Lifestyle center soon to rise at Northpoint

A COMMERCIAL and lifestyle center will soon rise at Camella Northpoint, a landmark British colonial-themed condo development project situated on JP Laurel Ave. in Bajada, Davao City.

The center is a component of the condo project, which is also set to launch its fourth tower, called the Liverpool, in the second quarter of the year.

Camella is a subsidiary of the country's largest homebuilder, the Villar-led Vista Land and Lifescapes.

"The lifestyle center will have its launching by the third quarter of the year and we target to complete that by next year," Marlon Escalicas, Camella Davao general manager, told Sun.Star in an interview.

He said the construction of the commercial center, which will also be undertaken by MGS Construction Inc. a Triple-A builder, will go alongside with that of Liverpool, a 15-storey residential building.

"The center will be different from the mall. We are providing a venue where people do small meetings or mingle with friends in a cozy atmosphere," Escalicas said.

He said the two-storey commerical center will house concept stores of both local and foreign brands, cafes, spas, restaurants and even resto bars.

"It's a venue where you can upgrade your lifestyle," he said, adding investors are now looking at the new project with keen interest.

"A Manila-based chain of supermarkets has already expressed interest, as well as a chain of pizza stores and coffee shops," Escalicas said, adding that hig-end retail shops are also eyeing the center for their expansion.

"We are bullish about the project. Davao is among the fastest growing cities in the country today and we want to capitalize on that. The lifestyle center will surely boost economic activities in that part of the city," Escalicas said.

It is also in this breathe that the Villar Group has put Davao City as among its top priorities in terms of investments.

"The Villar Group, led by Senator Manny Villar, is pouring in lots of investments in the city. It's their own way to contribute to the development of the city," Escalicas noted, adding the Villars are also pushing through with Starmall expansion at Cerritos, another Camella-Davao mid-end development project in Mintal, Davao City.

Although they are opening the lifestyle center to the public, Escalicas said it is basically build to provide convenience to unit owners at Northpoint.

"At the same time, the center will not affect their (unit owners) privacy because the center will be build separately from condo buildings. The commercial component of the development project is not tied to the residential," he assured.

The center is located within the 2.9 Northpoint development project, but outside the fenced condominimun buildings.

"A bridgeway from one of the condo buildings to the center will be built and for exclusive use of the unit owners. Even with the center, only unit owners have access to facilities of Northpoint," Escalicas said.