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Monday, July 03, 2006
CHI starts construction of Ayala mall expansion
THE close-to-a-billion-peso expansion of Ayala Center Cebu (ACC) has commenced with a ground-breaking last Saturday at the site where a five-story building will stand next year.
“This is only the beginning of more things to happen—a series of developments in three to four years in ACC,” Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) president Rene Almendras said during the event.
The new building will stand beside ACC, on the site where the public utility jeepney (PUJ) terminal used to be. The terminal has been transferred to an adjacent lot.
Almendras said the 2,000-square meter building, which will be constructed by the Ayala group of companies construction arm, Makati Development Corp., will have 6,000 square meters of leasable area that can hold about 50 tenants.
He said Cebu can expect something new at the megacomplex—which is how the new building will be known—as some popular local and international brands in the retail industry are expected to come to Cebu.
The mall will also have a “special zone” for information technology, where digital gadgets, such as cameras, cellular phones, personal digital assistants and voice over Internet protocol-based technologies, will be showcased.
The needs of “fashionistas” will also be catered with an “A-list” of power products like Levis, Nike Women, Sisley and Guess Accessories, among others.
“The new expansion building will boast of contemporary yet sophisticated aesthetics, upscale and the latest furnishings that will not only delight the senses but will make our valued shoppers proud of being part of ACC, an Ayala mall,” Almendras said.
In a separate interview, Department of Tourism 7 Director Aurora Patria Roa said the signature products for shopping is one of the factors that would attract Japanese women to Cebu.
“Japanese women love to shop for signature goods but we lack these in Cebu,” she said.
Meanwhile, Almendras said Rustan’s Supermarket will occupy the mega-complex’s entire ground floor. The structure has additional basement floor solely for parking.
CHI, an affiliate of Ayala Land Inc., will also reconstruct the two-hectare lagoon area into “a green environment outside where people can gather,” he said.
“It’s not just about land development. It is a lifestyle concept. It would be different from what is already there but will complement (the current environment),” Almendras said. (JBN)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 3, 2006 issue)
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