This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on September 30, 2024 - October 6, 2024

Situated a few minutes from Publika Shopping Gallery is the ongoing development of Papyrus North Kiara (Papyrus) by Kerjaya Prospek Group Bhd (KL:KERJAYA). Since its launch in March this year, the project has achieved a 50% take-up rate and the development is about midway towards its 38-storey height in its construction progress.

Sited on 4.5 acres of freehold land, the two-tower project has a gross development value of RM575 million and 454 units ranging in size from 1,141 to 5,523 sq ft. There will be 51 facilities, which will include co-working space and an education hub.

“The unique aspect of Papyrus is that, on average, every unit has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. This is a family-oriented project. The smallest unit is 1,141 sq ft and it has four bedrooms; it is a liveable space,” says executive director Datin Seri Toh Siew Chuon during a tour of the show unit at its sales gallery.

“A lot of people are demanding a bigger space, so this project is meeting that demand. The target market for Papyrus is families with children and/or parents, professionals and also upgraders.”

Each unit will come with a generously sized balcony to accommodate some outdoor furniture.

There are seven layout types, titled A to F. Type A, B, C and D, come with kitchen cabinets, hood, induction hob, microwave, refrigerator, lighting, two air-conditioning units, wardrobes, digital lock, ceiling fans and water heater.

Type E units come with the above items along with a dishwasher and breakfast counter.

Type F are duplex units, which are similar to a 2-storey house. It has an internal staircase with living and kitchen spaces on the lower level and the bedrooms upstairs. The duplexes have five bedrooms and six bathrooms. There is also a separate entrance for the upper level for residents who don’t wish to use their internal staircase — they can simply take the lift to the upper level and enter the unit there.

There are only 37 Type F units and they come fitted out with all the items provided in the other units, with an additional four air-conditioning units for a total of six and an island in the dry kitchen.

Also, three Type F units come with garage parking of 570 to 800 sq ft. The space is sufficient to park at most two cars. It can also be used as extra storage space. Some units also come with bicycle lockers.

There are 1,308 parking bays and each unit will be allocated two to six bays, depending on the unit type. It is worth noting that several levels of the car park have their own entrances via an external road that allows cars to access their desired floors without using the internal ramps.

The selling prices of the units range from RM868,000 to RM3.816 million, or RM635 to RM800 psf.

Papyrus has 51 facilities. These include swimming pools, gym, a half basketball court, electric vehicle charging station, barbecue area, multi-purpose hall, games room, children’s playground, reading deck, meditation pod, jogging path and laundry room.

Toh highlights that a 1,200 sq ft education hub will be provided in the development. It will contain a children’s play area, tables and chairs for tutoring and a reading corner along with refrigerator, microwave, sink and dining area. Toh also points out that this project features a 2,260 sq ft co-working space.

She shares how on her travels, she picks up design points or even facility ideas from other high-rise developments in the UK, Australia and Japan, which she incorporates into Kerjaya Prospek’s projects.

“For this project, we have a co-working space and a big outdoor playground as children need some space to run around. Families can spend time outside, not just indoors,” she says, adding that 30% of the land area has been set aside for greenery with plants and trees that do not need much attention.

Due to the large number of facilities provided, the developer is incorporating durable equipment and materials that require minimal maintenance. The maintenance fee, inclusive of the sinking fund, is 33 sen psf.

The development is aiming for Green Building Index certification and GreenRE Silver rating.

Nearby amenities include Publika Shopping Gallery, which offers grocery options such as Ben’s Independent Grocer; Solaris Mall Mont’Kiara; 163 Retail Park; 1 Mont’Kiara; and Hartamas Shopping Mall. Each of these malls provides food and beverage options, grocery stores as well as conveniences and services.

International schools nearby include Hevea French Primary School, French School of Kuala Lumpur, Garden International School, Mont’Kiara International School and Hibiscus International School. Local schoolsinclude SK Segambut Makmur, SMK Segambut Jaya, SJKC Kai Chee and SK Kiaramas.

Medical facilities in the vicinity include Global Doctors Specialist Centre, Parkcity Medical Centre, Sentul Medical Centre and General Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Upcoming MRT stations close to the development include Bukit Segambut Station, Taman Sri Sinar Station and Dutamas Station.

Accessibility to the development is via Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong, Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan, Lebuhraya Sprint, Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway and Penchala Link.

Toh explains that Kerjaya Prospek has been in the industry for so long and has set certain standards in its developments. She believes that property development is a responsibility. She recalls the time when the company was a pure construction company and she noticed one thing that helped form the company’s ethos on property development.

“I remember when we were a contractor in the 1990s. Whenever we handed over a project, there was a group of renovators waiting for the buyers. So it takes time for the unit to be ready. Back then it was a bare unit. As a contractor, we help where we can to amend what the buyers wanted.”

She also explains how over time the company started to fit out the units with basic fittings to provide convenience to the homeowners. Basically, providing a home that doesn’t require additional costs to fit out or renovate. “Over the years, to ease the pain of those house buyers, we introduced kitchenettes, wardrobes and soft furnishings.”

What is the next level up in the offering? Toh believes it comes down to the facilities provided. “Whatever people want in terms of facilities, we put into our developments. Like we have introduced co-working spaces.”

Another change is the value of environmental, social and governance (ESG) with Kerjaya Prospek taking the green agenda to heart. It shares the importance of building responsibility with its employees through constant internal communication and the sharing is from top down.

Looking forward, Kerjaya Prospek has several projects in the pipeline.

“For 4Q2024, we are looking to launch another high-rise project in Sentul with 587 units. Next year, we hope to launch two new projects in the Klang Valley,” says Toh, who adds that details of all these new projects are still being finalised.

As for the outlook for the market, Toh is optimistic. “Generally it is good. Projects in the Klang Valley, you can’t go wrong. It is where the supply of jobs is, here in the urban areas.”

Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.

P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's App Store and Android's Google Play.