#Preview* Property devt in Cheras inching southwards to Balakong

PETALING JAYA: Property development in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur is inching southwards towards Balakong, Selangor, creating an area dubbed Cheras Selatan.

Once mostly industrial, the landscape is fast acquiring a commercial face, with Jusco Cheras Selatan as the catalyst. Cheras Selatan may not be as developed as the more established Cheras Utara, but it is expected to catch up soon.

It is difficult to say where the borders of Cheras Selatan are, especially since its name is not recognised by the land office, but it mainly covers the Selangor side of Cheras.

It is believed that the name Cheras Selatan came about when AEON Co (M) Bhd named its new branch, located on a 113,451 sq ft former Boy Scout camp side in Balakong, as Jusco Cheras Selatan in end-2006.

When contacted, the management of AEON Co says it came up with the name Jusco Cheras Selatan instead of Jusco Balakong because the former sounded more commercial than the latter. AEON received the Kajang Munipical Council's (MPKj) approval to use the name.

The more commercial name seems to have attracted more projects to the area. Coming up just behind the Jusco mall is a two-storey shopoffice development called J-Avenue by Tanjung Balai Development Sdn Bhd which, VPC Alliance (KL) Sdn Bhd's managing director James Wong said, has benefited from Jusco Cheras Selatan.

The developer sold all the 40 units on the 3-acre development that were launched a year ago at prices from RM738,000. The current asking price for these units is about RM1 million, he adds.

Other ongoing developments in the area include a mixed development by Mitraland Group called C180 and a private hospital.

Director of Metro Homes Sdn Bhd See Kok Loong says Cheras Selatan lacks good retail and commercial properties. He reckons that developments such as C180 will enhance the status of the area as a retail and commercial centre, becoming another landmark in Cheras Selatan.

Located on 18 acres of freehold industrial land, the RM300-million C180 is a joint venture between Mitraland and the landowner. It is located opposite Jusco Cheras Selatan on Jalan Cheras Perdana.

Read the full report on Cheras Selatan in the Aug 17,2009 issue of City & Country, the property pullout of The Edge Malaysia.