Living in A Condo Next To the Highway
An associate of ours was just telling us about the travails of living in his condo. He has been staying in this particular place, somewhere in Petaling Jaya, for the past 3 years since it was completed and handed over by the developer.
The condo is situated right next to a very busy highway (as most condos in Petaling Jaya are, strangely enough). He realized this when he bought the place, so he decided to buy the block furthest away from the ground level highway. There were 3 other blocks between his and the highway, and all blocks were at least 20 storeys high.
In addition to that, he bought the highest floor available at that time, the 18th floor (there weren’t that many units left at that time). But the unit is still facing the highway, as the other side faces some villages and oxidation pond, he chose the former.
But after 3 years of living there, he can only conclude that all that wasn’t enough. In the day time, the sound of the vehicles is still loud, even with the so called sound barrier wall erected by the authorities. It is loud enough to disturb you while watching TV, he says.
The other thing, which is even worse is the dust. He says if he leaves the windows and sliding door to balcony open, within a few hours his bedroom and living is covered in dust. If it goes on for a few days, the dust becomes thick and unhealthy. He isn’t at home during the day (except on Sundays), so it doesn’t affect him but he says you can imagine his neighbours who have families in all day.
At night when he sleeps, he has to keep the windows shut and air-conditioning switched on all night. So he pays a lot for the electricity.
He’s also beginning to complain about his neighbours who are starting to rent out to foreign workers, and how the maintenance of the place is going downhill, but that probably for another day…
I concur the frustration living in a highrise apartment by the highway.I have stayed in such a apartment in Hong Kong on 45th Floor [lucky me ]for 6 years. It cost me HK12500 rental per month. I have had the dust ( depending on the wind direction though )and noise pollution problems, especially the late night traffic. But the view was very nice facing the sea and Chingma Bridge with a mountain at the back of my apartment .The elevated highway was 1 kilometer away. I have my windows closed all the time. After sometimes , I got used to the situation and it didn’t border me any longer . When I retired and return to Malaysia , I bought a unit of the Saujana Residency ,Subang Jaya ( still under early stage of construction.Once the condo is completed , I will be enduring the Federal Highway traffic noise and the KTM dual tracks just 5 -6 meters below my 13th Floor Condo facing the Federal Highway . I have tested the noise level in the show unit , it is bearable .God bless me for making such a decision and hopefully the situation would not be as bad as you have faced .
Comment by VK — April 2, 2007 @ 1:33 am
Why bother complaining? You know what you’re getting into when you see the site
Comment by CKK — April 3, 2007 @ 12:12 am
Not only highways, we also like places near high power tension lines. I really dont understand why we like developments around or very near to those things - highways, high tension lines, cemetery.. etc.
Comment by freezehell — April 3, 2007 @ 10:15 am
The other thing that everyone ought to remember when purchasing this property is that resale would be difficult especially when there are so many choices in the market.
Comment by Lorraine — April 3, 2007 @ 11:43 am
It’s the choices we make…and comes as part and parcel of living in a high-rises in the big city.
But it doesn’t mean he has to accept it or can’t change things for the better… esp. the foreign workers.
Sad to say it but I’m guessing he has those low skilled labourer for neighbours. He wouldn’t be complaining if they’re civilised professionals but living next door to latter can be a nightmare! They cram like a dozen or so people into a small space.
Then you’ll have to worry about safety and their lack of hygiene and poor manners can affect his living environment negatively.
I hope I have good neighbours…
Comment by aaronpang — April 6, 2007 @ 12:56 pm