Sharen Kaur

Berjaya Land expands footprint in Bukit Jalil

Its latest project, The Tropika, boasts a contemporary concept that suits the tastebuds of the millennial generation ENVISAGED to be the next Bukit Jalil lifestyle hub with community living at the fore, The Tropika is poised to rekindle Berjaya Land Berhad's past glory as the pioneer developer in Bukit Jalil.

Interestingly, the gated and guarded high-rise residential project will be undertaken by Berjaya Golf Resort Berhad, the Berjaya Land Berhad subsidiary which constructed the famous 18-hole Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Resort decades ago.

Berjaya Land Berhad has thus far played an instrumental role in the transformation of Bukit Jalil, which is renowned for hosting the 1998 Commonwealth Games, as a real estate hotspot vis-à-vis its array of bungalows and high-rise developments such as Savanna and Savanna 2, Covillea, KM1 East and West, Greenfields, Green Avenue and The Link 2 Residences.

With a total of 868 residential units spread across four towers, the project which is due for completion in 2023 offers a golf course view alongside retail units on a 6.5-acre freehold parcel. Its gross development value stands at RM780 mil.

The built-ups range from 732 to 1,318 sq ft with the price per sq ft being in excess of RM720. The selling price starts from RM575,800. There are seven units per floor served by four lifts. All units come with two parking bays each.

"We expect to launch Tower B once Tower A hits 80% sales," enthuses Berjaya Land CEO Syed Ali Shahul Hameed. "Sales have been brisk especially since we rolled out HouzKey, a home financing solution between Berjaya Land Berhad and Maybank Islamic Bhd which is specially made available for home buyers of The Tropika."

Under the HouzKey scheme, home buyers get to enjoy easy entry by having to pay only three months of security deposit upfront. This is suited for first-time home buyers and upgraders who are eager to own a home without worrying about the upfront cost.

"The Tropika stands out as the first project in Bukit Jalil to introduce HouzKey," Syed Ali points out. "Above all else, HouzKey offers greater flexibility and better cash flow as home buyers can opt to stay first before deciding to purchase the property within five years."

Multiple conveniences

A unique selling proposition of The Tropika which makes it stand out from other high-rise projects in the vicinity is perhaps the blending of lifestyle conveniences into its architecture and landscaping aspects - a feature that is very much sought by its target purchasers comprising young families and the millennial generation (those in the 30s to 40s age group).

Understanding the preference of the younger generation who prefers community living with lifestyle conveniences, The Tropika has in the pipeline neighbourhood mixed retail shops with Jaya Grocer as the anchor tenant.

Berjaya Land Berhad, through Berjaya Golf Resort Berhad, recently inked a lease agreement with Trendcell Sdn Bhd to operate a Jaya Grocer outlet which will take up 23,695 sq ft of commercial space in about two-and-a-half years' time.

"Having a grocer at one's doorstep is deemed to benefit a property development in the long run given it spells convenience to residents who may prefer to touch and feel fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) as opposed to ordering them from online grocers," justifies Syed Ali.

"That The Tropika has been chosen to house a Jaya Grocer store speaks volumes of its premier location (within Bukit Jalil) and its ability to extend such convenience to the surrounding Bukit Jalil community." Besides Jaya Grocer, the commercial component of The Tropika will also feature double-storey dual-frontage office lots with built-ups ranging from 3,316 to 3,814 sq ft, nine double-storey dual-frontage shops with built-ups ranging from 3,316 to 3,814 sq ft while the retail lots will have built-ups of 752 to 1,677 sq ft.

"In this regard, we hope to lease out the retail spaces to restaurants, gyms, and pharmacies, among others," says Syed Ali. "By so doing, we can add value to the homes in The Tropika by ensuring most of the basic conveniences are within reach."

Given that most purchasers are likely to have young children, the developer has also thoughtfully incorporated 68 facilities which can be grouped under eight lifestyle categories. These are housed within the 2.9-acre facilities podium to create a vibrant and interactive community among residents.

The facilities include an infinity pool, indoor and outdoor gymnasiums, a dance studio, boxing ring, Zen garden, kids' climbing wall, camping grounds and an e-charging station.

Property hotspot

So what does the future hold for the purchasers of The Tropika regardless if they are first-time home owners or investors who are looking for rental returns? Senior general manager (property sales and marketing) Tan Tee Ming sums up three key elements - (i) location; (ii) surrounding amenities, and (iii) connectivity.

"Bukit Jalil is the only location with ample sports/recreational amenities which again augurs well for young residents," quips Tan. "Most of our projects have seen capital appreciation over the years, notably KM1 East (30% to 39% from 2013 to 2018) and the Link 2 Residences (12% to 18% from 2014 to 1H2019)."

Noteworthy is that the Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Resort is just a stone's throw away from The Tropika while the 80-acre Bukit Jalil recreational park which boasts show gardens representing 10 countries is located just opposite it.

Elsewhere, the Bukit Jalil sports complex which comprises the national stadium (the largest stadium in the country and the second largest in Southeast Asia), the Putra Indoor Stadium (now renamed Axiata Arena), National Aquatic Centre and the National Hockey Stadium are within the neighbourhood.

"With the many sporting hubs in its vicinity, Bukit Jalil is indeed a perfect location for fitness enthusiasts," observes Tan.

Moreover, there are a number of upcoming new developments/enhancements that will contribute to the positive growth of Bukit Jalil in the near future. Among them are the Pavillion Bukit Jalil, the new International Medical University Hospital (first private hospital in Bukit Jalil), the Tzu Chi International School and the upgrading of the existing Bukit Jalil Highway.

Connectivity-wise, The Tropika is accessible via major highways such as the Shah Alam Expressway, Bukit Jalil Highway, Maju Expressway, KL-Seremban Highway and the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2.

Additionally, there are also several Light Rail Transit stations within a 3km radius of the project site (notably the Awan Besar, Sri Petaling and Bukit Jalil stations).

In allaying concerns over a property glut in Bukit Jalil which in turn may result in value stagnation, Tan opines that there is still a limited number of high-rise developments in Bukit Jalil on the bigger picture.

Citing property consultant and research firm Rahim & Co International Sdn Bhd, he says property prices in Bukit Jalil are still holding up despite the current soft property market compared to some other locations in the Klang Valley.

"Besides that, there's already limited land parcel available along Jalan Jalil Perkasa 1 for future high-rise development as most of the land is occupied by the Bukit Jalil recreational park and Bukit Jalil golf course," he adds.

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