Additional Parking

In a previous issue of Tiara Times, it was reported that the Tiara Management continues to look for ways to make more parking available to residents and visitors. One of the alternatives the Management is looking at is the vacant piece of land outside Tiara Damansara along Jalan 17/1.

In the last issue of Tiara Times, a reader, Concerned, wrote a letter expressing his/her concerns regarding this alternative.

The Management would like to elaborate on and clarify this matter.

Firstly, we would like to clarify that currently we are only at the fact-finding stage and looking at the feasibility of converting the vacant piece of land into a parking lot. There are many steps and hurdles that have to be cleared before the project can even commence – locating and getting the owner's agreement, MPPJ approval, financial considerations and lastly, but most importantly, Tiara residents' / proprietors' approval.

The main reason for even bringing up this project is the parking – or lack of parking – problem we have at Tiara Damansara. As mentioned in a previous article, the Management is trying hard to create parking lots within the compound so that residents and their visitors can park their vehicles inside the grounds and feel secure that their vehicles will be safe, as opposed to parking outside where their cars may be issued with a parking summons, broken into, or worse, stolen.

The Management has converted (almost) every viable space within Tiara into parking lots. A total of 474 lots have been allotted, making a ratio of 1.35 parking lots per unit. Yet, this is still insufficient, as evidenced by the line of cars parked outside on Jalan 17/1 near both King's and Queen's gates. Our own survey shows that we need about 50 more lots for a ratio of about 1.5 lots per unit.

Having adequate parking is important for all proprietors of Tiara Damansara, since this raises the desirability, and thus, the price per square foot of the condominium. There have been cases of potential buyers who really like Tiara Damansara, but chose not to close the deal, due to lack of parking.

Thus, the Management's interest in the possibility of converting the vacant land on Jalan 17/1 is in the interests of residents and proprietors.

Understandably, there will be some opposition, especially from residents of units fronting the vacant piece of land. As Concerned writes in his/her letter, "It will ruin the aspect and reduce the value of the units fronting this green bank, and not to mention giving Tiara Damansara an ugly facade." Other reasons include noise and air pollution (from exhaust fumes) as a result from the area being converted into a parking lot.

Currently, although the area can be considered a green bank, it is not very well maintained. There are lalang and bushes, some almost up to a meter high and fallen branches are strewn about.

Security is another issue. In its current state, this area is a security risk, as the trees and bushes provide cover from the road for potential burglars.

The Management would like to assure residents that if the project does proceed, the parking lot will be landscaped with trees and plants. The existing trees need not be cut down. Of course, it won't be as beautiful as a garden park, but then again, the aim is to get extra parking lots.

With the parking lot, the security of the units fronting it will be improved, as there will be guards manning the parking lot and entrance into Tiara.

And as for the noise and air pollution, unfortunately there's nothing much we can do to mitigate that. However, the question of how much more noise and air pollution will there be, cannot be exactly answered.

Furthermore, with the convenience of having parking lots near to their units, and the overall increase in parking lots for residents, who knows, the value of the units fronting the area may even increase.

As mentioned above, this proposed project is only in the fact-finding stage. Owners and residents alike should rest assured that the Management Council will get all the facts, pros and cons, and conduct the necessary study and analysis and, if indeed the project is viable, the proposal will be brought to an EGM or AGM for the final decision.

Meanwhile, as suggested by Concerned, we are also looking into other parking alternatives such as getting MPPJ approval to widen Jalan 17/1 and create legitimate parking bays.

Finally, we hope to get feedback from residents regarding this article.