We consider how our developments affect our neighbors and we try our best to make sure there is ample coordi- nation so that disruption of daily living is minimized.”

If one is to take Joey Santos’ statement as a reflec- tion of Ortigas &Company’s building philosophy, then that extra consideration of thoughtful devel- opment and putting people first (even as early as the construction phase) is highly appreciated. It indicates real concern and a genuine, enlightened desire to make urban living better. For as the highly regarded Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa says in his book The Embodied Image: “Architecture can- not be a pure and autonomously artistic fabrication of space and form as its very purpose is to structure, articulate and express real existence and life.”

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For more information, call 451-1538 or visit www.viridian.ph.