The Philippine Star

Alveo spending P6 B for new Ayala Ave landmark

- By IRIS C. GONZALES

Alveo Land Corp., the mid- income housing unit of property giant Ayala Land Inc., is spending P6 billion to transform the Jaka Tower along Ayala Ave. into a premier 48-floor office tower.

The project dubbed the Alveo Financial Tower will house 363 office units as well as a variety of amenities and facilities that enhance corporate activity.

The Jaka Tower is an unfinished tower that was owned by the family of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. It was supposed to be a 49- story skyscraper but was left unfinished because of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Ayala Land bought the property in September last year, beating other parties interested in the much coveted prime estate property situated in the heart of Ayala Ave.

Jennylle Tupaz, Alveo vice president and head of project developmen­t group said the P6 billion includes the acquisitio­n cost.

The tower, scheduled for turnover in 2020, will have 48 floors and a roof deck. It is targeting investors, small and medium enterprise­s and other corporatio­ns intending to relocate to Ayala Ave.

Sitting on a prime 2,400-squaremete­r lot, the Alveo Financial Tower is expected to rake in P10.7 billion in sales. The company has sold over 60 percent of

the office units, translatin­g to P5.8 billion in sales.

The project, which will have a gross floor area of 63,739 square meters, boasts of being the only consolidat­ed office for sale option on Ayala Ave.

Constructi­on of the project will start in the fourth quarter.

Alveo expects investment returns to be as high as six percent based on the prevailing lease rates in the Makati central business district (CBD).

“With its much-coveted location on Ayala Ave., Alveo Financial Tower has become a rare investment opportunit­y for high-powered businesses and organizati­ons wanting to be part of the country’s premier financial center,” Tupaz said.

Alveo commission­ed Seattlebas­ed structural consultant Magnusson Klemencic Associates ( MKA) and prominent local engineerin­g firm Sy^2 + Associates to conduct structural integrity tests on the existing structure.

Alveo Financial Tower will also form a major component of City Gate, Ayala Land’s P20billion masterplan­ned mixeduse developmen­t strategica­lly located at the rejuvenate­d northern tip of Ayala Avenue.

City Gate will have a 2.2-hectare core area containing 81,000 sqm. of gross leasable office space and 14,000 sqm. of premium retail space, as well as upscale residentia­l developmen­ts, green open spaces, and a 312-suite hotel,.

A typical office space in Alveo Financial Tower sells at an average of P240,000 per sqm. or P27.8 million for an average unit size of 116 sqm. Tupaz said.

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