Kerinchi has come a long way since its pioneers’ settlement years. Kerinchi’s rich 200 years story is soon to change as this urban hamlet is undergoing major gentrification works and is morphing into a modern extension of the city.
Started as a farming community during the early settlers period two centuries ago, Kerinchi and the adjacent areas grew by leaps and bounds as more the population increased.
Currently, Kerinchi’s demographic is made up of mixed residential ranging from low cost, mid-range to luxury. Among the low-to-medium cost housing include the 21-blocks Taman Bukit Angkasa flats, Sri Angkasa flats and Vista Angkasa Apartments. The mid to high-end residences are mostly found in Pantai Hillpark while new luxury condos deck the Bukit Pantai area as well as the newly-minted 60-acre Bangsar South.
As of 2007, a significant portion of Kerinchi has been gazetted for redevelopment. The new and improved Kerinchi, once finished, will be a sleek and modern integrated development which features a transit hub, office towers, mid to high-end residential as well as retail and commercial spaces.
On Jalan Kerinchi itself, the brand new Suez Domain Sdn Bhd’s KL Gateway is boasting four residential towers, two corporate towers and a mall. Suez Domain also built Kerinchi Residency, the affordable housing complex for the residents from the relocated 2.76ha Kerinchi PKNS flats. The new three-bedroom, 900sqf flats are valued at RM300, 000 each.
The Bangsar South integrated development by UOA Development Bhd is the biggest and one of the favoured new townships. The Bangsar South project has rolled out in parcels, and it includes two boutique malls, hotels and an award-winning six-acre park.
Meanwhile in the hills of Bukit Kerinchi, IJM Land Bhd is creating KL’s premier urban forest city with its 200-acre Pantai Sentral Park. The eco-conscious residential seamlessly blends into the forest to establish a green residence by preserving the lush landscape.
Wedged between Mid Valley Megamall and Gardens Mall, the award-winning KL Eco City by SP Setia Bhd completes the retail trifecta with its bold towers. The green luxury development is anchored by commercial offices, high-end retail outlets, serviced apartments and luxury residential towers.
Kerinchi’s prime location, facilities and accessibility hold the key to its growth. Surrounded by landmarks such as Angkasapuri, Universiti Malaya and Pantai Hospital, Kerinchi is highly accessible via Jalan Kerinchi, Federal Highway and New Pantai Expressway (NPE).
This jewel in the southwest of KL is further connected by a ring of rail services namely the three LRT stations Abdullah Hukum, Kerinchi and Universiti. The KTM Komuter service also runs two lines around the area with Mid Valley and Angkasapuri stations on Seremban line and soon-to-open KL Eco City station on the Pelabuhan Klang line.
At the rate of its current growth, the new Kerinchi will soon join its maturing neighbours such as KL Sentral, Brickfields, Bangsar, Mont Kiara and PJ as new satellite towns that enriches the capital’s diversity and magnetisms as a modern and enhanced powerhouse.
