Considered one of the leaders in real estate development and offering a blend of smart living with cost-effective living, Montebello fits the bill of a smart city to the hilt. Today, real estate embraces every kind of lifestyle, ranging from cost-effective residential options to alcoves preserving natural heritage to eco-systems that promote happy living, and those that drive investment to spur economic development.
In an interview with Platform Africa, MaxCity Group’s Team Leader for Business Development, Mary Jane Lai, explains what makes the Montebello Smart City an economically viable project in offering a gateway to business, encompassing commercial, residential, and retail premises. She also enumerates the project’s diverse unique selling points (USPs) spanning across giving residents a better lifestyle, embracing the diversity of vegetation and laying the foundation for businesses.
1. What makes for Montebello’s USP as a smart city?
To understand what the project offers in terms of its uniqueness, it’s important to look at it from different angles, namely inspiration, concept, expertise, lifestyle, and accessibility, among others.
Inspiration: When the promoter discovered this oasis, a dream sprang to its root where one wouldn’t imagine seeing such a hidden treasure unfolding in this location entrenched between the diversity of the vegetation and the gentle stream of the rivulet Saint-Louis. Our purpose is to enhance value by preserving the natural heritage while at the same time retaining its original surroundings which represent its aesthetic beauty.
Concept: MaxCity group has to its credit more than 40 years of experience in the business of real estate and we work with the best experts who provide property solutions that reflect the mission of the group to “create better life experiences through better places”.
Expertise: For this project, we have brought many experts on board to design a unique concept built around smart development in the area which truly harmonises the future of human activities and landscaping.
Lifestyle: The Montebello Smart City offers “a new way of living” combining all the advantages of urban life nestled in the heart of a preserved natural heritage.
Accessibility: Montebello Smart City is strategically located halfway between Ébène and Port Louis, in offering direct access to the four corners of the island. The strategic location is most attractive in terms of an ideal climate coupled with accessibility where it is located between the M1 Motorway and Grande Rivière Nord-Ouest and offers different entry and exit points in Phase One.
There are two entrances, one direct access from the M1 motorway via a new slip lane and the other access will be facilitated through the Pailles Junction Road. The exit is facilitated only through the Pailles Junction Road for cars and buses, to ensure smooth traffic flow throughout the neighbourhood.
Moreover, in terms of sustainability, there has been a strong recommendation to implement the 3R (Recycle – Re-Use – Reduce) together with several other attractions such as commercial lots along Montebello´s beautifully landscaped boulevard where office and retail activities integrate seamlessly in an urban setting along the Saint Louis rivulet together with being ideal for mixed-use development in a green and calm setting.
The construction of the convenience mall will give a shot in the arm to the economy and the development of the commercial business project is expected to drive more visitors into this area and help create jobs.
Montebello is located between the M1 Motorway and Grande Rivière Nord-Ouest and offers different entry and exit points
2. What will be some of the main features of the smart city?
The project spans three phases where Phase 1 was officially launched in August 2021. Montebello Smart City was designed to meet the needs of those who prioritise well-being in their professional and personal lives.
This real estate development offers an exceptional setting to establish your business while at the same time helping invest in your future business nestled at the heart of a unique natural setting and close to all the facilities offered by urban life. It forms part of the unprecedented dynamism injected into this territory spread across 120 acres while being strategically located between Port-Louis and Ébène.
By 2025, the smart city is expected to host a residential area, offices, showrooms, and a shopping mall where it has several offerings such as pedestrian friendly, beautifully designed and landscaped sidewalks that branch out from the commercial precinct to the residential and natural surrounds. Layby bus stops, pedestrian crossings along the 4-lanes Central Boulevard, and all internal roads are conveniently located to encourage soft mobility.
The Montebello Smart City is divided into three distinct precincts, each having its purpose and charm. Phase One of the project is slowly taking shape and covering an area of 60 acres which represents the starting point for the construction of the Northern and Central Precinct.
At a glance, the distinct precincts consist of firstly, The Northern Precinct “Built for business, sustained by balance”. This space encompasses 24 commercial lots including a commercial and business area fully accessible on foot, with showrooms, shops, and offices that have maximum visibility and accessibility, two essential aspects for the success of any business.
Secondly, the Central Precinct is “Designed for living, inspired by nature”. The first phase of the residential area, Les Rives de Saint Louis, offers the concept of a lifestyle fully connected with nature. In total, 37 lots of serviced land in a beautifully landscaped setting have been put up for sale for the construction of villas. Phase 2 will include the development of apartments and duplexes fitting in with the inherent charm of an eco-village.
Thirdly, the Southern Precinct “Future phase” encompasses the future mixed-use developments of Montebello, promising exciting opportunities for growth and innovation in the years to come.
3. How would you describe the philosophy of the project?
The Montebello Smart City tagline “smart by nature” represents preservation, densification, and embellishment of its natural environment where 35% of the total area will accommodate the construction of traffic pillars together with green space. On the other hand, 65% will be devoted to the construction of buildings. I think the figures speak for themselves and truly adhere to the tagline as described above.
The people’s lifestyle on the island has evolved during the last decades and in line with this, the coming up of smart cities offers both residential and services such as basic amenities which are accessible and designed in such a way as to match these growing needs. Therefore, the Montebello smart city responds to a real desire to live in the proximity of nature and offices where it is tailor-made in terms of curated solutions centered around human life and economic, social and environmental needs. The identity of Montebello smart city, its “raison d’être” and ambitions, reflect the changes in modern society in terms of a superior quality of life offered.
4. Can you explain the various planning stages into the different stages for the project? What is the target date for completion of the first phase?
Phase One of the Commercial Business Precinct is built on 48 acres of land with 24 commercial lots where completion of the infrastructure work is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of 2023. Out of the 24 commercial lots, 22 will be available for sale.
Meanwhile, the Residential Precinct Phase 1 project boasts of attractive elements such as a gated community offering 37 residential lots where scheduled delivery will take place in the second quarter of 2024.
Nestled near the rivulet and natural surroundings, the residential project Les Rives de Saint Louis is in the first phase of development where it consists of 37 lots and is expected to be delivered by mid-2024. Phase 2 of the project will consist of the development of apartments and duplexes, within walking distance of the northern commercial precinct. The commercialisation of this new residential offering will kickstart in the second quarter of 2024.
