WHEN the going gets tough, the tough get going”, the old adage goes. Looking at Malaysia’s track record, it has come a long way since independence, having survived several economic downturns.

AFTER losing its lustre over the centuries, the once regal Star and Garter Hotel in Richmond, London, will soon be restored to its former glory. Undertaking the project is developer London Square, which will spruce up the heritage building that was a grand hotel in the 18th century. Originally though, it was the residence of King Henry VIII in the 16th century.

IT seems like only yesterday when the consortium of S P Setia Bhd, Sime Darby Property and the Employees Provident Fund made the headlines across the globe with its acquisition of the iconic Battersea Power Station (BPS) in London.

OF the buildings in the Melbourne skyline, one will tower above them all — Australia 108. The A$700 million (RM2.04 billion) project is being developed by World Class Land Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Singapore-based property developer Aspial Corp Ltd.

AFTER incorporating a 2km stretch of commercial land along the North-South Expressway (NSE) into its Southville City mixed-use development in Bangi, Mah Sing Group Bhd is building an interchange to enhance the township’s appeal.

EARLY this year, a bank approached Datuk Seri Vincent Tiew about an idle 7.8-acre freehold parcel in Ipoh’s high-end enclave of Tiger Lane.

“When you mention Tiger Lane to Ipoh folk, the first thing that comes to their minds is, that is where the rich live,” says an enthusiastic Tiew, who is managing director of Andaman Property Management Sdn Bhd.

VALUE is relative. What you give up today could be a treasure for tomorrow, as with the story of Wangsa 9 Residency in Wangsa Maju.

The 7.8-acre Wangsa 9 is a development by Mitrajaya Holdings Bhd. According to managing director Tan Eng Piow, the company acquired the land as part of a contra agreement nearly two decades ago.

THE property market in Kota Kinabalu was quiet with no new launches in the third quarter of the year. However, the secondary market continued to be active during the period.