Astoria Ampang
Let's be a little snarky for once - really, "Astoria" .. is the developer trying to 'tumpang glamour' from the Waldorf-Astoria of New York?
Did you know where the name Astoria comes from? It is from the old-money New York family, the Asters. Specifically, the erstwhile matriarch Mrs Aster was so incensed that the Waldorf hotel was built next to her mansion that she decided to move out and build her own hotel on the site called the Astoria.
The two hotels later joined up and became the now famous Waldorf-Astoria.
So what does this story have to do with Astoria Ampang?
Nothing really, except for the penchant of Malaysian developers to choose fancy names for their condos that have NO RELEVANCE whatsoever. :)
Anyway, I saw the ads and came across their show booth during the Renovation Expo at the KL Convention Centre that was held during the 3rd week of January.
Only had a cursory glance and a brief conversation with their sales people - the lady was nice but I felt that the older guy was a bit of an asshole, so I also no power to layan him.
He probably thought I was an asshole too! LOL
Anyway, it is the same developer group that is building Arte+ in the same area.
Basically, this little area of Ampang is getting super congested with fairly expensive condo units - at latest count, it is coming up to 5,000 units in all. I can't imagine how it is going to be like - they have to be very strict about not letting people park on the side of the road otherwise, it will be a nightmare.
Another thing I dislike it that the sales people are all touting that there is a "planned MRT station" in Ampang Point. Like, where got?? Don't bluff la wei...
I checked with my friend who is someone high up in the Rapid / Prasarana echelons. He told me so far no plans to have an MRT station there, considering that the Ampang LRT is not that far away.
So should you buy into Astoria? Well, if you want to take a gamble that this is the new Mont'Kiara of Ampang - then go ahead. Frankly the location is pretty good, albeit congested and will get worse with up to 10,000 new cars in the area.
Ampang Point and the Mamanda shops will certainly benefit as it is within walking distance - as will the Korean village of Ampang Utama.
Buy? Hmm... at 800 psf for a leasehold .. I would be hesitant.
But if you are working in town, would like to stay relatively close to work (via the AKLEH) and are used to the traffic conditions (a.k.a. the hell that is known as Jln Ampang - which in all fairness is getting some work done on it at the Jelatek cross-road), then it seems a good buy.
See, I'm not that mean....
Did you know where the name Astoria comes from? It is from the old-money New York family, the Asters. Specifically, the erstwhile matriarch Mrs Aster was so incensed that the Waldorf hotel was built next to her mansion that she decided to move out and build her own hotel on the site called the Astoria.
The two hotels later joined up and became the now famous Waldorf-Astoria.
So what does this story have to do with Astoria Ampang?
Nothing really, except for the penchant of Malaysian developers to choose fancy names for their condos that have NO RELEVANCE whatsoever. :)
Anyway, I saw the ads and came across their show booth during the Renovation Expo at the KL Convention Centre that was held during the 3rd week of January.
Only had a cursory glance and a brief conversation with their sales people - the lady was nice but I felt that the older guy was a bit of an asshole, so I also no power to layan him.
He probably thought I was an asshole too! LOL
Anyway, it is the same developer group that is building Arte+ in the same area.
Basically, this little area of Ampang is getting super congested with fairly expensive condo units - at latest count, it is coming up to 5,000 units in all. I can't imagine how it is going to be like - they have to be very strict about not letting people park on the side of the road otherwise, it will be a nightmare.
Another thing I dislike it that the sales people are all touting that there is a "planned MRT station" in Ampang Point. Like, where got?? Don't bluff la wei...
I checked with my friend who is someone high up in the Rapid / Prasarana echelons. He told me so far no plans to have an MRT station there, considering that the Ampang LRT is not that far away.
So should you buy into Astoria? Well, if you want to take a gamble that this is the new Mont'Kiara of Ampang - then go ahead. Frankly the location is pretty good, albeit congested and will get worse with up to 10,000 new cars in the area.
Ampang Point and the Mamanda shops will certainly benefit as it is within walking distance - as will the Korean village of Ampang Utama.
Buy? Hmm... at 800 psf for a leasehold .. I would be hesitant.
But if you are working in town, would like to stay relatively close to work (via the AKLEH) and are used to the traffic conditions (a.k.a. the hell that is known as Jln Ampang - which in all fairness is getting some work done on it at the Jelatek cross-road), then it seems a good buy.
See, I'm not that mean....
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