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Continue Reading ⋅ 30 January 2023
Promising vibrant resort lifestyles, V@SummerPlace on Jalan Bukit Meldrum, Johor Bahru – built by the Connoisseur Group – is a 260-unit, 37-storey freehold Serviced Apartment set amidst the “Tropicana” of Tanjung Puteri at the Johor Straits waterfront. While nestled by the green serenity of Bukit Meldrum, V also offers a vibrant lifestyle being advantageously connected at the centre of urbanity to all the infrastructures of a growing and thriving JB metropolitan.
This contemporary abode offering three “made-for-you-in-mind” layouts for the single, couple or family-oriented occupier, is the first highrise residential development in JB with a Sky Gymnasium fitted with a tennis court and two Golf Simulators built into the 37th floor.
Project Name: V@SummerPlace, Johor Bahru
Address: Jalan Bukit Meldrum, Jalan Tanjung Puteri, Johor Bahru, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Website: www.summerplace.com.my
Developer: Connoisseur Group
Developer’s Address: Connoisseur, Connoisseur Towers Sdn Bhd, Unit 26-08, Mail Box 269, Menara Landmark, No: 12, Jalan Ngee Heng, 80000, Johor Bahru, Johor Tel: 07-2210210 Website: www.2210210.com
Sales Gallery: Sales Gallery, Lot7713 No: 8-88, Jalan Bukit Meldrum, 80300, JB
Telephone: 07 2210 210
Property Type: Serviced Apartment
Land Title: Commercial
Tenure: Freehold
Land Area: About 1 acre
No of Towers: 1 (V-Shaped) with Choice of City View or Sea View
No of Storeys: 37
Residential Units start from: Level 8
No of Units in Total: 260
Unit Types and Built Up:
- Type A 1R+1B (no balcony) 642sq ft
- Type B Duplex 2R+2B (choice of with or without balcony) 1002sq ft−1100sq ft
The Duplex is a SoHo (*small office/home office, perfect for the self-employed)
- Type C: 3R+3B 1376sq ft to 1534sq ft (with balcony)
Units Per Floor: Level 8 to 27: 10 units / Level 29 to 35: 15 to 16 units
SoHo Type B Duplex Floors: From Level 29 and above
No of Lifts per floor: 5 lifts, by zone
Parking Bays:
- 1 to 2 parking bays depending on unit and promotion given for the unit
- 7 floors of parking bays.
- Additional parking in Visitors’ Car Park
Price per sq ft: average: Average range RM550 to RM730
Discounts and Rebates: Fixed Price during promotion period (subject to change)
Type A: RM480K, Type B: RM680K, Type C: RM740K
*with unique terms and conditions to qualify (see Analysis Section)
Maintenance Fee: RM0.30psf
Expected TOP: Q3 2016
Unique Selling Points:
- Built by a Different Kind of developer (Scroll down to the Anaysis Section to see more)
- Sale open to foreigners from RM500K (project follows previous ruling as it was launched in 2012 before enforcement of RM1M threshold)
- Ceiling Height 3.3m
- 5 lifts by zone − cuts time as lifts are not required to go up and down all 37 floors
- 7/8 Fully-Furnished units complete with unique L-shaped kitchen cabinets for all units, hob, hood, built-in convection oven, 2-in 1 Electrolux Washer, up to 3 air-cons of 1 HP Taikin brand, Dining Table for 4 pax, Living Room Sofa Set, Coffee Table, TV Console, Master Bedrooms with Queen-sized Bedframe, movable wardrobe and side tables (*furniture freebies and make are subject change or plus and/or minus)
- Hot Location: Situated in the most sought-after area in Iskandar Malaysia Zone A where there is rapidly growing residential, commercial and retail areas, and:
- Served by the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL), the Coastal Highway and East-West Link
- 5 mins drive to JB City Centre, CIQ and Woodlands via Tun Abdul Razak (TAR) Highway
- Served by Middle Ring Road
- Free shuttle bus service to CIQ for residents
- Upcoming Singapore–Malaysia Rapid Transit System (RTS) ready by 2018 with RTS location identified to be Bukit Chagar (less than 1km away and/or at 116-acre mixed-commercial-residential development R&F Princess Cove, Tanjung Puteri site (350m away)
