|
THE
Lucio Tan group of companies is currently pouring in
resources and much effort into what it describes as its
iconic and most ambitious project—the multibillion-peso
Eton City in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Once completed, the
1,000-hectare project along the South Luzon Expressway
aims to be the most complete community in the country.
One of those right in the heart of the challenging
project is Alex Jazmines, assistant vice president of
Eton Properties Philippines Inc (EPPI) and general
manager of the Eton City project. In an interview with
the BusinessMirror, he describes how, “every time I
think about the project, I think about something iconic.
I had the privilege of providing something unique.”
In
developing the project, Jazmines said they have to
present a unique package to serve a different segment of
the market. He stressed that Eton City is not competing
against Ayala Land’s Greenfield and Nuvali project
nearby.
“We’re
offering an island-type of development in Eton City and
putting up a man-made lake,” Jazmines points out, the
vision conjuring images of Dubai’s own ambitious Palm
and Islands projects where marina-type properties are
arising on huge swatches of reclaimed land.
The
South Lake Village is the core of Eton City. It
comprises about 76 hectares and has 18 residential
islands surrounded by a 35-hectare man-made lake. Each
island, approximately one hectare in size, will have
eight to 12 residential lots of about 1,000 square
meters each.
“In
Dubai, they reclaim land from the sea. In Eton City, we
will build a lake in a land area,” is how Jazmines makes
the distinction.
Jazmines
says EPPI conducted a thorough study before finalizing
the construction of the man-made lake. He pointed out
that environmental issues such as mosquito breeding,
lake water supply, conservation and pollution, flooding
and erosion were integrated into the company’s “green
architecture” program. And well they should, for, as
with the Dubai project, ignoring any of the geographic
and environmental factors could spell disaster down
ahead. In the Dubai Palms project, for instance, it is
said that Dutch engineers with extensive experience in
flood control worked alongside other experts for nearly
six years before the final go-ahead was given to
construction.
In
Eton’s case, as far as the water supply is concerned,
the lake will have two primary sources of water
supply—first from the rainfall and second, the rivers
that run naturally across the development.
Further,
water flow is also a crucial consideration to avoid the
perils associated with stagnation.
Through
the inflow and outflow of lake water, Jazmines says
there will be continuous water movement across the lake.
In other words, flowing water will prevent breeding of
mosquitoes. To promote a sustainable method, EPPI will
put fish into the water to feed on any mosquito larvae.
To
protect South Lake Village from other concerns such as
erosion, EPPI will put up a lake liner, earth fill and
rock layers and vegetation. Further, EPPI has a
long-range program to consider a flooding scenario in
the area. “We had a 50-year flood study that took into
account the highest flooding levels in the area,” says
Jazmines.
He says
the villages in Eton City will be elevated at the same
height as the expressway and their design has factored
in the results of the study on 50-year flooding records.
The
local government of Santa Rosa City, according to
Jazmines, is very pleased with the project because the
South Lake village will be the catch basin of waters
coming from the rivers.
“Two to
three years from now, the people in Santa Rosa will
realize the value of South Lake Village in pursuing an
ecological balance,” says Jazmines.
The
total community
Jazmines
says Eton City will be unique in the sense that it will
be the complete community once all the facilities are up
and running. Aside from offering the major amenities
found in a prime real-estate project, the plans include
putting up a world-class zoo, a 15-hectare sports
complex, a world-class hospital, a modern mall and
educational institutions.
The
sports area will have a total area of 15 hectares with a
baseball diamond as the centerpiece and a football
field, and a track for all-terrain vehicles thrown in as
well. “By putting a baseball field, we hope we can
contribute to the revival and development of baseball in
the country,” says Jazmines.
EPPI
will also develop a world-class, 18-hole golf course
with standards on a par with the Professional Golfers
Association of America. It will have a fairway or
lakeside lots for buyers and will be designed by Bob
Moore, the man who redesigned the Manila Golf Club.
Eton City has four lot sizes: the Island lots (minimum size of
800 to 1,200 sq m); Lakefront lots (minimum size at 600
sq m to 800 sq m); Lake Village lots (minimum size at
500 sq m to 650 sq m) and Riverside lots (minimum size
at 500 sq m to 650 sq m). Lot prices range from P9,000
to P14,500 per square meter.
At the
end of the day, Jazmines says the potentials for Eton
City are so immense that any business can be pursued.
With its complete package and top-caliber development,
the 10-year project, it is hoped, will give Santa Rosa
an “iconic” status once it is finalized. |
