New mall rejuvenates Chino Roces area

MANILA, Philippines - In addition to giving rise to new office developments, the outsourcing and call center industry is also providing the critical mass for bustling commercial spaces that are now rejuvenating formerly overlooked areas in the metropolis. Nowhere is this more evident than at Alphaland Southgate Tower at the corner of major thoroughfare EDSA and Chino Roces Avenue in Makati.

Once the site of a building left unfinished for 30 years, the contemporary Alphaland Southgate Tower has led the rebirth of the district formerly called Pasong Tamo Extension. Visible to commuters on EDSA up to a kilometer away, the glass-clad 20-storey office tower is now fully occupied mostly by leading outsourcing and call center industry firms, which are forecasted to generate demand for at least 300,000 sqm. of office space annually up to 2015.

This year, an estimated 3,200 employees from firms such as Teleperformance and Alorica, in addition to local companies like Western Mindanao Power Corporation are expected to keep the fully-leased building bustling round the clock, according to officials of Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu (JLLL), exclusive leasing agent of Alphaland Southgate Tower.

Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a professional services firm specializing in real estate. The firm offers integrated services delivered by expert teams in 70 countries to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying or investing in real estate.

Officials from JLLL, who attracted key firms to the Alphaland complex, point out that chief among the office tower’s attractions is its direct connection to the MRT.  Andy Gomez, JLLL assistant manager, observes: “This makes it highly accessible to employees from a range of residential areas throughout Metro Manila.”

Alphaland Southgate Tower has a captive market of employees occupying 20 floors streaming in daily via the MRT at the third level and at the ground floor via bus, jeep and private car at all hours of the day. Consequently, the podium mall offering close to 8,000 sqm.has never been busier. Mall managers disclose that daily foot traffic within the mall is 30,000 – a figure that has kept its 79 retailers including Super 8 Grocery, Office Warehouse, CDR King and Japan Homes largely satisfied. With just a few more prime spaces to lease out, mall managers are carefully selecting from among potential tenants only those that will complete its offerings to its clients.

Previously confined to random eateries and food outlets along the unplanned commercial area, employees in the Chino Roces area south of EDSA now regularly dine at the Alphaland Southgate mall’s 24 restaurants. The MiniStop and Chowking at Alphaland are open 24 hours – keen indicators of a strong micro market. Other well-known food chains like Jollibee, Goldilocks and Mang Inasal are clustered within the mall – further evidence of strong growth opportunities.

The popular brands are further complemented by more upmarket stores like Teriyaki Boy, L’Couer de France, Sizzling Pepper Steak, Decos and Chef d’Angelo. Gomez notes that eateries that once catered solely to Chino Roces employees have tended to upgrade their services and offerings to remain in business. “In this sense competition has been good for everyone – and the district in general,” he says.