How mixed-use townships are shaping locales globally
Townships around the world have reshaped urban landscapes by having homes, offices, shops, and leisure venues in masterplanned, mixed-use communities—complete with curated amenities that deliver the accessibility and convenience sought by residents today.
Amenities can include parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses and more. Some townships offer commercial enterprises, like stores and restaurants, while the biggest ones may even have their own schools.
Listed below are some thriving masterplanned communities that offer a more organized urban living environment in their respective locations.
Vietnam
Meyhomes Capital Phu Quoc is a pioneering township located in the central core of Dao Ngoc in Vietnam.
One of the development’s prominent features is its location. It is situated at the center of Truong Beach, one of the most popular and pristine beaches on Pearl Island. It is also within An Thoi Ward, the most progressive area of Phu Quoc, next to five arterial roads of the city.
Meyhomes Capital offers a variety of housing options, including townhouses, villas, and apartments. Serviced offices, hotel complexes, and commercial centers can also be found here.
In December 2023, Daewoo Engineering & Construction opened its digital theme park, Ice Jungle, in this township. The 13,000-sqm park is themed on “winter,” “ice” and “snow”—targeting locals who do not regularly experience snow or freezing winters due to the climate in Vietnam.
United States
Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada was named one of Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live” in 2014. A 22,500-acre masterplanned community tucked in the foothills on the western rim of the Las Vegas valley, it offers a wide array of housing options, educational choices, and an urban downtown development that is a hit for any lifestyle.
Summerlin boasts of a beautiful landscape, least traffic congestion, and a walkable urban core that offers numerous lifestyle enhancements. Here, you have access to professional sports, luxury living, bars, restaurants, retail shops, fitness, and concerts on The Lawn.
Summerlin’s award-winning trail system also offers 200 plus miles of trails to explore and 30 regional parks with curated spaces, including baseball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, swimming, pickleball, and more.
Summerlin is home to 10 nationally-recognized private schools, two nationally-ranked public high schools by U.S. News & World Report, 14 public schools, and several colleges and specialized facilities catering to residents of all ages and interests.
Australia
In 2015, the Perth suburb Ellenbrook was named the world’s best masterplanned community by the International Real Estate Community.
Built in 1992 by LWP Property Group in partnership with the West Australia government’s housing authority, one of the major tasks was to develop road linkages to service Ellenbrook. This was meant to fill the development with people.
But more than improved road networks, it was the sense of community in the suburb that helped the township grow and which allowed residents to forget the remoteness of the location. LWP also invested in a community development officer to address residents’ needs.
A sustainable education system and accessible amenities built early on allowed the community to prosper. Ellenbrook has set up a community fund that pools a percentage of the sale from every house. This ‘town piggy bank’ is managed by a committee who allocates the funds to sporting clubs, parks and recreation facilities, keeping the community alive.
Philippines
According to industry experts, 40 percent of township projects are found in Metro Manila, with the remaining 60 percent spread across the provinces.
One of the prominent township developments outside the capital is Megaworld’s Iloilo Business Park, located in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. The 72-hectare township has won several awards including the “Best Township Development in Asia” at the 2018 Asia Property Awards and the “Best Township Development in the Philippines” at the 2018 Philippines Property Awards.
As a thriving business, tourism, commercial and residential hub, it is home to clusters of residential condominiums, office buildings for business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, lifestyle mall and retail strips, a contemporary art museum, and an iconic convention center.
It is also home to renowned hotels including Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, and, soon, Belmont Hotel Iloilo.
Around 54 hectares of the entire township are registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). This allows locators and registered enterprises within the ecozone to benefit from special tax rates and incentives.
Sources: Inquirer Archives, asiapropertyawards.com, bankrate.com, megaworldcorp.com, mreit.com.ph, realestate.com.au,summerlin.com, koreaherald.com
