PETALING JAYA (Aug 15): Petaling Jaya’s Section 13 is slowly being transformed into a mixed-use development hub, as seen by the new buildings and ongoing projects coming up there. This came about after Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) and landowners began working together to unleash the full potential of the area over the last 10 years.

Initially an industrial enclave, the change in Section 13’s identity over the years has resulted in some people calling it PJ Central, due to its location and easy access via highways such as the Federal Highway, Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong and Sprint Highway.

The change of land use according to Special Area Plan (Rancangan Kawasan Khas, or RKK) for Section 13 to include mixed-use developments aims to create a vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood.

James Wong, managing director of VPC Alliance (M) Sdn Bhd, said about 40% of the land in Section 13 is changing its use to commercial and landowners are evidently excited about it.

Recently completed projects in that area include the 85-bed Columbia Asia Hospital-Petaling Jaya in Jalan 13/6 and Inspiration Group’s RM500 million integrated development called Centrestage in Jalan 13/1.

Other planned and ongoing mixed-use developments there are Pacific Star by Island Circle Development Sdn Bhd, Fraser Square by FCL Centrepoint Pte Ltd and Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, PJ Midtown by IOI Properties Group Bhd and Sime Darby Brunsfield Holding Sdn Bhd as well as a project by Paramount Property Development Sdn Bhd on a piece of land next to Sin Chew Media.

With its strategic location and the land scarcity in Petaling Jaya, Section 13 continues to attract developers to explore development activity there.

Read more about this hotspot in the Aug 17, 2015 issue of Property, the real estate section of digitaledge Weekly. Subscribe here.