Still a fairly new name in the property industry, Parkwood Sdn Bhd is bringing to the market exclusive low-rise boutique residences in Jalan Melati, PJU 6A, Petaling Jaya. The property arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of Amalgamated Industrial Steel Bhd (AISB) is planning to launch Utamara, which has a gross development value of RM105 million, this month.

To recap, Parkwood was acquired by AISB from LGB Holdings Sdn Bhd and CS Lim Holdings Sdn Bhd in 2017. A company under the LGB Group of Companies, LGB Holdings indirectly holds a substantial stake in AISB via Telaxis Sdn Bhd. The group, through its property arm Bellworth Developments, has completed its flagship commercial and residential developments Menara LGB and The Greens respectively in the affluent neighbourhood of Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

AISB, which began life as a pioneer manufacturer of steel pipes in Malaysia in 1969, is now involved in steel trading, property development and property investment.

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AISB executive director Lim Chin Sean and chief operating officer Chan Keen Wai spoke to City & Country exclusively at Parkwood’s tastefully decorated sales gallery in Jalan Wan Kadir 1 in TTDI, which houses the scale model, layout plans and proposed sample fittings for Utamara.

Utamara is a portmanteau word of the development’s neighbouring areas Bandar Utama and Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, Chan explains. “It signifies the location of the site, which is just a stone’s throw from the established neighbourhoods with the convenience of shopping and other amenities. ‘Utama’ also means prime and ‘mara’ to move forward. Thus, the name represents not only the prime location and thoughtful design of the development but also its current and modern elements.”

The 1.82-acre, low-density development offers 82 residences housed in two blocks, one four storeys high and the other five storeys. Its spacious units come in sizes ranging from 1,029 to 2,377 sq ft with nine unique layouts ranging from 2-bedroom 2-bathroom to 4-bedroom 4-bathroom. The units are tentatively priced at RM850 psf and the development is slated for completion in 2022. Utamara’s 99-year lease was renewed last year, notes Chan.

Lim says Utamara is targeted at families or investors with the large built-ups of its units. “With that and also the location in mind, we are looking at second-generation upgraders who want to be near their families.”

All units have generously sized living, dining and kitchen areas. “Except for two smaller units, the rest come with a minimum of three bedrooms with an additional plus-one space that can be utilised as a family room, study room, bedroom, play room or music room,” says Chan.

Each unit comes with two parking bays, kitchen cabinets with a hood, hob and oven, as well as sanitary fittings and home security cameras while all rooms come with air conditioning. The security system consists of perimeter CCTVs, multi-tier card access and home security cameras that can be monitored from the mobile devices of residents.

Among the units offered at Utamara are 14 large 4-bedroom, dual-key units. “The dual-key units are suitable for two generations who want to live together or for those who want to rent out one unit while living in the other as there are many universities and colleges in the surroundings and this is a very prime site,” says Lim.

“In general, our product is positioned for the movers and shakers as well as the young and affluent. Specifically, we are targeting those from the middle to high-income groups who are drawn to the location and retirees living in landed homes who want to [downsize] and be near amenities and facilities,” says Chan.

In its design brief, Parkwood says it aims to conceptualise resort-style living in Utamara, starting with open, bright and airy common corridors that face one another across a central landscaped courtyard that welcomes its residents home from the lift lobby to their front doors.

All units, almost half of which are corner units, will come with balconies. As for the intermediate units, their balconies are inward facing for added privacy and can also serve as an extension of the living space.

Selected units with big built-ups also come with a stand-alone bath tub and a large adjustable louvred window.

“We have put in a lot of effort to infuse a resort lifestyle into the project, particularly the central courtyard and balconies,” Lim remarks.

Utamara’s residents will enjoy facilities in both blocks — a rooftop deck and garden in Block A and a pool deck on the ground floor of Block B.

Block A with its 31 residences comes with rooftop facilities, including a landscaped courtyard, multipurpose hall with kitchen, private roof farm, community herb and vegetable garden, interactive terrace, terraced garden with seats, play area, hammock area, covered barbecue and dining area, and reflexology path.

Block B with its 51 residences comes with ground floor facilities such as a 20m-long infinity pool with an adjoining covered lounge, wading pool, children’s play area, sun deck, floating lounge, double-volume gymnasium with a mezzanine level overlooking the pool, and a semi-outdoor onsen with an adjoining lounge.

“The herb and vegetable garden on the rooftop provides a good platform for a farm-to-plate dining experience,” Chan says. The indicative monthly maintenance fee is 50 sen psf or below.

Utamara’s strategic location close to established and mature neighbourhoods, such as Damansara Utama and Bandar Utama, is well connected and enjoys easy access to major roads and highways such as SPRINT, Lebuhraya Bandar Utama, Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong and New Klang Valley Expressway. It is also within walking distance of the Centrepoint neighbourhood mall and the upcoming Damansara Utama LRT station.

Lim and Chan are optimistic that Utamara will do well. “We are very boutique and are targeting a niche market. If we had 500 units, it would be challenging but we only have 82,” Chan remarks.

According to Lim, the project has garnered good response. “Our billboard on SPRINT has generated a lot of enquiries and interest. We are very confident of this project. As its surroundings are already mature, it is only a matter of time before any vacant land in the area is developed.”

Developments in Utamara’s vicinity include Laman Ara Utama by GSB Properties Sdn Bhd and Séterra by Briswood Sdn Bhd.

This post has been edited by chesterst: Mar 18 2019, 11:53 PM

I phoned up the developer, the person answering the phone had no idea on the existence of this development.

I'd definitely invest in one but I'd only be willing to invest in one that's built by a bluechip developer.

Low density strata and poor build quality equals a major disaster in as little as 5 years time.

This project is located in Kayu Ara where it is surrounded by slums and low cost taman

the only reputable (sort of) developer in kayu ara is Glomac…..

the rest are all small flies.

but they are not big projects, therefore any reliable small timers actually can build better homes bcos its more personal.

huhuhuhu..
Big NO then.. have bad experiences previously

This development is somewhere behind the Petron station when you get off the Damansara toll. It can be accessed from that road or from BU Centre Point.

The slums is on the other side of the Sprint Highway, by the Hindu temple, Shell and BHP station.

Attracted by the ads, but after I check site location on google map...





This post has been edited by imyschong: Apr 16 2019, 12:50 AM

Location is quite uninspiring! I saw an advert on IG there will be soft launch or preview on this 20th April at their showroom.

The neighbourhood isn't the best but opposite it is another development by CKEast.

Looking at it as it goes along the whole area would be full of very similar type developments.

Hmm 🤔 , not much land left in PJ

What bad experiences? Share share

I don't think that the location is that bad at all. Not good surrounding, but strategically, the location is good.

Woot I am working in LGB Tower. Should be easy for me to stop by and see see this coming Monday on the 22nd.

The project was launched ytd at their Sales Gallery.

Some of the photos I’ve taken. Booking so far as of yesterday. 790 psf to 900 psf.

Discount 10% and the price if I’m not wrong is nett

This post has been edited by Harry_Bobinski: Apr 25 2019, 09:17 AM

Really so many units booked? Or blocked? Lol

The site already been cleared some time ago... Now they started to clean it up again..

The surrounding roads are just too narrow... Hope they widen the roads first before construction begins.

A mosque is not far from it. Try come see the traffic on Friday afternoons....😬 Imagine the nightmare having 82 new units of residences on this small plot of land.

woah...sticker game?

Wah so fast..and so big unit somemore

Like hong kong...

96% of population chose to live in 4% of land...

any discount?

Not they choose, most parts of HK isn't habitable.