This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on February 10, 2025 - February 16, 2025

Making a mark in property development is not an easy task. However, with determination, careful planning and the right partners, the journey is less daunting.

Trevi Properties Sdn Bhd is taking this route. The boutique property developer is introducing itself to the market with condominium project Desa Tiara Residences. The maiden development, located in Bandar Makhota Cheras, Selangor, will be launched in the first quarter of this year and is slated for completion in 2028.

“What we intend to do is to bring the Mont’Kiara living concept to Bandar Mahkota Cheras. I have been a contractor in this area, and we realise there are not many lifestyle products here. In the last four to five years, nothing new with a style similar [to Desa Tiara Residences] has been developed in Bandar Mahkota Cheras,” says Trevi Properties managing director Felix Tan in an interview.

Trevi Properties is a joint venture company formed in 2018 between Sri Tinggi Sdn Bhd, Kim Tin Holdings Sdn Bhd and an undisclosed third company, with a shareholding ratio of 30:40:30. Tan is the common shareholder in Sri Tinggi, a construction company, and Kim Tin, which is in construction and property investment. In May 2023, Ancom Crop Care Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of public-listed Ancom Nylex Bhd (KL:ANCOMNY) and an agricultural chemical producer, acquired 30% of the undisclosed company’s share.

“We have known Felix for more than 10 years,” says Ancom Nylex chief financial officer Lim Chang Meng. “And in those 10 years, we had some business dealings with him, so we have chemistry, and he is trustworthy and reliable. So two to three years ago, he said he had this project [Desa Tiara Residences], and we decided to participate with him.”

Lim highlights that the development is unique and introduces a fresh concept to Bandar Mahkota Cheras. “The development is something new to this area, and injecting something more hip to attract a younger population here is an interesting concept to us.”

As Bandar Mahkota Cheras is a mature neighbourhood with predominantly landed properties, there may be concerns over whether the community is ready to embrace high-rise living. Tan says a feasibility study was conducted and the research, supported by several banks, indicates that there is demand.

“It is observed that after Covid-19, people around this area prefer a bigger unit, stay at home more and prefer to work from home. That is why we have come up with this concept of live, work and play,” he explains.

While this is Trevi Properties’ first project, it is far from Tan’s first property venture.

Some years ago, Sri Tinggi set up a joint venture with property developer Amber Homes Group to develop Casa Green @ Bukit Jalil. The serviced apartment project sits on 4.96 acres and was launched in 2015 and completed in 2019.

The project, which is 100% sold, has three blocks. There is the 39-storey Block A with 490 Rumah Mampu Milik units that were sold for RM300,000 each. Blocks B and C, which are 34 storeys high, have a combined total of 490 open market units with selling prices from RM500,000.

Incidentally, Trevi Properties’ name is derived from the Trevi Fountain in Italy. “We liked the name a lot and it is very easy to remember,” Tan says with a smile.

The RM217 million Desa Tiara Residences sits on 4.6 acres of freehold land with a residential title. The single-tower condominium comprises 350 units in two wings — the 25-storey Garden Wing and the 24-storey City Wing, which are connected on each level. Each floor houses 15 units: nine Type A units, four Type B units and two Type C units.

Type A or Premium units have a built-up area of 1,080 sq ft, while Type B (Signature units) offer 1,237 sq ft. The largest, Type C (Spacious units), have 1,359 sq ft. All units have at least three bedrooms and prices range from RM579,500 to RM735,400.

The Garden Wing will have more Type A units, while the City Wing will have more Type B and Type C layouts. Units will be delivered bare, with bathrooms fitted out and all will come with balconies.

A standout design feature is the placement of the master bedroom at opposite ends of the unit from the other bedrooms for enhanced privacy. Additionally, the kitchen extends into the yard area, with no separating wall so as to create a more open and functional space.

“Our unique selling point is we have optional flooring selection. This is normally available in exclusive developments. You can choose your floor tiles and bedroom flooring,” says Tan.

The options are a glossy beige tile for the living room and Sumatran teak flooring for the bedrooms, or a matte beige tile for the living room and Balinese teak flooring for the bedrooms. If no selection is made, says Tan, then the units will be given the default flooring of glossy tile and Sumatran teak.

He explains that this flooring options are to cater to the tastes of young adults, who like matte finishes, and seniors, who prefer something glossy.

“Our target market is young professionals, downsizers and business owners, aged 30 and above,” Tan adds.

The condo comes with various facilities, which include indoor badminton courts, a jogging track, an Italian-inspired garden, a camping area, a playground, an outdoor lounge, a half basketball and pickleball court, a covered barbeque area, a yoga deck, a 35m swimming pool, a 15m wading pool, a gym and a multipurpose hall. These can be found on the podium deck with the car park levels below.

As for parking facilities, there will be 770 bays and each unit will have, on average, two bays.

“Our car park has a super ramp where you don’t have to go round and round; you can go straight to your parking level,” says Tan.

On the ground level there will be a co-working space, children’s playroom, games and table tennis room, and music room. There is also a package room for deliveries of parcels and food.

“We are one of the first in Bandar Mahkota Cheras to have two badminton courts, a half-size basketball-and-pickleball court and we have a 1,500 sq ft co-working space,” says Tan.

Additionally, atop the Garden Wing will be a Sky Deck, a landscaped area with seating, which will serve as a space for residents to enjoy the view and relax.

The estimated maintenance fee inclusive of the sinking fund is 33 sen psf.

While the development provides many facilities, buyers and investors may be concerned over the traffic situation in the area.

“This is a very mature area and we understand the traffic is not so good. Having said that, the authorities are doing a very good job by building a highway so our residents have the option to use an alternative access via the EKVE (East Klang Valley Expressway) highway, which is said to be opening sometime this year,” he says.

Moreover, the authorities are also looking at ways to improve the traffic situation and Tan is confident that once the condo is ready, the accessibility issues will be laid to rest.

The surrounding area has many amenities that cater to singles as well as families. Nearby malls include BMC Mall, AEON Mall Cheras Selatan, Amerin Mall, The Mines Shopping Mall and South City Plaza. Educational institutions include SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Long, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Oxburgh International School, Beaconhouse Newlands and Columbia International School. Medical facilities include Kajang Hospital, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz and Columbia Asia Hospital - Cheras. Lastly, leisure facilities include Sungai Long Hill, Sungai Long Golf & Country Club, Impian Golf & Country Club, The Mines Resort & Golf Club and Selangor Turf Club.

As the interview draws to a close, Tan and Lim explain how Trevi Properties are looking for new land for development and these include land that Ancom Nylex owns and operates on in Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam.

Says Lim, “We have land in Section 13, Petaling Jaya, of 3.5 acres and Shah Alam land of about 10 acres, which we may partner with him [Tan] to develop in the future if the opportunity arises.”

Tan says, “Their CEO and chairman has asked me to explore [the development of the land]. So we thought, why don’t we create a brand first [with Trevi Properties] and see how we can work from there?”

In case anyone is wondering if Ancom Nylex is moving into property development, Lim states clearly that the company has no plans to diversify into another industry and most likely, it will be the landowner and partner with others to develop its land bank.

Creating a brand and introducing a new product to a mature neighbourhood is challenging but with the right people and focus, the journey will bear fruit. Trevi Properties is certainly banking on this.

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