Master-planned, integrated communities as the future of urban living


A new development in Las Piñas City

For years, master-planned developments have been a well sought-after trend in the residential real estate industry. Demand for this property format even predates the pandemic-induced clamor for integrated townships that place a premium on everyday security and convenience.

A study by property expert, Leechiu Property Consultants Inc. (LPC), noted that as early as 2018, master-planned mixed-use developments were mushrooming nationwide. LPC traced the demand to the format’s thoughtfully-organized features. “What we’ve seen is that people will pay for planning,” said David Leechiu, CEO of LPC, in a media roundtable nearly four years ago. “People will pay for order. People will pay for systems and community. These are the things we have to build.”

Yet as with anything in real estate, location is king. While the 2018 LPC study has identified that there were more master-planned developments outside National Capital Region (NCR) than within it, more recent data from another property expert, Santos Knight Frank, revealed that there remains a strong preference for city dwellings.  Cushman & Wakefield Philippines, on the other hand, see pent-up residential demand in 2022 to be focused on developments that substantially respond to homebuyers’ increased attention to well-being with exceptionally sustainable master-planning and design.

Ever-cognizant of the market’s demands, leading real estate developer, SM Development Corporation (SMDC), has long recognized the value of a connected world, where mobility, accessibility, and convenience are made more of a standard, than a nice-to-have. A true pioneer of integrated cities in the Philippines, SMDC expands their footprint with South 2 Residences, an urban master-planned community that imbibes and encapsulates the lifestyle and culture of southern Metro Manila.

SM Southmall Integrated City’s 360-degree lifestyle

SMDC’s South 2 Residences will be the latest addition to the SM Southmall Integrated City in Las Piñas. The bustling 20-hectare community affords its residents safe and comfortable walkability to a full range of establishments in the area — from lifestyle spaces to business spaces; from commercial to essential establishments.

For instance, reporting to work only takes a few steps going to SM South Tower, where business process outsourcing (BPO) offices have been setting up shop. The urge to shop or dine out is also made easy to answer at the integrated city’s center of activity, the SM Southmall. Go for spontaneous shopping sprees, or get some well-deserved retail therapy at over 350 retail, dining, leisure and entertainment choices.

There are banking and health establishments as well, along with an educational institution in an upcoming National University campus.

If you need to go elsewhere, accessibility won’t be an issue at South 2 Residences. An integrated transport terminal is situated within the up-and-up city.

South to north, east to west

Living in South 2 Residences means you’re never too far away from any destination. Thanks in no small part to the aggressive infrastructure development over the years, Las Piñas is now made accessible to all parts of Metro Manila via Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, and Metro Manila Skyway. The city also benefits from the Skyway Extension, LRT-1 Cavite extension, and C-5 Southlink.

These projects open up Las Piñas to more dining destinations beyond those in Alabang and Aguirre Avenue in Paranaque, and to quick-escape havens other than Tagaytay, Batangas, and Laguna. It’s an entirely new world of destinations and possibilities for you to enjoy from South 2 Residences.

A true master-planned community

Discussing the many lifestyle options within and around the SM Southmall Integrated City and Las Piñas, in no way, implies the lack of lifestyle choices in SMDC’s South 2 Residences. The thoughtfully-designed development is well-appointed on its own, featuring top-notch amenities and spaces that make a day spent at home equally worthwhile.

SMDC’s South 2 Residences present a seamless lifestyle of convenience and luxury that’s evident from the elegant hotel-like lobby alone. The impression is carried out throughout every nook and cranny of the development.

A full-sized pool area allows you and the entire family to bond and cool off from the summer heat. There’s a kids’ play area as well for the children to explore, and landscape gardens for the elderly to enjoy. Cozy lounges make for the perfect spots for casual or business discussions. If it’s a venue for special occasions you seek, head on to any of the function rooms to create lasting memories from celebrating events and victories.

Promises of an upgraded lifestyle at South 2 Residences also come with stellar investment potential. Property experts have made a case about now being the best time to make a real estate investment, just before the industry fully recuperates. What better option to start with than this development from SMDC, the reigning back-to-back “Best Developer” in the prestigious PropertyGuru Awards? With SMDC’s comprehensive property management and leasing services, an investment at South 2 Residences is made all the more propitious.

Much like any other community on SMDC’s roster, South 2 Residences stays true to its design as a master-planned development located within an integrated city, in a thriving district. Here, everything is planned out with paramount quality of life for its residents as a commitment. The only thing truly missing is you. To learn more about SMDC’s South 2 Residences, follow SMDC on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.