Bulacan’s rising CBD is taking shape in Northwin Global City
It stands to become an emblematic global city that will serve as an engine of progress, innovation and inclusion.
Rising just north of the metro is the 85-ha Northwin Global City, a P98-billion promising undertaking in Bulacan that seeks to place the province in the international investment radar. Here, property giant Megaworld Corp. intends to take cues from established global cities such as New York and London as it reimagines a world center in a Philippine setting.
“It’s our first global city. It’s a reflection of our aspirations for the future as we build a destination for business and for people,” said Noli D. Hernandez, executive vice president for sales and marketing of Megaworld.
MICROCOSM OF GLOBAL CITIES
This early, Northwin Global City is shaping up to be a microcosm of these global cities touted for their economic vibrancy, dynamism and competitiveness.
That’s because this Megaworld township, according to Hernandez, will have components and features that will reflect their aspirations to create a thriving global city. There will be a themed shophouse and commercial district, residential condominiums, hotels and malls, office towers and educational institutions, mixed-use commercial buildings, as well as parks and civic spaces.
Last year, Megaworld launched the shophouse and commercial component of the township called Northwin Main Street, a 16-ha expanse that is geared to become one of the country’s premier business hubs, suitable for both homegrown businesses and multinational companies. Masterplanned like New York City’s dynamic Fifth Avenue, this emerging CBD will have its prime shophouse and commercial lots lined up in pedestrian-friendly streets, near corporate buildings, shophouses, hotels and commercial towers.
“Our shophouse and commercial district, which we launched last year, happens to be the first phase of our development. Soon, we’ll be launching our other components which you would usually associate with a global city,” he explained.
“Another important component of any global city is that it has to be strategically located. It also has to be business friendly, sustainable and highly accessible. At Northwin, we are turning the township as a destination in itself, and creating an atmosphere where both businesses and communities can thrive,” Hernandez added.
PREMIUM FEATURES
Northwin Global City is indeed well poised to live up to its name with all its premium features and components, some of which are already apparent.
For one, this township is just 20 km from Metro Manila, accessible via two main arteries: the MacArthur Highway and North Luzon Expressway. Some 10 big-ticket infrastructure projects—in varying stages of completion—are nearby, providing unparalleled connectivity, accessibility and value appreciation for future locators and residents of Northwin Global City.
Among these are the Malolos-Clark Railway project which would have a train station at Northwin, and the new Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan, regarded as a legacy project that will give the economy a huge boost in terms of job creation and economic growth. Such mega projects are seen to pave the way for fresh investment opportunities in the province as well as in the upcoming Northwin Global City.
“Location-wise, Northwin is very strategic, straddled by main road arteries and close to international gateways. The New Manila Airport is just about 12 km from here and if you go by Skyway, Northwin is also only 20 minutes away from the existing NAIA,” Hernandez added.
SIGNATURE CONCEPT
The township itself will embrace Megaworld’s signature live-work-play-learn concept as evident in the components included in the masterplan.
Besides these, this global city, set to cater to the hybrid lifestyle in the postpandemic era, will also put emphasis on green open spaces and environment-friendly initiatives.
Poised to become a city of sustainability, Northwin will allocate 44 percent of the area for landscaped open spaces, parks, road alleys and other green infrastructure. Its design will incorporate bicycle lanes and expansive pedestrian-friendly streetscapes rising alongside upscale mixed-use developments, civic spaces and community facilities.
More facilities and features further ensure its sustainability, including the stormwater detention facility, central material recovery facility, underground cabling for utilities, township operations center, sewage treatment plant, solar-powered street lights, among others.
THRIVING ECOSYSTEM
The Northwin Mainstreet itself will also be a walkable district with promenades and a plaza fronting the shophouse and commercial lots. These lots will soon be home to local and international businesses that may include retail, food and beverage, offices, boutique hotels and out-patient clinics.
“We are creating that atmosphere, that ecosystem where businesses will be encouraged, and we plan to work hand in hand with the local government for this. From our experience in our other townships, we built the necessary ecosystem and businesses came, generating thousands of quality jobs. People then came to live, work and play. For Northwin, it’s also the same aspiration, as we also hope to provide a platform for the micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) of Bulacan to go global. There’s already a thriving MSME culture here and on our end, we will try to do things to further encourage that and make sure it thrives even more,” Hernandez explained.
Northwin Global City is indeed a global city reimagined—one that will breathe new life into the area and create a significant economic node that will ensure progress, innovation and inclusion.