Ateneo vs SMDC Blue Residences

**Monseratto** · June 6th, 2011 11:23 AM

Ateneo is up in arms against the ongoing 42 storey condo buiding of the Henry Sy-led SMDC. The Quezon City Council suspiciously approved a zoning exemption for this gargatuan project in one day...

http://www.theguidon.com/2011/06/05/...nces-tomorrow/

Ateneans to lobby against Blue Residences tomorrow
by Katerina D. Francisco on June 5, 2011

In a show of opposition against Shoemart Development Corporation (SMDC)’s Blue Residences, Ateneans are preparing to lobby to 18 Quezon City councilors tomorrow, pushing for the revocation of the city council resolution that allowed the project to materialize.

The Loyola Heights community, including the Ateneo, contends that the project was granted an exemption to zoning regulations by the 17th Quezon City council without going through the necessary legal procedures.

As part of the ongoing efforts against the project, Sanggunian President Drew Copuyoc asked the Ateneo community through a Facebook note posted last June 3 to assemble at the Quezon City Hall during the flag-raising ceremony tomorrow at 8:00 AM, which will be attended by city officials.

Explaining the planned action, Copuyoc wrote, “We will… show them that, as Ateneans with the rest of the [Loyola Heights] community, we are serious in our bid to push for a revocation of the zoning requirement exemption given to SMDC for the Blue Residences.”

“We are committed to ensuring that our government is just and accountable in its governance,” he said.

SMDC and the Loyola Heights community had tried to resolve the issue through dialogues, but no fruitful outcome has been attained.

According to Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) President Ken Abante, several COA organizations—such as the Ateneo Christian Life Community, Ateneo Student Catholic Action and The Assembly—have also written letters to district councilors, asking them to support an ordinance that will revoke the exemption granted to SMDC. Eighteen councilors from Quezon City districts 1, 3 and 4 are being targeted in the lobbying effort in order to get their support for the said ordinance.

Other student groups involved in efforts against the Blue Residences include the Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement, the Ateneo Resident Students Association, the League of Independent Organizations and the school boards of all four Loyola Schools.

**Ry_Tower** · June 6th, 2011 12:32 PM

Gitnang-gitna nga ah, grabe traffic niyan kapag natuloy!

**renzo_d10** · June 6th, 2011 12:43 PM

Ah oo, nakikita ko yan. May fence na nga surrounding that area. All I can say is, BOO ! Ang sikip kaya ng daan diyan. Malapit kasi siya sa u-turn, lalagyan pa ng condo.

**CVT** · June 6th, 2011 12:52 PM

Ano kaya ang tunay na dahilan kaya iyan nire-resist ng ADMU? Di ba't may condo building din sa may HyperMart along Katipunan?

13.4K:stereo:

**boybi** · June 6th, 2011 01:00 PM

Oo nga, what's the reason bakit ayaw ng ADMU yang condo? Di ba mas magbenefit sa kanila yan mas may matitirahan na ang mga students nila?

**uls** · June 6th, 2011 01:00 PM

SMDC: zoning? what zoning?

**ghosthunter** · June 6th, 2011 01:02 PM

Priests love to resist change in anyway. It's a reflex na kasi eh. hehehe

**ghosthunter** · June 6th, 2011 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by boybi

Oo nga, what's the reason bakit ayaw ng ADMU yang condo? Di ba mas magbenefit sa kanila yan mas may matitirahan na ang mga students nila?

Maybe ADMU has a condo development of their own in the same general area. So with SMDC condo in the area, that would mean a lower price or less interests in ADMU's expensive condo development? ... hehehe ...

**junerski** · June 6th, 2011 01:11 PM

halos lahat naman ng high rise buildings sa loyola heights katipunan area eh niresist ng admu or loyola heights community (from prince david, burgundy - si GMA nga penthouse siya dun etc) pero lahat naman natapos...

to think most unit owners pa eh mga may bahay sa xavierville, la vista etc... pera pera lang yan. magdonate lang smdc ng building or any other project sa admu eh oo na rin yan siguro. ayaw pa nila nun, associated pa yung name ng condo sa color ng school. kulang na lang may logo ng eagle rin sa building.

**Monseratto** · June 6th, 2011 01:34 PM

They were able to stop the construction of another SMDC project before...

SM unit to transfer new project amid opposition
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Source: Manila Times By Chino S. Leyco

THE mid-market property unit of the SM group said it is willing to move a commercial-cum-residential condominium project to another area in Quezon City after residents of Katipunan Avenue raised objections to the development. Rogelion Cabuñag, SM Development Corp. (SMDC) president, told reporters that the company is now looking at another property close to the original location of its planned 31-story Stanford Residences.

The parish priest of the Sta. Maria del la Strada Church, the La Vista Homeowners Association and residents of Loyola Grand Villas and Barangay Pansol are protesting the Quezon City council’s exemption of the Stanford Residences from local building height and traffic regulations.

Former Sen. Francisco Tatad, spokesman of La Vista residents, had said the project would worsen traffic congestion in the area.

“[Stanford Residences is] still a problem, but it’s up to the seller whether they can work on it. Either they refund us or they give us another property. But we’re now eyeing another [lot] somewhere in that area,” Cabuñag said, adding that “the seller is Sta. Lucia.”

Stanford Residences is designed for 1,316 units with a roof deck on a site near the Petron gasoline station and Miriam College campus.