ABUJA | Jabi Lakefront Development Project | Approved

[Samuel107]

Originally Posted by Villager X

I visited Jabi Lake Resort yesterday, unfortunately the SD card in my BB got fried somehow as such I have no pictures. What I can say is the pictures taken back in Oct '08 by poster 'JoblessBeggar' are near accurate of what the waters look like today, though heavily polluted and most of the lake shore is bordered by layers of consumer waste. The pictures taken back in Jan '09 by poster 'GAR3TH' are way off the scale of near accurate depictions when you factor in unkempt walkways, broken lighting fixtures, horse dung all over the parched lawns. There is no visible sign of development other than an isolated 1/4 acre of land, on the north side of the lake, where there is a single structure in very early stages of development.

The gates leading into the park were locked and the main point of entry is a meandering walkway, three feet wide, set between a deep gully, from erosion, and the end of the wire fence that borders the perimeter of the parkland. When I asked if the gates open, I was told they stay locked all the time and the entry point is as I described. I drove around the surrounding hectares of land marked for the planned project and it is similarly showing no signs of development of any kind.

As you rightly mentioned, it is somewhat indicative of the administrations' ineptitude and, I might add, heightened levels of uncertainty that always accompany major projects, more so, locally. The hope of new ministers making a difference to the speed of development may be anything but a case of seeing is believing.

I need to take pictures of the location anyway and will also post them here sometime this week.

[paddylo]

As you rightly mentioned, it is somewhat indicative of the administrations' ineptitude and, I might add, heightened levels of uncertainty that always accompany major projects, more so, locally.

again before u start blaming. . i have to ask u(as u are on location in abuja). .

is this not a totally private affair?
i mean u cant blame the govt,if the investors are not bringing in the necessary funds
am sure the FCTs only attachment to this project is to provide the land and monitor the construction
just like in the Eko atlantic city of lagos. .

i know this because i usually follow all FCT approved budgets,and there is no mention of this project in there
the projects the FCT is financing directly include the
- - 10 lane express airport roads,kubwa roads
- - millenium tower
- - abuja lite rail. . .

and many more. . .so lets not go blaming the FCT for something they have no control over
my theory is that the banks that were supposed to finance this project,put it on hold cause of the global crises,and later on the sanusi tsunami. . .

hope its not been cancelled. .but even if it is. . .some new architects or company will spring up with something better

[megacity]

again before u start blaming. . i have to ask u(as u are on location in abuja). .

is this not a totally private affair?
i mean u cant blame the govt,if the investors are not bringing in the necessary funds
am sure the FCTs only attachment to this project is to provide the land and monitor the construction
just like in the Eko atlantic city of lagos. .

i know this because i usually follow all FCT approved budgets,and there is no mention of this project in there
the projects the FCT is financing directly include the
- - 10 lane express airport roads,kubwa roads
- - millenium tower
- - abuja lite rail. . .

and many more. . .so lets not go blaming the FCT for something they have no control over
my theory is that the banks that were supposed to finance this project,put it on hold cause of the global crises,and later on the sanusi tsunami. . .

hope its not been cancelled. .but even if it is. . .some new architects or company will spring up with something better

Oh. Well I was thinking that it was bureaucracy that was getting in way. Maybe having to wait for some permit or approval that's being delayed. If the FCT has given them all necessary permits then it's probably the global economic crisis that may have them putting things on hold.

[JoblessBeggar]

Villager X's description is spot on, but I still believe that this project is likely to eventually come to fruition.

Keem is a really big player (particularly in Abuja circles), so if he is really committed to the project, it is more likely than not to get done. I don't think permits would be the cause of any delay (although the requisite EIA might be). Rather, because of the scale and quality the developers have in mind, financing is more likely to cause any delays.

[qymekkam]

im guessing dis is dead

[GAR3TH]

[Naijaborn]

[megacity]

Actis, Duval Properties to build Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja
Tue, 2013-04-16
Author(s): Chuka Uroko



As part of its real estate development plan for sub Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria, Actis, a leading private equity investor, has entered into a strategic partnership with Duval Properties for the development of Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja.

Construction is expected to commence in June 2013 after all the necessary government approvals.

The new retail centre will offer 30,000 square metres of grade-A shopping space from a prime location on the shores of Jabi Lake. The mall is expected to be anchored by Shoprite and Game, providing a one-stop leisure, restaurant and retail destination just 10 minutes drive from the city’s business centre.

Jabi Lake Mall follows the success of other Actis malls in Nigeria, namely The Palms and Ikeja City Mall in Lagos.