- Singapore-Malaysia High Speed Rail (HSR) to be ready by 2020
- 2km or 3 minutes to the famous Foon Yew High School
- 7km or 4 minutes to the Duty Free Zone
Facilities over several floors
- 7th Floor –
- Swimming Pool
- Aqua Gym
- Indoor & Outdoor Café
- Laundry Shop
- Childcare Centre
- Jacuzzi
- Jogging Track
- Free Shuttle Bus Service to the CIQ
- 28th Floor –
- Sky Loggia with Jacuzzi (*Loggia: an open-sided extension to a house)
- Sky Garden
- 37th Floor –
- Sky Gym
- Tennis Court
- Two Golf Simulators
Amenities (existing) – (located from walking distance of <1km away to 30km away):
- Theme Parks
Pic from www. playtime.com.my
- Legoland Malaysia Resort & Legoland Hotel
- Puteri Harbour Indoor Theme Park –Sanrin Hello Kitty Town & Little Big Club
- Austin Heights Water Theme Park
- Shopping
Pic from www.citysqjb.com
- Johor Bahru City Square (JBCS)
- Johor Premium Outlets
- Komtar JBCC
- AEON Tebrau
- Tesco
- Giant
- KSL City
- Accommodation
Pic from http://doubletree3.hilton.com
- KSL Resort
- Puteri Pacific Hotel
- Thistle Hotel
- Grand Blue Wave Hotel
- Double Tree by Hilton
- Education
Pic from www.sunway.edu.my
- Sunway College
- Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia
- Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology
- Raffles University Iskandar
- University of Southampton Malaysia campus
- Reading University Malaysia
- Raffles American School
- Multimedia University
- Johan Cyurff Sports Management School
- Management Development Institute of Singapore
- Local Attractions
Pic from www.johor.attractionsinmalaysia.com
- Desaru Beach
- Gunung Ledang
- Kota Tinggi Historical Town & Waterfall
- Johor Zoo
- Pulau Sibu
- Pulau Rawa
- Pulau Tioman
- Endau Rompin National Park
- Sungai Lebam Wetlands
- Teluk Sengat Crocodile Farm
- Healthcare
Pic from www.regencyspecialist.com
- KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital
- Columbia Asia Hospital
- Puteri Specialist Hospital
- Regency Specialist Hospital
- Golf Course
Pic from www.ponderosagolf.com
- Ponderosa Golf & Country Club
- Johor Golf & Country Club
- Austin Hills Golf & Country Club
- Starhills Golf & Country Club
- Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club
- Permas Jaya Golf Club
Project Details
Vibrant, Vogue and Verve. That’s the lifestyle that V@SummerPlace promises.
Injecting surprise elements into the design, layout and facilities, V, shaped like the alphabet it is named after, offers living spaces that are decidedly refreshing and different.
For one, there are SoHo duplexes in their Type B units, catering to the home-based or self-employed workforce – a growing trend these days helped along by the possibilities of the internet; there are the Studio Type A units for solo types who travel frequently across the Causeway for work and of course, there are the larger 3 bedroom-3 bathroom Type C units for small to medium-sized families looking to live a modern highrise lifestyle.
Site progress of V@SummerPlace on Jalan Bukit Meldrum
The project is located next to the Sales Gallery
The 3D model in the Sales Gallery
Floor Plans
V@SummerPlace, the 2nd project in Connoisseur’s Summer Collection series (yes, the developer considers their projects as works of art, much like how an artist or a fashion designer would name his themed creations) cuts a sharp contrast to their maiden foray SummerScape in that the former offers niftier units compared to the latter’s stately ones.
(SummerScape’s palatial homes are 2,713sq ft in built-up, they are super exclusive, having only 70 units of its kind with 4+1 bedrooms + 6 bathrooms and your own private pool, and they’re all sold out. Actually, the project has been completed in February this year and handed over).
