By Rizal Raoul Reyes
NUVALI, a master-planned mixed-use development that straddles the cities of Santa Rosa, Cabuyao and Calamba in Laguna, continues to deliver the promise of sustainable living to develop an ecologically sound environment.
Further, buying a property in Ayala Land Inc.’s (ALI) biggest eco-community also delivers lucrative returns for people who want to balance work and leisure manner. To broaden the community base, ALI added Amaia to the list of residential developments.
“Residential lots offered through Ayala Land Premier, Alveo and Avida ranges from P15,000 to P24,000 per square meter. Avida house and lots, with two- and three-bedroom configurations, vary between P4.7 [million] to P6.3 million and are recommended for full-nesters,” said John Estacio, Nuvali general manager, in a recent media briefing held in Makati City.
“Amaia mid-rise condominium units are for the young professionals, as well as couples and young families, and are available with units ranging from 30 sq m to 75 sq m at P1.8M to P4.8M,” Estacio added.
Buoyed by the warm reception of the market, Nuvali, currently ALI’s largest estate development, has grown from 1,800 hectares in 2009 to its current 2,290 hectares. Estacio noted that there is a possibility the current size might expand in the future, if the opportunity arises.
Estacio said ALI made all the necessary steps to ensure Nuvali will be developed into a balanced environment by combining nature and man-made structures in the pursuit of sustainability and economic prosperity.
Flourishing community
In six years, Estacio reported Nuvali became a hot estate with 12,000 residential units, 85,000 sq m of gross leasable areas for retail and office spaces, and 150 hotel rooms.
Furthermore, Estacio mentioned two fully operational business-process outsourcing (BPO) buildings have become the source of the work force population that has grown to 4,000, and is expected to double in the next three to five years with the completion of the additional office buildings.
On the academic side, ALI ensured quality education will be offered in the estate. Estacio reported Xavier School and Miriam College, currently with a student population of 990, is expected to double every year. In partnership with the Legionaries of Christ, Nuvali will be the home of the Everest Academy—the first international catholic school in the area.
In its objective to pursue and encourage a work-life balance, Estacio said Nuvali implemented approximately 50-percent balance between built and open areas, featuring a multifunctional lake, mountain bike and hiking trails, a wildlife and bird sanctuary and Camp N—Nuvali’s teambuilding and camping grounds.
In terms of accessibility, ALI has strategically positioned the estate easier to reach. A motorist has five options to reach Nuvali—via South Luzon Expressway through the Mamplasan, Santa Rosa, Eton-Greenfield, Silangan and Canlubang exits.
Moreover, Nuvali can also be accessed by public transport. Public buses ply to Nuvali from major centers, like Makati City, Bonifacio Global City and Balibago.
Riding high on the success
Investing in Nuvali has yielded positive results because it has the highest rate in land value appreciation. Estacio pointed out residential lot values rose from P9,500 to P20,000 per sq m, while commercial space offerings experienced a huge upsurge from P20,000 sq m to P40,000 per sq m.
Estacio attributed two major factors to the significant appreciation of the Nuvali real estate.
“First is the strength of our value proposition that as Ayala Land’s largest eco-community, Nuvali was envisioned as a harmonious and creative space, where a lifestyle of responsibility and sustainability is well-balanced. Nuvali commits to this vision by integrating a mix of land uses and showcasing it through Ayala Land’s expertise in revolutionary sustainable development that allows for economic prosperity, community-building, and flourishing lives within an ecologically sound environment,” Estacio said.
“The second factor is the irresistible draw of Nuvali as a complete self-supporting estate. It has attracted professionals and families alike to its work, living and recreational spaces that are bundled in one complete package,” he added.
At the start of the development of Nuvali, ALI was laser-focused on implementing sustainability philosophy triggered by the increasing manifestations of climate change and development concerns in key urban areas.
Current developments
Estacio said ALI is vigorously pushing the development of the necessary facilities and infrastructure in Nuvali.
“Ayala Malls Solenad recently opened its third wing and by November, we are expected to open Solenad’s movie halls. Solenad is designed to meld harmoniously with the ecological features of Nuvali and, thus, features an outdoor theme; there are spacious walkways, pocket garden parks, bike lanes, and a fully featured playground that has unique glow-in-the-dark swings, all placed on attractive colorful rubber flooring,” Estacio said.
Meanwhile, S&R membership shopping will open its branch in Nuvali by mid-November of this year.
By December Nuvali will open its multipurpose outdoor and recreational facility called Camp N, which is similar to the facility at SandBox in Alviera in Porac, Pampanga. It will have a high and low rope obstacle courses, rappelling and climbing wall, camping grounds and Asia’s longest roller-coaster zipline.
To provide the health and medical needs in Nuvali, QualiMed Hospital is scheduled to be opened by the second quarter of 2016.