ECONOMIC BOOST: Ben giving an overview of the RM590 Riverson mix integrated commercial development.
KOTA KINABALU: Riverson, a RM590 million mix-integrated commercial development located along the coastal highway here and within the City’s Central Business District, is expected to be ready by 2014.
Developed on over 5.5 acres of prime commercial land, it would make its mark on the city as a vibrant proejct comprising four main pillars – The Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Medical Centre, three-storey retail shops (Riverson Walk), a tower of six-storey office suites with mezzanine floor (Riverson Suites) and a seven-storey tower of SoHo units with mezzanine floor (Riverson SoHo).
Riverson Corporation Sdn Bhd managing director Ben Kong Chung Vui said when completed, Riverson together with other existing notable landmarks within the central business district, namely the Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club, KK Times Square I & II, the upcoming transport-interchange station, Wawasan Plaza, Harbour City, and the newly completed Ming Garden Hotel would form the new KK Southern City Hub.
Ben, who has 15 years experience in the field, envisioned that within the next three to four years, the people shall see a shifting paradigm in the city, the lifestyle, as well as the advancement and growing business environment within Sabah.
“Riverson, being the upcoming new addition to the city, together with its immediate neighbours, will bring about substantial integration of activities and continuous crowd movements, served and generated by about 900 residences, over 600,000 square feet of commercial retail outlets, approximately 800,000 square feet of office space altogether, more than 6,000 car parks and more than 12 hotels in the vicinity; offering no less than 15,000 job opportunities into the market.
“This new integration of Southern Hub is also touted to be the ‘Orchard Road of Kota Kinabalu’, which will become KK’s latest modern and most walkable part offering a complete stretch from leisure to wellness all under one destination,” Ben disclosed to the media recently.
Recently, Danajamin Nasional Berhad granted Riverson a RM200 million five-year Private Debt Securities Bond.
The Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Medical Centre, said Ben, will be the main anchor for Riverson. It will be developed as a tertiary level hospital, bringing Sabah a healthcare facility of international standards that shall work towards enhancing care in the state.
He assured that Gleneagles KK shall be assimilated with regionally well-established premium Gleneagles brand inculcating a facility with five-star hotel amenities and comfort, service levels to match, be infused with cutting edge technology and have a highly trained team of consultants and staff.
With up to 250 beds, 180-seat auditorium, six large operating theaters, 24-hour accident and emergency department and trauma and intensive care centre, he said Gleneagles KK would be built to comply with the Joint Commission International (JCI) standards as well as all content of local and national regulations.
“The facility will cater to the growing healthcare needs of the residents in Kota Kinabalu and the surrounding areas and shall compliment to serve as one of the main private referral centres for Sabah.
Sabahans need not have to go overseas anymore for medical treatments.
“Besides, Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu will contribute to the development of Sabah’s medical tourism targeting patients from Indonesian cities such as Balikpapan, Pontianak in Kalimantan and from Brunei Darussalam, as well as neighbouring countries such as Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and even Korea,” he added.
According to him, there will be a focus on setting up of centres of excellence on cardiology/cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, surgery, orthopaedics, gastroenterology and women and children.
“Gleneagles KK will also act as a catalyst for young local talents,” said Ben, adding that the centre would have a pool of 95 specialists covering all major specialties and comprise a multi-disciplinary approach based on appropriate and highly ethical practices.
Riverson Walk, he said, consists of 247 retail outlets with sizes ranging from the smallest unit of approximately 100 square feet to the largest unit 937 square feet, specially tailored and perfectly ideal for small boutique retail businesses – a concept similar to Singapore’s famous 313@Somerset, Orchard Road and Empire Subang in Subang Jaya.
He explained that the unique feature of The Walk is the carefully planned and designed spaces and walkway in the retail mall that benefits all patrons as well as the operators and shop owners; with emphasis placed on clean, safe, comfortable, convenient and friendly concept.
He said there will be also carefully selected F&Bs and al-fresco cafes, where patrons can dine, hang out, relish and enjoy over good food in chic surroundings.
“It will also be known as the core or heart of a social centre connecting people from the medical centre, the office suites, the SoHo and as well as the public as whole.
“Each outlet is designed to enable shop owners to operate individually, that is unlike most shopping malls in the city, shop owners will have more freedom in their individual operation hours,” Ben added.
Riverson SoHo is designed with contemporary architecture underpinned with a modernistic treatment.
The SoHo consists of only a block of 152 units of one to two-bedroom suites and duplexes with double volume living space.
The sizes range from approximately 530 square feet to approximately 1,755 square feet.
The SoHo of course, comes with amenities such as swimming pool, gym, function room, a common garden, security surveillance, and its own private drop-off area and lift lobby, but these are not its only selling points.
Each SoHo unit can also be converted for use as a home office – perfect and ideal for individuals that are keen to work from the comfort of their own home.
“Being situated in the heart of the city, and incorporated within the purpose-built mixed integrated development, enables Riverson SoHo to reap all the benefits of the locale.
“It boasts as a sought after address for both locals and expatriate community, supported by thriving commercial centres, an international medical centre just a step away, thus making all the difference in the realm of luxury stylish urban living, as well as a viable investment opportunity,” said Ben.
Riverson Suites is designed with flexibility in mind; an innovative work space catered to fulfil the ever evolving business needs of Sabah’s fast-paced and fast-growing business environment.
“One could have an option of owning a customizable corporate suite of 1000 square feet, or half a floor, or even the entire full floor of approximately 20,000 square feet.
“The Suites will have its distinctive corporate feature framed with the latest and modern architectural design, enhanced by its own exclusive and grand private drop-off lobby, secure with 24-hour surveillance and service operations,” he said, adding that the company’s sales promotion would be launched here on November 12.