V, on the other hand, still has units available. It is now almost in the final stages of construction. V’s spaces are much smaller and cosier (going from 642sq ft to the 2-bedroom and 2-bathroom 1002sq ft duplex, this being designed (presumably) for the younger generation.
The architect who put his thoughts into designing V, is Lim Jo Soon who is Kuala Lumpur-based. His design philosophy, he says in his own writings, revolves around managing the constraints of human habitation. In a highrise with limited space in today’s times, this philosophy is particularly relevant.
The challenge is to offer a different dimension of space through the layouts and facilities and provide unlimited living possibilities to home owners despite these constraints.
Said JS Lim about his design for V: “Being creative is my source of inspiration. Recognizing my talent is a source of intuition. Passion in architecture is the journey of my destiny.”
Notice that the Utility Room of the Type A 642sq ft 1R+1B unit is almost the same size as the Master Bedroom? In effect, this means that Type A is actually 1+1R+1B
This is the hall view of the Type A unit. The entrance is at the door you see straight ahead
The Dining and Kitchen View of the Type A 642sq ft unit. The L-shaped kitchen counter, sink and all are given with the unit
The Master Bedroom of Type A. Is this princely or what?
And the good-sized Utility Room which can be turned into an extra bedroom if you like, or study
Type A Bath. All fittings, tiles will be given including the Electrolux washer-dryer
And now we get to the Type B SoHo Duplex. Colour scheme Grey. At 1002sq ft , its spaciousness belies its actual size. Quite amazing!
Look at how spacious the Dining and Kitchen are
Here’s a look at the 2nd room which is located downstairs next to the Dining area. You can turn it into your workspace or workstation. Its location downstairs makes it easy for you to meet with clients if you are running your business from home. This unit is a SoHo
And then let’s go upstairs…
The spacious Master Bedroom which covers almost all the space of downstairs (500sq ft or so) with a view of the bathroom which comes with a bathtub. All bath fittings are given with the unit, including the glass wall. These days, what’s contemporary is the use of glass walls in place of the usual concrete wall. The clever play of glass and mirrors is for the creation of space. The only thing NOT given is the brick or stone wall around the glass wall that you see here. What you will be given instead will be a white wall. You can then add the stone-walling if you so prefer. The flooring is Laminated Timber for that added touch of warmth. The bedframe (not the mattress or pillows) will be given too, along with the side tables
Another look at the Master Bedroom. It is massive. Where the sun is coming in is your balcony
Now let’s turn around and look at the other end of the Master Bedroom. This is the wardrobe. It has plenty of storage space
The play of glass is now extended from the inner sanctum onto the bedroom wall. This is not a poster on the Bedroom wall but the wall of the staircase seen through the use of glass for the bedroom. In other words, you are looking through a glass wall. The reason is to allow you to see the staircase area, thus eliminating hidden corners or spaces. This puts you in control of your home at all times
This balcony belongs to Type B. Note the size. The balcony size will be the same upstairs
The biggest unit, Type C 3R3B at 1,375sq ft unit was being refurbished and was temporarily closed to viewing. Type C has a Utility Room too in addition to its three large rooms which makes it a 3+1Bedroom unit actually.
Facilities
V scores many “firsts” and some are seen in the Facilities section.
“In 2012,” said the developer in his website, “V@SummerPlace was launched to symbolize cosmopolitan living. Again, we broke some frontiers by having the first Sky Gym, Sky Tennis Court and Golf Simulator.”
Here are some artists impressions although not all illustrations are included.
Location
Jalan Bukit Meldrum, sitting on Bukit Meldrum in the city centre adjacent to the Tanjung Puteri waterfront, is a prized location as this is where it all comes together.
It is right there, almost at the tip of this southern gateway to peninsular Malaysia where the MSC Cyberport − a public-private partnership spearheaded by the Johor State Government for global ICT incubation and growth in Iskandar Malaysia, is situated.
Note the location of CIQ from V. Even though it is close by, the developer has promised free bus shuttle service to the CIQ for residents
MSC Cyberport, located inside Menara MSC is at no: 5 Jalan Bukit Meldrum. It is conveniently parked next to the Customs and Immigration Quarantine Complex (CIQ) which, in turn, is parked next to the Johor-Singapore Causeway.
