Manhattan Gardens

The Manhattan Gardens, formerly named as the "Manhattan Garden City" before the Araneta City brand relaunch,[1] was part of the Araneta City master plan unveiled in 2000. Plans for the project consists of a retail component, known then as the "Manhattan Mall", consisting a two-storey mall with 19,000 m² (200,000 sq ft) of retail space, and a residential development with direct connections to the MRT 3 Cubao and LRT 2 Cubao stations, and other properties at the Araneta City. The project consists of 18 residential towers, which will have 9,000 estimated units upon completion and will soon house over 36,000 residents.[2]

The demolition for the old buildings to give way for the project began in 2006, and was completed in 2007.

The project has four phases, with the first of the four developments, the 28-storey, Manhattan Parkway, began groundbreaking in 2007, and was completed in 2011, with each building standing at 98 m (321.5 ft) tall. The second development, the 31-storey, Manhattan Parkview, began construction in 2011 and was finished by 2013, featuring clustered Garden Villas on the 4th floor and each tower stands at 118 m (387.1 ft) tall. The first two developments consists of three towers each, with each tower adopting identical architectural designs in exteriors of the towers. These towers are located at the northern area of the Araneta City, along the Aurora Boulevard.

The third development, the Manhattan Heights, is located at the southeastern area of the city, along Gen. Romulo Avenue, and consists of 4 towers. The project sits on the former site of the Araneta Center Bus Station, the first integrated bus terminal in the country, completed in 1993, before being relocated to the old Rustan's building at Times Square Avenue in 2011. The four towers features matching designs, but possesses differentiations in the location of the buildings' sky gardens and the height of each building, with the Manhattan Heights Tower B being the tallest, standing at 126 m (413.4 ft) tall, while the shortest of the buildings is the Tower D, standing at 96 m (315.0 ft). Construction began in 2011, and was initially planned to be completed in 2017, however, the project faced many issues, before being fully completed in 2019, housing the Araneta City Bus Port in the ground floor, beneath the Manhattan Heights Tower D.

The fourth and final development of the project, the Manhattan Plaza, also located along Gen. Romulo Avenue, consists of 8 towers, and will feature the Icon Tower, a 60-storey tower; and the Spanish Steps. The upcoming development will soon have direct access to the City Plaza, a 2 hectare mixed-use development. The property is located adjoined to the old Rustan's Superstore, currently occupied by the Araneta Center Bus Station, located on Times Square Avenue, completed in 1974. Rustan's relocated its operations to the Gateway Mall following the mall's opening in 2005.[3] Construction started in 2014, with one building, the Manhattan Plaza Tower 1, completed in 2019, standing at 130 m (426.5 ft), and having 40 floors, while the second building, the Manhattan Plaza Tower 2, is now under construction, and is expected to be completed by the year 2021.

The Manhattan Gardens consists of 4 residential developments (Manhattan Parkway, Manhattan Parkview, Manhattan Heights, Manhattan Plaza), which gives direct access to the MRT 3 Cubao and LRT 2 Cubao stations, as well as other buildings in the Araneta City, such as Ali Mall, SM Cubao, Araneta City Cyberpark, the Gateway Mall, the Farmers Plaza, the New Frontier Theater, the Gateway Tower and the Ibis Styles Araneta City, with elevated bridge-ways connecting each building for accessibility and comfort of its residents. The development comprises a total of 8,500 condominium units and 30,000 m² (320,000 sq ft) of retail spaces located at the ground floor of each towers once completed.

The architecture of the buildings features a Manhattan-inspired design with lush green and garden-inspired landscaping in all its buildings, featuring clustered Garden Villas (located at the Manhattan Parkview) and Sky Gardens within the complex.

The development includes additional parking spaces for both guests, shoppers and residents throughout the complex. The Manhattan Gardens also houses dining, retail, and leisure establishments, such as the famed Manhattan Row, located along Gen. Malvar Avenue, between the Manhattan Parkway and the Manhattan Parkview towers. The Manhattan Row also offers occasional al fresco dining and entertainment events.[4][5][6][7]

• 
  The New Frontier Theater, along with the Manhattan Parkway and the Manhattan Parkview in the background.
• 
  The Manhattan Row along Gen. Roxas Avenue
• 
  The Aurora Tower and the New Frontier Theater in the foreground, with the Manhattan Parkway and the Manhattan Parkview along Gen. Malvar Avenue
• 
  The Araneta City Bus Port, located at the Manhattan Heights complex