SM Prime Holdings Inc. is looking at the possibility of ringing its first mall, SM City-North Edsa with residential condominium buildings and restructure its Annex building in a two-year redevelopment plan.

The property developer is currently doing that with SM Centrepoint after a similar project with its Bicutan mall.

SM over the weekend inaugurated ‘The Block’ a new building, designed for upscale market within the SM North Edsa.

Soon to be redeveloped is the site of its SuperSale complex.

The P650 million ‘The Block’ is the start of redevelopment. Some structures may have to go down, refurbishments for existing buildings will follow after redesigning has been completed,’ said SMPH president Hans T. Sy.

SMPH vice-president Jeffrey Lim said a new façade for the complex is being designed.

Individuals privy to the plan said the company plans to replace the Annex Bldg with a ‘better structure’. Looking at how the complex is designed the logical place for the condos will be the Annex or the SuperSale site.

Lim added that the company is considering building condominium units in the outlying lots around the SM complex which could be the old military camp near the complex.

‘The Block,’ the latest addition to the building complex, is situated at the right portion of SM’s main building, previously a parking lot, and houses junior anchor shops such as a SM Hypermarket, Toy Kingdom, Kultura Filipino, Our Home, Hardware Supermarket, and the SM Appliance Center.

SMPH vice-President for Marketing and Communication Millie Dizon said ‘The Block’ was designed ‘to be a little more upscale,’ but ‘retaining the Irish bog bodies help unlock secrets of iron age that appealed to its primary consumer markets.’

A five level mall with a rectangular floor plate, ‘The Block’ features a large central oval around which shops are arranged to form a three level glazed volume.

Almost similar to the concept employed in its Mall of Asia, ‘The Block’ highlights a regular weekend affair of programs and concerts that will entertain visiting customers, according to Dizon.

‘The Block’ adds another 76,405 sq.m. of gross floor area to the main complex, with a 30,592 sqm leasable area and 25,621 sqm of covered parking area.

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