Which is why, along the same Jalan Bukit Meldrum are clusters of hotels, such as the Grand Bluewave Hotel, the Suria City Hotel, the Amansari Express Hotel, the Grand Jade Hotel, the JB Sentral Hotel, as well as restaurants, other big and small businesses plus Menara Sarawak Enterprise, which, relatedly to MSC Cyberport, offers a range of ICT related services for companies.
A Shot In The Arm for JB
Upcoming mega projects to change the landscape and the lifestyle of Johor Bahru in the very near future
Across the road, literally, about 400m away, is the much anticipated 116-acre R&F Princess Cove, Tanjung Puteri residential and commercial development incorporating the HOPSCA (Hotels, Offices, Parks, Shopping Malls, Clubhouses and Apartments) Marina Living Concept. This is going to be the shot in the arm that the Johor economy requires and is getting ready for.
Another shot in the arm is the gigantic 330-acre mixed-integrated urban lifestyle development called SouthKey but this mega project is about 7km away and not so close to the “goldcoast” of Tanjung Puteri.
V@Summerplace and its Sales Gallery location
Just down the road, barely 2km away, and easily reachable on foot is the Johor Bahru City Centre, the throbbing heart of the financial, commercial and cultural centre of Iskandar Malaysia Flagship Zone A.
Speaking of culture (See below on Iskandar Development), Iskandar Malaysia Flagship Zone A is not just about business development. It is also about preserving cultural heritage. JB City Centre showcases a unique melange of heritage and historical sites that work as a magnet to attract tourists from the South.
One of the more important figures and contributors to Johor’s history and heritage is Wong Ah Fook.That is why a road in downtown JB has been named after him. (Read his biography below).
Who was Wong Ah Fook? Find out here
Today, the fame of Wong Ah Fook continues to live, emanating from the road that bears his name. Jalan Wong Ah Fook is known far and wide to be the street food paradise of downtown Johor Bahru. Tourists come from far and wide and mostly from the South, to savour the incredible array of fiery, pungent, spicy, sizzling and fragrant Malay, Indian, Chinese and Arab food found here at any one time of the day or night.
The hawker fare explosion which spills over to adjacent lanes and alleys and in particular, along Jalan Meldrum, is known as the famous Meldrum Walk. There is some confusion as to which roads constitute Meldrum Walk. Actually, all of them are Meldrum Walk. There is so much food spilling out from all these roads that it is hard to tell where they begin and where they end.
The Food Glorious Food of Meldrum Walk. Pic courtesy of bpdgtravels.blogspot.sg
Jalan Meldrum (next road from Jalan Wong Ah Fook 800m away), however, is not to be confused with Jalan Bukit Meldrum which is located 1km away on Meldrum Hills.
As you may have realised by now, the name Meldrum has been repeated many times, commemorating a road or a place in present-day Johor Bahru. This is because, like Wong Ah Fook, Dato’ James Meldrum also had an illustrious past, contributing much to the development of Johor.
Who was James Meldrum? Find out here
From the location at Jalan Bukit Meldrum, JB Sentral, the Coastal Highway, the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) and East-West LinkTun Abdul Razak (TAR) Highway and the Middle Ring Road are all within 5 minutes away.
Further to that is the Singapore-Malaysia Rapid Transit System (RTS) scheduled to be up by 2018. The location of the stations have been identified to be at Bukit Chagar or/and at the site of R&F Princess Cove. Either or both locations are nearby. Take a look at the map below:
Do ignore the little man taking 16 minutes to walk around the block. Princess Cove is really only 400m away while Bukit Chagar is less than 1km away
It is by no coincidence, then, that V@Summerplace has chosen to situate itself here on Jalan Bukit Meldrum.
Economic development and growth in Johor Bahru, especially in the property sector, owe their thanks to the catalyst — Iskandar Malaysia which was established in 2006. Here is a brief look at what Iskandar Malaysia is all about.
Analysis
“Through our attention to detail, and pursuit of perfection, we strive to exceed our customer’s expectation and set new benchmarks in the housing industry in Johor Bahru,” said Wong Chee Hao, CEO of Connoisseur Land Sdn Bhd, at the preface to his website.
