PJ SS22.... Paramount View Condo

This is one of those niche condos with about 200 odd units nestled right in the middle of Old Petaling Jaya. It is located in Jalan SS22/44, and 600m walk from the Paramount LRT station on the Kelana Jaya line. This condo, which was only recently completed has been quite controversial. It was built on this narrow patch between some 1970s bungalows and the LRT tracks. The owners of the bungalows protested the construction from the start. As usual, rich people complain the most but apparently some guy's house sank due to the excessive piling and earth works. To top it, when the condo was completed, it was issued with a Temporary CF despite not having any access road. So, the owners of neighbouring bungalows got a huge shock when contractors came about to cut down age old rain trees to build the access road. A court case ensued. However, it was made known that the project, access road included was approved in 2005 by the council (MBPJ) which was then under the control of a different state government... the corrupt kind...

So, nothing can be done now, therefore the project is now the completed Paramount View Condominium, complete with access road.

Beside Paramount View, there is a low cost apartment called Sri Aman which has direct access to the LRT station. Despite sitting beside Sri Aman, Paramount View dwellers need to walk a big loop around Sri Aman to get to the LRT. Sri Aman is pretty popular, rent here for a 600sf flat fetches RM900. However, being a low cost apartment, there are purchase restrictions i.e. only those who earn less than RM2500/month among other conditions apply. Therefore, one who qualifies can buy a unit here for less than RM100k, if one can find a seller. There is an auction unit starting at RM90k.

Sri Aman is dense and rather scary.... Paramount View with an almost similar star location and condo facilities obviously costs much more. 1st hand buyers got their 99 years leasehold units for less than RM300k. There are 2bedrooms and 3 bedroom units. They now costs well over RM300k and fetching RM1200 rental for the 2br units and up to RM1800/month for the 3 bedroom units.

As usual, the corner units are most desirable as well as the units facing the pool. The intermediate units are all built with an airwell at the back which I throughly dislike as they always end up as smelly, damp and noisy.

The facilities are on the 3rd floor. They've got a pretty basic gym, sauna, a small-ish swimming pool, tuck shop, laundrette and a cafe. There are also some units on the 3rd floor with almost 16feet tall ceiling. Although high ceiling is desirable, I won't know how to handle this height. They've also posted list of maintenance fees defaulters on the management notice board. It seems like there are over RM100k of arrears from various owners. This is kinda worrying...

But in my opinion, it isn't the defaulting owners or the controversial construction which worries me about this place. The electrical high tension wires are located literally less than 30m away from the condo. Problem is, future buyers will think the same way as me and shy away from investing here.

so close, you can hang your clothes to dry...