New building poses security threat, San Lorenzo residents say

A new building being constructed at the posh San Lorenzo Village in Makati City has caused a stir among residents of the subdivision, describing the structure as a "threat to security."

The San Lorenzo Village Association (SLVA) have complained that the building, which is located at the corner of Arnaiz Avenue and Hernandez street and is and registered under celebrity dermatologist Vinson Pineda’s Derm Clinic Inc. and Park Avin Corp., clearly violates their deed restrictions.

The building, which would include a clinic on the commercial side fronting Arnaiz Avenue and a residential building on Hernandez street inside the subdivision, does not have a wall provision dividing the two sides in its plan. This would make it easier for outsiders to penetrate and leave the subdivision easily without having to pass through the guards at the gates, the SLVA said in a complaint they filed with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

Under the same plan, a six-level basement parking area, covering 4,960 square meters with car elevators and 25 lavatories, would be constructed in both residential and commercial sides of the property.

In a copy of a village memorandum obtained by The STAR, SLVA president Valeriano del Rosario expressed fears that cars from the commercial building could exit into San Lorenzo Village without proper security screening.

Even diplomatic officials working for the US Embassy expressed the same concern and even threatened to leave the subdivision if the problem is not addressed properly.

Jaime Barker, housing officer of the US Embassy in Manila, warned in an April 28 letter to the village owner that the Embassy’s ability to continue residential leasing activity in San Lorenzo Village situation could significantly be reduced should this structure become a reality.

The SLVA approved in January 2003 the original plan for the four-story building with three basement floors.

The group said Pineda agreed in an agreement dated March 20, 2003 that there would be no interconnection of any kind on the basement or any floors between the adjoining properties.

But Pineda later amended the plan, calling for three more underground parking levels, which was immediately rejected by the SLVA because of the lack of a dividing wall.

Juan Antonio Mendoza, SLVA’s verifying architect, has conducted an ocular inspection of the construction site and has found out that the owner also allegedly encroached the plan’s parameters.

"Clearly, the lack of a wall divider and the encroachment are violations of the building requirements and the original plan approved by the association," Mendoza told The STAR.

The SLVA officers alleged that the construction of the revised building plan continued even with the denial of the permit by both their association and the City Building Office.

A series of notices from City Hall ordering a halt to construction has been sent to Pineda, but still work continued until the six-level basement parking was completed, prompting SLVA officers to raise their complaint to the HLURB last March 30.

In less than a week, the HLURB acted on the complaint and issued a 20-day temporary restraining order, allowing inspection of the construction site.

Photos taken by inspectors showed that the building has two levels above the ground despite earlier notices from the SLVA and City Hall.

HLURB Regional Director Jesse Obligacion then issued a cease and desist order, which halted construction operations until the case is resolved.