Island lot community rises

What do Eton City’s South Lake Village in Laguna, Foster City in San Francisco, as well as The Palm and The World in Dubai, all have in common? All are waterfront developments that feature mixed-use communities surrounded by bodies of water.

In the case of Eton Properties Philippines, Inc.’s South Lake Village development, however, the similarities end there as this new development is envisioned to be the first and only residential island lot development in the country that boasts of a unique, refreshing, and well-appointed lifestyle.

It shall, in fact, be the centerpiece of Eton City, a groundbreaking, multi-billion peso project occupying close to 1,000 hectares of prime land in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Hailed as the “Makati of the South”, Eton City is an integrated ideally-located mixed-use township project.

South Lake Village covers about 76 hectares and boasts 18 residential islands surrounded by a 35-hectare man-made lake. Each island, approximately one hectare in size, will have 8 to 12 residential lots of about 1,000 square meters each.

Alex Jazmines, Eton Properties Philippines Inc. AVP and general manager of the Eton City Project, explained that they have contracted N.S. Mangio and Associates (NSM&A) to design South Lake Village. NSM&A is a firm known for its previous involvements in several waterfront development projects in the Bermuda and the Philippines.

Addressing environmental issues

Jazmines explains that environmental concerns such as mosquito breeding, lake water supply, conservation and pollution, flooding and erosion were integrated into the “green architecture” or the environmental planning of the project. To find out more about Eton City, log on to www.eton.com.ph or call 845-3866 and 0917-8943866.

First question that comes to mind is where will a man-made lake of this size get its water supply? Jazmines explains, “The lake will have two primary sources of water supply: first is rainfall and second would be the rivers that run naturally across the development.”

To address water flow or stagnancy, Jazmines explains, “There will be inflow and outflow of lake water, ensuring continuous water movement across the lake. Flowing water will prevent mosquito breeding. We will also populate the water with fish that will then feed on any mosquito larvae.”

The issue of flooding was also taken into consideration in the planning of the project. “We had a 50-year flood study that took into account the highest flooding levels in the area. The villages in Eton City will be elevated at the same height as the expressway and will be designed taking into consideration the results of said flood study,” he clarifies.

Jazmines also talked about other concerns that had to be considered in planning South Lake Village. To prevent erosion of the island lots, the lakeside will be protected by a lake liner, earth fill, rock layers and vegetation. Water pollution will also be kept in check by the detention pond which will filter creek water before it is let into the lake.

Keeping the lake “healthy”

“In order to maintain the natural ecosystem in the lake, water will constantly be aerated from the bottom of the lake and by fountains located at the lake corridor that will not just serve as visual attractions, but also as aeration devices,” Jazmines added.

South Lake Village is the initial phase of Eton City. To complement the envisioned resort-style living within reach of urban comforts, Eton City will also have a central business district replete with a mall, hotel, business process outsource (BPO) centers, and residential and office condominiums. Future developments include an enclave to be called River Grove, a championship golf course, as well as other high-end residential developments.