Estrada de Cacilhas runs alongside the picturesque Guia Hill Municipal Park, a leafy green ‘lung’ and highest point of Macau at 94 meters above sea level, popular for day and evening family strolls, and the more rigorous sporting types. It used to hug the coast line from just under the lighthouse. Today it’s a way inland only coming to view where the city makes way for a large reservoir located behind the Macau ferry pier.
Perched on this road, which doubles up each November as the Grand Prix track, are a number of older low rise residential properties. They look down on the Lotus Square area of city below and some, around the bend northwards, have breathtaking views of the reservoir and outer harbor towards Hong Kong. Previously famed for their well-to-do Portuguese and Macanese residents, lawyers and senior government officials, since their hay day in the 80s they have gently faded into semi-obscurity, with the arrival of new shiny high rises built over the past 15 or so years on the reclaimed land below.
The most notable properties start with the 5-storey walk-up on Rampa do Padre Vasconcelos, with its little road leading up to the park. Then the Chong Tou San Chong apartments, also walk-ups, with their kitchen windows that back on to the park. Two smart detached houses, one white and well protected behind a barred gate, the other, a substantial yellow building with red roof, standing glamorously in lovely gardens on a hilly knoll, belong to two of Dr Stanley Ho’s wives.
Then come the three blocks of Baguio Court, followed by Ching Bik Court, Seaview Garden and the well known Hoi Fu Garden on Rotunda de S. João Bosco. And at one time the tallest residential property in Macau, the 40 storey redish coloured Phoenix Terrace acts as an imposing full stop to this strip of properties.
The ever hungry developers have turned their attentions to plots along Estrada de Cacilhas that have been vacant for numerous years. Carved out of the hill and still under construction is the One Guia Hill, a luxury residential development aiming at a contemporary reinterpretation of green city living. Further along, wedged between Seaview and Hoi Fu is the brand new, soon to be unveiled, “M Residences” at 83 Estrada de Cacilhas. Both these properties promise to give a welcome face-lift to the ‘strip’ and will provide much needed housing for locals and expats alike.
Like much of Macau, property prices have more than quadrupled over the past 8 years. One apartment in Baguio Court was purchased in 2006 for HKD1.7M, and sold last year for HKD6.9M. Another in the same block, on the top floor with rooftop terrace was purchased in 2008 for HKD6.8M and is valued today at HKD17M. In Rampa do Padre Vasconcelos a 3rd floor walk-up was bought in the mid-90s for HKD400,000 – and sold un-renovated, in 2011 for HKD5M, including car park. These days, just one car park in any of these buildings mentioned, will cost in excess of HKD2M. One of the two top floors in Phoenix Terrace was sold for HKD6.3M in 2008; today its valued at over HKD25M.
There are a number of advantages to homes in this heritage area. It has a gentle ‘old Macau’ feel about it, where the pace of life seems less frenetic. As in the old days, it’s a great place, particularly now the weather is cooler, for getting around on foot, cutting through the myriad of little back streets that run like veins towards Senado Square.