Actis Head of Real Estate, David Morley said: “Actis is delighted to partner with Duval Properties and to move closer to delivering a top quality shopping experience to the citizens of Abuja.

The Nigerian capital boasts of strong population growth fundamentals, a robust infrastructure, and a thriving consumer class; drawing on our extensive track record in West Africa, we feel optimistic about what we can achieve here.”

Hakeem Belo Osagie, Chairman of Duval Properties, said, “Duval’s vision for Jabi Lake is to create a vibrant, mixed-use water-font community that is Abuja’s best place to live, work, and relax. Our partnership with Actis to build a waterfront mall is an exciting first step toward achieving this vision.”

Charles Russell (UK) and F.O. Akinrele & Co. (Nigeria) acted as legal advisors to Actis. Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (Nigeria) and SNR Denton (UK) and McCabe & Partners (Mauritius) acted as legal financial advisors to Duval respectively.

Since 2006, Actis has developed 10 institutional quality assets in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa including The Junction in Nairobi, and Accra Mall in Accra.





source

[megacity]

Jabi Lake Masterplan in Abuja submitted for planning. Residential component shortlisted for award.

February 18, 2013


Studio Seilern Architects were commissioned to design a 31 hectare waterfront masterplan for Duval Properties Ltd in Abuja, Nigeria. We have just returned from Abuja where we presented the Master Plan to the chief planning officer and his team which was very positively received.

Studio Seilern Architects are the lead architects and masterplanners for the scheme and are delighted to be working on this project with Buro Happold for engineering services, landscape designers Hyland Edgar Driver and cost consultants Currie & Brown.

Situated on Jabi Lake the project aims to create a new destination for the city. A place to live, work, shop, be entertained and above all, to enjoy.

A FLEXIBLE MASTERPLAN

A loose arrangement of these building clusters creates the possibility of a flexible plan that generates multiple aspect residential units.

PHASING

A flexible approach to the phased growth of the site, where committing to the size of the building can easily be adapted over time.

BREAKING DOWN THE SCALE

Rather than committing to a cluster of larger buildings, we chose to break the building units into clusters of two, three or four components. Achieving both density + retaining a human scale and mutiple roof gardens.

A ORGANIC SCHEME

The flexibility that the residential tower can offer allows for potential high rise buildings to be positioned alongside the street and cascading low rise buildings towards the lakefront creating variable skylines.


source

[megacity]

Studio Seilern designs new community in Nigeria's capital
Jan 14, 2013


Studio Seilern Architects were commissioned to design a 35 hectare waterfront masterplan in Abuja, Nigeria. Situated on Jabi Lake the project aims to create a new destination for the city.

An important concept was the creation of a waterfront promenade that connects the elements of the site to each other and also to the rest of the lake, ensuring that this is a flexible and open development, not a closed one.

Rather than committing to a cluster of larger buildings, the architects chose to break the building units into clusters of two, three or four components. A loose arrangement of these building clusters creates the possibility of a flexible plan that generates multiple aspect residential units. It allows for a flexible approach to the phased growth of the site, where committing to the size of the building can easily be adapted over time.

The flexibility that the residential tower can offer allows for potential high rise buildings to be positioned alongside the street and cascading low rise buildings towards the lakefront creating variable skylines. In plan, a series of units measuring 15m x 15m of two units each are arranged at varying angles to each other, forming differently shaped gaps and interstitial spaces. The number of tower components in each cluster can also vary, generating buildings of various sizes and density.

Each residential unit can be considered as prime as they will all have a triple aspect and exterior space providing a sense of being larger than they actually are. Due to the lack of existing market info, the scheme also needed to be flexible in its use and each building should be adaptable to become a mixed-used live / work configuration. The 15x15m block ensure that both residential and office configuration could be adapted.

The richness and variety of the clusters resembles a feeling of the northern Nigerian village. The loose clustering of a very simple rectangular extrusion creates a multitude of massing iterations: the variety of arrangement possibilities of repeating block means that no two buildings are the same.


source

[Tbite]

I saw the renders of Studio Serlein, but I didn't really want to post it, cos I thought it was another pipe dream.

[megacity]

Developers: Duval Properties
Architects: Studio Seilern Architects

[megacity]

there a couple more pictures on the architects website but they in flash format so not sure how to get them on here. maybe someone can get them on here.


Looks like the project is back on track with a new developer.

[megacity]

Originally Posted by Tbite

I saw the renders of Studio Serlein, but I didn't really want to post it, cos I thought it was another pipe dream.

Well who knows. It seems at least like the mall for the project will get built. Actis is a legit mall developer. We'll see whether the rest of the project will be developed.

[Naijaborn]

Ohhh...Not more renders......