Although relatively young in the industry, this developer strikes a good impression and seems to represent a different breed altogether, the breed that Dares to be Different. This distinction is evident from the word ‘go’.
For instance, right after you click into their website, you will notice that they introduce every project with an opening score, much like a movie with its themed soundtrack. It is their choice of music that speaks volumes. You can see there has been careful selection of every piece to set the mood right and to individually characterise each of their creations before you get into the technicalities of floor plans and such.
Perhaps there is good reason why they name themselves Connoisseur. Have a listen. You might even start groovin’ to the beat:
- SummerScape is set with the sensual ambience of mood music
- V@Summerplace has sexy samba
- The Summer Residence (TSR), their latest launch, is a personal favourite: Bossanova tinged with sparkling jazz modulations for that inimitable touch of class:
Even their advertisements are light years off the beaten track!
Click below to check it out:
V @ Summerplace
Now if they can place so much attention to detail for their supporting peripherals, how much more would they invest into their actual product?
About Connoisseur:
Connoisseur Development Sdn Bhd is part of the Connoisseur Group which comprises:
- Connoisseur Towers Sdn Bhd
- Connoisseur Properties Sdn Bhd
- Connoisseur Land Sdn Bhd
- Connoisseur Construction Sdn Bhd
- Connoisseur Holdings Sdn Bhd
The consortium was founded in 2005 by Wong Chee Hao to develop highend residential projects in Johor Bahru. With vastly experienced members on its board of directors and a team of dedicated operation professionals, Connoisseur Group serves to deliver premium housing solutions to its most prestigious purchasers.
Totally Opposite Approach
Their goal is thus to make the most desirable condominiums in Johor Bahru, taking pains to craft well-thought-out homes with the kind of quality and aesthetics made to be lived in and appreciated.
Consequently, Connoisseur’s deal is totally opposite of the promotional offers of their contemporaries. As opposed to low or easy entries just to palm off units like a cheap sale, they impose High Entry Costs for all their purchasers.
This is to limit the number of speculative investors and to discourage “flipping”. Property flippers would not only let the developer’s works of art go to waste, the act of flipping would also cause unsightly rows of empty units as they wait to be “sub-sold”, preventing genuine homeowners from purchasing a good developer’s deal.
Connoisseur’s rules, therefore, strictly are:
NO Free Legal Fees on SPA and Loan
NO Zero Downpayment Scheme
NO Free Stamp Duty
Genuine buyers, whether foreign or local, must bear all these costs themselves.
For foreigners, there is the additional Government Levy of RM20,000 + your own lawyer’s fees.
But take heart non-Malaysians, you can buy below the RM1M cap as V@SummerPlace was launched in 2012 and follows the old ruling.
Connoiseur’s rationale is best explained by this line taken from their website.
“Others sell you what they will build. We choose to build what you will be proud to own.”
Other than the initial impositions, the price of their units is actually very, very affordable — a great value buy for the style you get. Here is an analysis on Price PSF with another Serviced Apartment also on Meldrum Hills.
| Name | Tenure | Unit Size | Average Price PSF | Maintenance Fee PSF | Approx Start Price per Unit |
| V@Summerplace | F hold | 642 −1,375sq ft | RM550 –RM730 | RM 0.30 | From RM480,XXXK |
| Sky Suites@Bukit Meldrum | F hold | 581−1,346sq ftNot inclusive of built up of penthouses | RM700 – RM1,200 | RM 0.25 | From RM380,XXXK |
*Rental Rates along Jalan Bukit Meldrum and Meldrum Hills in general is around the asking rate of RM1,900 per month (fully-furnished 581sq ft unit) to RM3,300 per month (Fully Furnished 1,350 sq ft).
Summary
V@Summerplace, as with all its sister developments, is for the connoisseur of life − those who appreciate fine wine, fine food, fine craftsmanship and of course, fine living spaces. As you can see from the pricing, you won’t be put out of pocket to own this fine piece of property placed on one of the finest locations you can find in Johor Bahru. Don’t you agree?
