Wangsa Maju developed by Landmarks Berhad

Developer Landmarks Bhd, aims for its township Wangsa Maju, being built by its wholly owned subsidiary Landmarks Land & Properties (LLP) Sdn Bhd, to compete with Bangsar and Sri Hartamas to be “the soul of the city” of Kuala Lumpur.This is set to happen when it completes the remaining development ventures valued at RM2.1 billion and sited on 249 acres by the year 2010. Once that happens, Wangsa Maju can become the most happening location in the country as a result of the revision of its masterplan to usher in high-end modern suburban living.“Wangsa Maju has been gazetted as one of the strategic development zones under the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020,” said LLP general manager Tan Ching Meng. “It also forms part of the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan Region (KLMR), which comprises strategic growth areas to be developed into commercial hubs.
Therefore, one can envision Wangsa Maju to become an important suburban business centre as it is only 6km away from KL city centre. Given this proximity, our new tagline for Wangsa Maju is now ‘KL’s suburban centre’, or KLSC in short.”
At the heart of this new focus is Wangsa Link, new town centre which will lift the currently staid image of the 1,000-acre township with a total Gross Development Value estimated at RM3.4 billion. Currently already an ideal location for businesses as their workers need not endure the massive traffic jams common in the city centre, Tan said “Wangsa Maju has been popular because of its good infrastructure and easy accessibility”. “That’s why demand for residential properties here has always been high and is a hotbed for the expanding middle class that seeks quality designs and value-for-money homes in a mature, safe and secure neighbourhood.” Wangsa Link will capitalise on these factors, but it is the drive for more upmarket and sophisticated properties that will “catapult the township to the forefront of the nation as a model for other developers to emulate”.The vision is to provide a blend of quality and modern office suites for businesses; medium to high-end residential properties for families; and a mix of retail and entertainment outlets for the lifestyle needs of the residents and business community. Residential propertiesOne of the ongoing residential developments is Desa Putra, comprising three blocks of 20-storey condominiums. Its 436 units of 1,246sq ft to 1,340sq ft are priced between RM250,000 and RM280,000 and offer views of the city skyline and the lush greenery of the Titiwangsa Range.“One of its major plus factors is its proximity of the Putra LRT’s Sri Rampai station,” said Tan. “Up to now, 75 per cent of the units have been sold and we expect all to be taken by the middle of next year. “So far, 80 per cent of the buyers are people from the Klang Valley, 10 per cent from the other States and the remaining 10 per cent, foreigners.”Another project is Desa Andaman, consisting of 132 units of two-and-a-half-storey terraced houses, where no more than 10 units are linked. The houses, priced from RM350,000, and featuring a north-south orientation as well as two-car garages, have proven to be popular, with all sold.Another project containing 94 units that has also been sold out is Desa Villas, developed on a joint-venture with Singapore-based MCL Land. Priced between RM250,000 and RM600,000, it is a low-density villa and condo development.Going upmarketOther joint venture projects in the pipeline include a high-end condominium in collaboration with IJM Properties Sdn Bhd and a hillside gated residential development with Tan & Tan Development Bhd.Tan explained that LLP has traditionally been developing affordable houses but through its new joint venture alliances to develop high-end properties, it intends to reposition itself in the upscale market for commercial and residential property development.Having already obtained ISO 9001 certification, it now aims to achieve customer satisfaction with a twin-pronged strategy of providing quality products and excellent customer service.“It’s an opportunity for us to leverage on strong brand names and expertise to fast-track our developments in prime areas of Wangsa Maju to improve our bottom line,’ he said. “And with MCL as a big stakeholder in the company, more good news is in store for residents of Wangsa Maju.” Built for a purpose While the promise of better times ahead would most certainly be welcome, it would only add to the residents’ contentment of what has already been provided. These include the ease of accessibility by both road and rail, green lungs as well as commercial conveniences. In terms of access, rail connection is via two LRT stations, while by road, it takes the form of the Middle Ring Road II, a free-flow expressway connecting the area to the south and north of KL; the Ampang Elevated Highway; and the soon-to-be-built KL North Eastern Expressway, also called the Damansara-Ulu Klang Expressway or “Duke”.LLP has also allocated some 40 acres of land to build a green lung called Metropolitan Park, which will be landscaped while amenities and facilities include the Carrefour and Giant hypermarkets; a Jaya Jusco superstore; drive-in fast food outlets, dine-in restaurants and a 24-hour petrol station.“The Wangsa Maju catchment zone comprises areas up to the KL boundary at Batu Caves, Gombak, Melawati and Ampang in the north; the KL-Karak Highway in the west and Jalan Tun Razak,” Tan pointed out.By 2020, he said the population of the Wangsa Maju to Maluri area under the KL draft Structure Plan will reach around 450,000 while the employment in the area will grow to 174,400 persons. “The strong population growth and increased affluence will result in greater demand for quality offices and houses, as well as medium- to high-end retail outlets,” Tan said.“With the infrastructure in place, and a strong and ready population base from the middle- to upper-income bracket, we are confident our commercial and retail projects will take off and KLSC will become the preferred township for many."