When Mah Sing Group Bhd acquired 428 acres of land in Bangi in 2012, it was because the developer saw the land’s potential to be a master-planned mixed township development.
With that came the birth of Southville City — Mah Sing’s largest township to date in the Klang Valley — with a gross development value (GDV) of RM11.1 billion.
Southville City consists of residential and commercial spaces with all the precincts in the development to be gated and guarded.
Mah Sing chief executive officer Datuk Ho Hon Sang told NST Property that the group envisioned Southville City as a township for multi-generational living.
“For Southville City, we plan to include a wide range of amenities and facilities like hospitals, schools, malls, post office and recreational parks. An integral element that connects our township and all that it has to offer is the direct interchange for our existing residents, future home buyers and people from other areas,” he said.
The township is strategically located just next to the KL-Seremban Highway and hence Mah Sing decided to build an interchange into the KL-Seremban Highway, making it one of the few projects in the area with direct access.
The interchange is a new access into Southville City directly from KL-Seremban Expressway and is located on Exit 212A Southville City on the KL-Seremban Expressway.
Ho said that with the interchange, Southville City will only be a 19km drive away from KL city compared with 25km previously, making it ideal for those looking for a home outside the city.
The interchange will also allow easy access to the area and it drastically reduces the driving distance into Southville City and its neighbouring districts, he said.
“Bangi is becoming a hub with all the development taking place around the area. Situated between Kajang and Putrajaya, the area is increasingly gaining popularity among property hunters,” said Ho.
In order for the township to thrive and become a new destination in Bangi, the developer will embark on a plan to build a wellness village and hotel.
“We want residents to have a holistic experience designed for relaxation and restoring one’s well-being in a tranquil and rejuvenating surrounding. We want residents who stay here feel that they invested in a home they can live in for many years.
“We foresee that the interchange can also help make Southville City become a tourism hub between KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) and Kuala Lumpur with the upcoming commercial hubs and Savanna Lifestyle Shops & Boulevard shops,” said Ho.
Strategy for Southville City
Ho said the market is focused on affordable housing and that is something which Mah Sing has been paying attention to for some time.
Mah Sing started launching affordable homes on a big scale since 2015.
In Southville City, the developer had launched Savanna Executive Suites in 2013 with units priced from RM318,000.
According to Ho, many of the new launches in the township will be priced below RM500,000.
“This is in line with the market demand and the government’s direction to ease homeownership for first-time home buyers,” he said.
Mah Sing has about 11 more plots of parcels in Southville City with a few phases in each parcel. To date, the group has launched four phases.
Phase 1 is Savanna Executive Suites, a serviced apartment with eight residential towers and 3,192 units; Savanna Lifestyle Shops with 208 units of two-storey lifestyle shoplots; and Boulevard Shops comprising four blocks of three-storey shops.
Phase 2 is Avens Residence and according to Ho, all the 196 units of 2 ½ storey and three-storey link homes have been sold while Phase 3 is Cerrado Residential Suites with four serviced apartment towers with 404 units each.
Ho said Tower A and B of Cerrado Residential Suites have over 70 per cent take-up rate and the selling price for the remaining units starts from RM388,000.
Phase 4 is Sensory Residence featuring 965 units of serviced apartments with construction having started in the third quarter of this year. The project, which is targeted to be completed by 2022, is open for sale with selling price from RM344,000.
“This development is suitable for upgraders, first-home buyers, young couples, young families, parents buying for children and professionals who are working in Kuala Lumpur,” said Ho.
Interested buyers can visit the fully-furnished Sensory Residence show unit at Southville City Sales Gallery from 10am to 6pm.
Ho said Mah Sing is in the midst of planning for its next launch which will be a low-rise residential and houses.
Going green
At least half of the 428 acres for Southville City will be developed as a green space for residents to enjoy nature as close as to their doorstep.
The township has a 10-acre summit park packed with greeneries and avenues for family gatherings and get-togethers. Other outdoor features include a 1.5km nature walking path, 1.3km riverside walking path and a 13km of bicycle trail.
“Not only our township, but each of the developments will have green features. For example, Savanna’s Executive Suites has its Oasisland concept on its Podium Floor. There are 18 different species of trees and shrubs (four species of trees and 14 species of shrubs) which enhances the beauty of the development and provides a green sanctuary for its residents. This is in addition to the various facilities found in Savanna such as its swimming pool, wading pool, aqua gym, children’s playground, BBQ area, reflexology path, gymnasium and dining pavilion,” said Ho.