Firstly, before you start reading about this condo, ask yourself these questions:

* Do you mind living on a project that is entirely built on an existing oxidation pond?
* Do you mind waiting 3-and-a-half years for the project to be completed?
* Do you mind staying in a very old housing area including some low cost flats and old houses? (if you're already living in Pandan Indah, then this doesn't apply to you)
* Do you mind living near one of the most congested interchanges on the Middle Ring Road II (MRR2)?

If you answered 'yes' to all of the above, then you will be enjoying these facilities:

* Condo right in front of STAR LRT station.
* Full facilities condo integrated with two levels of shopping centre and and two levels of SOHU (what's SOHU? We'll get to that later...)
* One of the most exciting condo projects to appear in KL for some time.
* Situated next to redeveloped public park and amenities.

Pandan Indah isn't really noted for new condos, it's a well established old housing area just outside the city centre, facing the highlands. A local Architect bought a piece of land containing an existing oxidation pond near some old government flats and terraced houses and planned to build a massive, ambitious commercial development.

(Sorry, there is no location map available. To get there is very simple. Turn off at the Cempaka interchange of MRR2, just between Pandan and Ampang, and you will see it after 1 km)

To understand clearly, there will be 2 floors of shops at ground level, followed by 3 floors of parking for residents (shoppers park in the basement), then two floors of SOHU with condo facilities, then 24 floors of apartment units, then a sky lounge at the top.

What's a SOHU? That's a Small Office Home Unit, where is like a basic shop lot where you can work and stay in. There are also duplex units available. These SOHU units act as courtyard shops for the condo, as they generally service only the residents, and are situated around the pool and landscaped park area. They will be available for sale next month. Speaking of the pool, the residents can enjoy spa pools, broadband access, al fresco cafes, as part of the condo facilities.

The developer will also redevelop the adjacent public park, including a surau and a community hall. This park was originally built years ago for the existing housing scheme and low cost flats.

Then of course, there's the STAR LRT across the road. That alone can sell plenty of units.

The units need about 42 months to complete because as part of the agreement with the authorities, the developer will first need to build a new sewerage treatment plant up the road, then start work on the old oxidation pond. Yeah, coming to that, some people may have some apprehension about that, but as far as the engineering aspect is concerned, there should be no problems of smell or ground seepage is concerned.

As for the unit layout, the developer has gone for the rectangular room concept. The smallest unit is at 739sq.ft (Type C), an unorthodox design with only two rooms, both with quite large. This leaves the living and dining to be quite spacious. Kitchen is open to the dining and living (fumes getting into your living room and furniture, bad) and no balcony (good).

The larger 835sq.ft version (Type C1) is the same but comes with a small utility room. Next comes type D (982sq.ft) which has another bedroom instead of the utility. This one has a balcony.

Beyond that, there are two more types, Type B (1,000sq.ft) and Type A (1,023sq.ft). We like Type A, the largest one, which is also the show unit. There is an open study area, which may be converted to a room. Type B(1,000sq.ft) is less practical, there is a long corridor at the entrance that goes past a bedroom and a bathroom. But this unit has a large living/dining.

Overall, good choice of units to meet a wide spectrum of buyers. Units are either facing KLCC, or facing the highlands. Price is still affordable, starting at RM160psf, its commercial title of course. And leasehold.

There is another adjacent plot of land which is marked for future development. At the moment there is another surau and some sports facilities there.

Sales were overwhelming, according to this report in the Edge. Actually, there are still some choice units available at the time we viewed it. There aren't many other condos available in this area, after all it is such matured housing area. Interesting and innovative product, worth looking at if you're planning to stay in Pandan Indah.

Project Name ------ The Axis Residences
Location ------------ Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur
Description --------- Condominium with shopping centre and business centre below
Land Type ---------- 90-year leasehold commercial title
Price ---------------- RM125,000 to RM232,000
---------------------- (from about RM160psf. to about RM190psf.)
Unit size ------------ 739sq.ft. to 1,023sq.ft
No of units ---------- 384 units
(units start from 9th to 32nd floor)
Launch Date -------- currently available
Expected Completion - April 2009
(3 � years period)
Developer ----------- Reliable Capacity Sdn. Bhd.
Contact -------------- 03 - 9282 1008

14 AUGUST 2007 - BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The retail industry in the country is expected to experience eight percent growth for 2007, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.

"Among the factors contributing to the growth of retail sector are higher level of disposable income and changes in lifestyle towards the use of products to facilitate work and entertainment devices," she said at the signing ceremony between RK Group of Companies and AXIS Atrium Retailers here today.

She said the forecast was higher than the targeted growth within the Third Industrial Master Plan period (2006-2010), where the retail industry's targeted growth was at an average of 6.8 percent per annum.

"The sector is also expected to undergo structural changes, including consolidation and integration business to reap greater economies of scale, extension of linkages along the value chain and promotion of new concept in retailing and consumerism," she said.

Rafidah said last year the retail sector recorded the highest growth of 25.4 percent among the other services sector, which was more than twice its growth of 10 percent previously.