[Tbite]

Well if they can build the mall at least, that'll be okay

but this is an Abuja project and we know how Abuja projects are like (They either fail to build it, or they fail to complete it)

but if they can at least build the mall, that will be a success.

[paddylo]

Originally Posted by Tbite

Well if they can build the mall at least, that'll be okay

but this is an Abuja project and we know how Abuja projects are like (They either fail to build it, or they fail to complete it)

but if they can at least build the mall, that will be a success.

Actis is a PE firm and not a Government contractor.

PE firms invest to exit for a profit.

If they decide to build they will build to completion just like they did in IKeja mall and the Palms.

[Tbite]

Abuja City Mall to create over 1,000 jobs, host 300,000 shoppers monthly – Director

Actis’s most recent retail development in Nigeria is the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos. Prior investments in Nigeria included the Palms retail centre, also in Lagos. Jabi Lake Mall is our latest retail project, offering 30,000 square metres of grade-A shopping space and a one-stop leisure, restaurant and retail destination just ten minutes from the city’s business centre. The anchor tenants are expected to be Shoprite and Game. Actis is also developing a 14-storey A-grade office space in Lagos called Heritage Place. This development seeks to answer the chronic undersupply of good quality office space in Lagos; Heritage Place will become the first internationally certified ‘green’ office building in the city.
What is your assessment of the investment /business climate in Nigeria and Africa as a whole?
We continue to see strong fundamentals in Nigeria with a growing consumer class and increasing urbanisation creating demand not just for quality goods and services but also for real estate. The market continues to be constrained by a lack of equity and debt financing. We see growing competition both in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa but many of the newer international players lack the requisite local experience or know-how. We feel very positive about Nigeria and are proud of what Actis has achieved in the country so far.

So, what are the motivations to invest now in Abuja?
The story of the Palms and Ikeja City Mall is the story of rising urbanisation, an expanding middle-class and an increasing appetite for formal retail opportunities offering domestic, regional and international brands. We see the same trend playing out in Abuja which has the fastest growing population in Nigeria and is underserved by formal retail; its supportive local government and high quality infrastructure make it a highly attractive investment destination. Jabi Lake Mall promises to provide much needed retail and leisure facilities to the citizens of Abuja.
How long will the construction last and the job opportunities, both in the short and long term, for locals when the Mall finally takes-off?
Construction is expected to take two years and will create over 200 jobs. In the long term, the Mall will support over 1,000 jobs and will also boost the local supply-chain.
When will the Mall open for business?
Business is expected to commence there in mid-2015.
Actis chose Jabi Lake; any reason for the choice of the location which is a high-brow area of the city where the affluent reside mostly?
The Jabi Lake Mall forms part of the city’s Phase II development. Its waterfront location is unique and will provide access to high-quality retail and leisure space in an area currently poorly served by formalised retail.
Reports indicate that households within 8 kilometres radius of the Ikeja Mall spent $18 billion on shopping in one year alone; any projection on how much you hope to rake in per annum from shoppers in Abuja?
We envisage high demand for the facilities at Jabi Lake Mall.
Any idea on the numbers of shoppers you expect to shop on a daily, weekly basis?
Our current estimates suggest Jabi Lake Mall will attract something in the region of 300,000 visitors per month.
Another firm has plan to open 100 shopping outlets in the country within the next six years; how are going to cope with such competition?
This is a market which is clearly under-served by formal retail and we welcome the entrance of high-quality developments into the market.
Issues of security are a great concern, how do you intend to tackle such challenges?
We have carried out extensive due diligence both with regard to the design of the Jabi Lake Mall and operational security. We are confident that all citizens of Abuja will recognise the importance of a safe environment for the local community and to continue to attract foreign investment.
What is the cost of constructing the Mall?
We are not able to disclose this figure.
Is Actis importing the materials for the construction or you intend to source them locally?
The majority of the materials will be locally sourced.
Any support from the Nigeria government?
We are working with both local and national government on the development of Jabi Lake Mall. The Abuja government welcomes commercial development which serves the needs of the citizens of Abuja and is supportive of Jabi Lake Mall; as mentioned this forms part of the city’s Phase II development.
Any plans to set up similar retails stores in less commercially-viable centres of the country?
We continue to monitor various locations; however Lagos and Abuja remain our dominant concerns at this time.
Aside retail business, what other investment opportunities has Actis identified in Nigeria?
Nigeria forms a key part of Actis’s Africa strategy. In addition to its real estate activities, Actis is an investor in Diamond Bank, Mouka Foam and Seven Energy and continues to pursue several interesting opportunities in the country, in real estate, but also in the consumer and financial services sectors

Source

[Tbite]