I think by now you’ve already heard or read the exciting news that SM Prime Holdings Inc. is offering to buy or lease the 6.5 hectares of the Capitol’s property along Gatuslao Street.
No less than Hans Sy himself met with Governor Alfredo Marañon last May 10. Sy said SM plans to spend P2.5 billion for the construction of a convention center which can accommodate 3,500 and two 200-room hotels. This is probably why the supposed SM Casa hotel in Bacolod rumored to be constructed at the back of SM City Bacolod has not yet materialized.
The area is a prime Bacolod property thus with the news of SM being interested in it, other investors also signified their interests. Ayala Land has signified their interest in the property. Ayala is the developer of Ayala North Point and the Ayala Technohub also located at Ayala North Point.
The owner of 888 Chinatown Square is also interested in acquiring the prime Bacolod property owned by the provincial government which is currently occupied by the Negros Occidental Provincial Jail. The inmates will be transferred to the new Provincial Jail located at Tabunan, Bago City next month.
The project gives us something to look forward to since it means more job for Negrenses. I’m personally thrilled with this development since our office is very near this prime property.
View Capitol Prime Property in a larger map
The City of Bacolod, especially its officials in the City Hall, a.k.a. New Government Center, just like to boast and boast, talk and talk that Bacolod is this and that – a billionaire city because of its more than a billion peso annual budget, that it is the most business friendly city, that Lacson Street is another downtown, the food and tourism strip. Sanamagan! Some portions of Lacson Street from 13th to 22nd St. is dark at night, and the South Capitol Road and Gatuslao Street at the back of Capitol which are both under the city, are very dark. The sodium street lights are mere decorations, just lamp posts with no lights. If these are not clear indicators of lousy city government administration, what is? And the traffic in Bacolod? Bow!
I can also add a few things on your list. There’s the garbage problem that should also be given solution. I hear feedback from businessmen along Lacson St. that if they don’t give some payments to the garbage collectors their garbage are not collected. There’s also the sidewalk vendors who do not only add to the litters on the street, but also block some portion of the streets.
what about those vendors behind central market (between central market and kit’s store) while i wouldnt want them to lose their livelihood, i think they should at least keep that area clean. though i must admit our downtown area is a little bit cleaner than those of some cities. i remember it was a big issue during the 2007 election because one of mayoralty candidates wanted to remove those street vendors around the central market/gaisano area.
I’m hoping for an Ayala development in Bacolod someday. I think Ayala Davao just opened and Ayala CDO is under construction so maybe something in the Visayas (other than Cebu) naman in the future. More competition is always good. :p
I’m crossing my fingers too. There’s a rumor that Ayala is also going to build a mall in Iloilo.
one of the best malls i’ve been to lately is the ayala marquee mall in (of all places) angeles city. seriously its really nice, makes those sm malls look generic and soulless. hahahaha halata gid na ayala malls fan no?
I am happy for the development. . It is irony, though, that it is the Provincial Government which is pro-active in investment promotion nowadays, and not the City to spur the economic growth of the Capital City. More investments will generate more employment.
So true migo. It looks like the city government is not as aggressive as the provincial government. And when you speak of political will, the provincial government has a lot to boast. Look at the clearing of the property at Paglaum, I wonder if the city can do the same.