"In 2006, the supermarket and hypermarket sector reported its highest increase in sales of 9.5 percent.

"Departmental stores, inclusive of supermarkets, recorded a growth in sales of 5.3 percent," she said.

Rafidah said some 207 projects were also approved last year in the retail and wholesale segment, with investment totalling to RM249.9 million comprising RM98.6 million domestic investment and the remaining RM151.3 million foreign.

The ceremony saw six retailers signing the retail agreement with property company, RK Group of Companies, to operate their businesses at AXIS Atrium from Aug 8 next year.

Leading the list of retailers is AEON Co (M) Bhd as anchor tenant where its supermarket, Pasaraya D'Hati, will take up 20,597 sq ft.

The other retailers are NZ Dynamic Sdn Bhd, Boutique Express Enterpise, Kirei Shoes House, Nelson's Franchise (M) Sdn Bhd and Restoran D'Naina.

AXIS Atrium is the retail component of AXIS Pandan, a 1.7 million sq ft mixed development with gross development value of RM237 million in the heart of Pandan district, Kuala Lumpur.

AXIS Pandan was launched by RK Group in 2005, and comprises commercial and residential products like serviced apartments, small office home units, serviced condominium and luxury-serviced condominiums besides AXIS Atrium as its neighbourhood retail centre.

-- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: RK Group Consolidated Sdn Bhd aims to develop three more projects by next year, said managing director Roslan Khalid.

"We are negotiating to acquire land in the Klang Valley area. We have already identified parcels of land around established neighbourhoods which range from five to 10 acres." he said, adding that it would be mixed and high-density type development.

He was speaking to reporters after the signing of an accord between the RK group and AXIS Atrium retailers here on Saturday.

Roslan said the gross development value (GDV) of the three projects was expected to be at least 10 times more than that of its Axis Pandan development.

The mixed development Axis Pandan, with a GDV of RM237mil, will comprise serviced apartments, small office home units and serviced condominiums and a retail centre, AXIS Atrium.

AXIS Atrium, which is scheduled to open in August 2008, is a 2�-storey neighbourhood retail centre with a built-up area of 200,000 sq ft and 234 retail lots.

14 AUGUST 2007 - BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The retail industry in the country is expected to experience eight percent growth for 2007, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.

"Among the factors contributing to the growth of retail sector are higher level of disposable income and changes in lifestyle towards the use of products to facilitate work and entertainment devices," she said at the signing ceremony between RK Group of Companies and AXIS Atrium Retailers here today.

She said the forecast was higher than the targeted growth within the Third Industrial Master Plan period (2006-2010), where the retail industry's targeted growth was at an average of 6.8 percent per annum.

"The sector is also expected to undergo structural changes, including consolidation and integration business to reap greater economies of scale, extension of linkages along the value chain and promotion of new concept in retailing and consumerism," she said.

Rafidah said last year the retail sector recorded the highest growth of 25.4 percent among the other services sector, which was more than twice its growth of 10 percent previously.

"In 2006, the supermarket and hypermarket sector reported its highest increase in sales of 9.5 percent.

"Departmental stores, inclusive of supermarkets, recorded a growth in sales of 5.3 percent," she said.

Rafidah said some 207 projects were also approved last year in the retail and wholesale segment, with investment totalling to RM249.9 million comprising RM98.6 million domestic investment and the remaining RM151.3 million foreign.

The ceremony saw six retailers signing the retail agreement with property company, RK Group of Companies, to operate their businesses at AXIS Atrium from Aug 8 next year.

Leading the list of retailers is AEON Co (M) Bhd as anchor tenant where its supermarket, Pasaraya D'Hati, will take up 20,597 sq ft.

The other retailers are NZ Dynamic Sdn Bhd, Boutique Express Enterpise, Kirei Shoes House, Nelson's Franchise (M) Sdn Bhd and Restoran D'Naina.

AXIS Atrium is the retail component of AXIS Pandan, a 1.7 million sq ft mixed development with gross development value of RM237 million in the heart of Pandan district, Kuala Lumpur.

AXIS Pandan was launched by RK Group in 2005, and comprises commercial and residential products like serviced apartments, small office home units, serviced condominium and luxury-serviced condominiums besides AXIS Atrium as its neighbourhood retail centre.

-- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: RK Group Consolidated Sdn Bhd aims to develop three more projects by next year, said managing director Roslan Khalid.

"We are negotiating to acquire land in the Klang Valley area. We have already identified parcels of land around established neighbourhoods which range from five to 10 acres." he said, adding that it would be mixed and high-density type development.

He was speaking to reporters after the signing of an accord between the RK group and AXIS Atrium retailers here on Saturday.

Roslan said the gross development value (GDV) of the three projects was expected to be at least 10 times more than that of its Axis Pandan development.

The mixed development Axis Pandan, with a GDV of RM237mil, will comprise serviced apartments, small office home units and serviced condominiums and a retail centre, AXIS Atrium.

AXIS Atrium, which is scheduled to open in August 2008, is a 2½-storey neighbourhood retail centre with a built-up area of 200,000 sq ft and 234 retail lots.