Araneta Center

Araneta Center
Location Socorro, Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Opening Date 1960 (1960)
Developer Araneta Center, Inc.
Owner Araneta Center, Inc.
Website http://www.aranetacenter.net

The Araneta Center is a 35-hectare commercial area situated in Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is located Between EDSA and Aurora Boulevard and hosts stations of Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT 3) and Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2 (LRT 2).

Araneta Center, Inc. a company under the Araneta Group is the developer, owner, and manager of the commercial area.[1]

History

The 35 hectares (86 acres) property which the Araneta Center stands was purchased by J. Amado Araneta of the Araneta clan in 1952. The land which stood between Highway 54 (now EDSA) and Aurora Boulevard was as of 1959, remote and located in an area designated for suburban mass housing and frequented by the now-defunct Hukbalahap rebels. There was rapid development following the opening of the Araneta Coliseum in 1960.[2]

Then in the 1970s, buildings around it start to appear including Ali Mall, SM Cubao, Fiesta Carnival (presently the Shopwise Supermarket), Plaza Fair, New Frontier Theatre, COD, Uniwide Cubao, and The Aurora Tower.

A 20-year redevelopment project for the Araneta Center with a ₱30 billion budget was commenced in 2002.[3] The construction of the Gateway Mall was considered by Araneta Center, Inc. to be the "catalyst" of this redevelopment project.[4] The redevelopment included the modernization of the Araneta Coliseum, with endorsement of Smart Communications, Renovations of Shopwise, Ali Mall, and SM Cubao, Manhattan Garden City, a joint venture project by Araneta Center and Megaworld Corporation, Novotel Manila Araneta Center, a joint venture with Accor, Cyberpark Araneta Center, a BPO area, with plans for Gateway Mall 2, and a civic plaza within today's Shopwise.

Facilities

The Gateway Mall

Retail

The Araneta Center hosts numerous shopping establishments including the Ali Mall, Farmers Plaza, Gateway Mall, Shopwise, Puregold, and SM Cubao. The Gateway Tower, a mixed-used building is adjacent to the Gateway Mall, adding 18,000 square meters, known as the Gateway Tower Mall, And The Aurora Tower, houses Isetann in its 7 floors.

A marketplace called the Farmer's Market is also hosted in the area.

Hotel and residential

Building complexes are also hosted within the Araneta Center's grounds such as the Manhattan Garden City (Parkway, Parkview, Heights, Plaza- occupying 5.7 hectares) and Vivaldi Residences Cubao residential projects .

Among the hotels in the commercial area, is the Novotel Manila, Dreamworld Hotel, and Eurotel.

The Araneta Mansion, the official residence of the Araneta family also known as the White House (Bahay Na Puti) is also within the commercial area.

Events venues

Event venues in the Araneta Center include the Smart Araneta Coliseum, a 20,000 seater indoor arena, and the Kia Theater.

Office

The Aurora Tower, the former HQ of the Araneta Group houses currently the Philippine Pizza Corporation, The J. Amado Araneta Foundation & Progressive Development Corporation of the Araneta Group, also the Consulate of Columbia.

The Gateway Tower, a mixed-use Tower, houses companies like the Araneta Group, Accenture, Regus, AIG, TeleTech, and The Columbian Embassy. Also houses the Gateway Gallery and the Topiary garden in the 5th floor.

The Cyberpark Araneta Center, an 8-hectare, Business Process Outsourcing and LEED Certified development, with 5 towers and 2 levels of retail, is being developed. The first tower, Cyberpark Tower 1 is complete, while Cyberpark Tower 2 is under construction, set for 2018.

Transportation

The Bus terminal at the Araneta Center in 2013

Two elevated rail stations serves the area; the Araneta Center–Cubao MRT and LRT stations. Also in the center is the Jeepney Terminal Located in front of the Cyberpark Tower 2 which is still under construction. Jeepneys also go to the center via P Tuazon Blvd., Aurora Boulevard, and Gen. Romulo Ave.

The Center offers free Shuttle rides from Alimall (under the Skybridge linking SM) to Gateway LRT Concourse.

A new bus terminal, which aims to replace the current Araneta Center Bus Station, called the Araneta Center Busport serves routes to and from towns or cities in the Bicol Region, Southern Tagalog, Mindanao, and Visayas. Located in front of Ali Mall and under the Manhattan Heights Tower D (the Bus Terminal's former location), it was last inaugurated on March 14, 2017 after a renovation and resumed operations on the next day. As of March 2017, the transport hub accommodates air-conditioned buses from 19 companies.[5] The Araneta Center Busport has a daily capacity of 8,000 passengers.[6]

Parking

Parking in the Center is also easy and accessible, with linking bridges in each mall, pedestrian-friendly driveways, and world class retail, residential, and office space within the well-located district. One of them is the Araneta Center Parking Building (named as Araneta Center South Parking Garage), located at the east side of the Araneta Coliseum and beside Novotel Manila Araneta Center. Also the Country's First Green parking Building which helps lessen carbon footprint. The Parking costs ranging from 30-50 pesos, while the Valet Service in Gateway Costs 200 pesos.

References

http://www.aranetagroup.com/aci.php http://2016.mb.com.ph/2016/03/13/of-nostalgia-and-new/ http://www.aranetacenter.net/pages/agdirectory

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Araneta Center.
  1. ↑ "Success runs deep: The story of the Philippines' Araneta Family". Philippine Primer. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  2. ↑ Navarro, Nelson (13 January 2013). "Cubao's brief shining moment". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  3. ↑ Mercurio, Richmond (29 November 2015). "Araneta Center redevelopment on track". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "The story of the Araneta Center". The Philippine Star. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Dabu, Bianca Rose (14 March 2017). "New Araneta Center Busport features top-of-the-line amenities". GMA News. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  6. ↑ Pelayo, Rey (14 March 2017). "New world-class bus terminal opens at Araneta Center". UNTV News and Rescue. Retrieved 15 March 2017.

Coordinates: 14°37′15″N 121°03′12″E / 14.6207°N 121.0532°E / 14.6207; 121.0532

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