THE Seputeh area in Kuala Lumpur is experiencing a new wave of property development: gated and guarded communities that are less threatening to the location’s sensitive nature.
I say sensitive because Seputeh is undulating and hilly with small and narrow roads. There is only one access road (Jalan Taman Seputeh) to Taman Seputeh, Taman Bukit Seputeh and Bukit Seputeh.
The Sri Tiara, Seputih Permai and Sri Langit condominiums are situated near the entrance of this road. Further inside are the Casa Elita apartments. A labyrinth of roads is also found in the adjacent Bukit Robson where the Krystal Court, Robson Court, Robson condominiums and Lee Chateau 1 and 2 apartments are.
Residents who cherish the peace and quiet of the area would be sensitive to any more high-density developments. Many of them have been living in Seputeh for decades and have enjoyed the verdant hills and strategic location.
Seputeh is at the intersection of at least four vital highways: the Federal Highway that leads to Petaling Jaya; the New Pantai Expressway that leads to the Old Klang Road area, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, USJ, and Shah Alam; the KL-Seremban Highway and East-West Link that lead to KL, Cheras and Kajang; and Jalan Syed Putra to nearby KL city.
The completion of the nearby Mid Valley Megamall has cast the spotlight on Seputeh, once described as a housing estate ''lost in time''. However, it has also brought unwanted traffic as shoppers use part of Jalan Taman Seputeh to enter the Mid Valley Megamall.
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The entrance to the Seputeh Heights gated community. |
As one resident put it: ''It is a sleepy hollow that has lagged behind its contemporary, Bangsar, in terms of development and property value.'' It is very convenient for residents to go anywhere, and it is for this reason that many investors want to prise open this ''pearl'' of a location by buying pricey bungalows.
There are now at least four gated projects, three of which are in the Seputeh side of Jalan Syed Putra that was first developed some 40 years ago. The gated communities are:
Seputeh Heights: This development by Selat Makmur Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Berjaya Land Bhd, was launched in 1998. About 80% of the 108 bungalow lots had been sold. The lots, measuring 7,992 sq ft to 23,100 sq ft, are priced from RM163 to RM229 per sq ft (psf). The initial prices were from RM138 to RM198 psf. The entry-level investment is around RM3.5mil, with RM1.5mil being the minimum land cost and RM2mil for the building.
High walls with barbed wires on top surround this 41-acre freehold project nestled in a valley. Security is given top priority. There is a 24-hour electronic surveillance system including a perimeter intruder detection system, closed-circuit TV at guardhouse, and drive-through access gate system.
Berjaya Land general manager (property & marketing) Mah Siew Wan said many houses were coming up in Seputeh Heights.
''We completed one house and it was sold immediately. We’re completing another three Japanese-styled bungalows with about 10,000 sq ft built-up area each that will be priced from RM6mil to RM7mil,'' she said.
Sierra Seputeh: Many houses are nearing completion in this 8.6-acre freehold project in Bukit Seputeh by Utama Lodge Sdn Bhd (a See Hoy Chan Group company). It comprises 54 semi-detached houses and four bungalows priced from RM1.32mil to RM4.72mil.
Mutiara Seputeh: Penang-based Hunza Properties group will launch this 15-acre freehold project soon. It comprises 86 three-storey semi-detached houses priced from RM1.6mil to RM1.9mil and 12 bungalows from RM2.85mil. It will have a gross development value of RM190mil.
Hunza Group executive chairman Datuk Khor Teng Tong said the bungalows would have 5,000 to 6,000 sq ft built-up areas and 6,500 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft land areas while the semi-detached houses would have 4,300 to 4,500 sq ft built-up areas and 3,200 to 3,600 sq ft land areas.
Like the Seputeh Heights, there will be no clubhouse, as Khor believes the residents would probably have memberships in one or more clubs. ''We’ve the best land here as our land is 150ft to 200ft above sea level, and is fairly undulating with no retaining walls. Residents also need not fear flooding. We’re quite confident of doing well,'' he said, adding that there would be an ''early bird'' discount.
Desa Seputeh: It is sited at Seputeh, off Old Klang Road. The developer Intan Gergas Sdn Bhd is offering three-storey luxurious link houses priced from RM1.1mil to RM1.5mil. The 6+2 rooms/6 baths houses have 4,100 to 4,300 sq ft built-up areas.
Seputeh 1128: This Sunrise Bhd project on 2.6 acres in Taman Seputeh has 14 bungalow lots, most of which have been sold for about RM130 psf. Sunrise managing director Datuk Michael Yam said there were five to six lots of 5,000 sq ft to 6,000 sq ft left, and he plans to build compact bungalows and sell them for about RM1.8mil each.
While some residents are glad that these gated projects would not have high density and might even improve the values of their properties, others are worried that they would not be able to afford a home in Seputeh as developers are now building more upmarket houses.
''Those who can afford may be people from Bangsar who have sold their houses for a profit and buy the semi-detached houses or bungalows here,'' said one resident.
A 1,430-sq-ft freehold Robson condo unit is being offered for sale at RM385,000 while old bungalows here can easily fetch over RM1mil.
Source : The Star 4/4/2005 | 
