A Controlled Commercial Township within South Road Properties
City di Mare (CDM) is a master-planned commercial township located at the core of South Road Properties (SRP)—Cebu City’s designated growth corridor for large-scale, infrastructure-led development.
Developed by Filinvest, City di Mare is not an organic district and does not behave like one.
It is a designed business environment, governed by use controls, density rules, and long-term planning intended to support institutional-grade commercial activity rather than short-cycle speculation.
City di Mare in Context: Why It Matters within SRP
SRP functions as a city expansion system, not a traditional neighborhood.
Within that system, City di Mare plays a specific role:
- One of the largest contiguous townships in SRP (≈58 hectares)
- One of the last master-planned estates in Cebu City where large commercial parcels remain available
- Positioned along the Cebu South Coastal Road and at the foot of CCLEX, giving it regional—not just local—reach
This makes City di Mare structurally different from standalone SRP parcels or smaller mixed-use clusters.
A Township Designed for Commercial Use First
City di Mare is planned as a self-contained urban system, where commercial uses are supported—not diluted—by residential and lifestyle components.
Key planning characteristics include:
- Clearly zoned commercial blocks with defined FAR and height logic
- Wide arterial roads, controlled setbacks, and underground utilities
- No perimeter walls for office and mixed-use lots, reinforcing an open business district environment
- Prohibited uses that typically degrade commercial positioning (e.g., nightclubs, cinemas, gas stations, standalone groceries)
This is intentional.
City di Mare prioritizes corporate identity, long-term tenancy, and institutional coherence over short-term retail noise.
Township Context: City di Mare 360° View
This 360° view provides township-level context only. Lot-specific orientation, frontage, and boundaries are reviewed separately.
The Two Commercial Zones That Matter
City di Mare’s remaining commercial inventory is concentrated in two distinct blocks, each designed for different business profiles.
The Coastal Block — Landmark, Visibility-Driven Uses
- Limited oceanfront commercial lots (only five)
- Larger lot cuts (≈3,300–4,600 sqm)
- Higher allowable FAR (up to 16)
- Direct exposure to Cebu South Coastal Road and sea frontage
Best suited for:
Corporate headquarters, hotels, destination offices, flagship commercial buildings.
The Greenway Block — Campus-Style Commercial Development
- Mid-sized commercial lots (≈1,500–2,200 sqm)
- Adjacent to a 1.3-hectare linear park system
- Lower FAR than the Coastal Block, favoring controlled density
Best suited for:
Office campuses, medical and institutional uses, BPOs, long-term multi-tenant buildings.
Infrastructure and Systems (Why CDM Is Treated as “Premium”)
City di Mare is not premium because of branding.
It is premium because of systems already in place:
- Underground power and communications
- Flood-water mitigation and box culverts integrated with SRP systems
- Fiber-ready telecom infrastructure
- Central transport hub and planned BRT connectivity
- 30% of land area dedicated to parks and open space
These reduce execution risk for large projects—something smaller South Road Properties (SRP) parcels cannot offer.
Existing Activity That Supports Commercial Viability
City di Mare is already absorbing daily activity and foot traffic, anchored by:
- IL Corso Filinvest Mall (waterfront retail and dining)
- Established residential communities (Sanremo Oasis, Amalfi)
- Incoming national brands and drive-thru concepts along the Coastal Road
This matters because CDM does not rely on speculative future density alone; it already functions as a working district.
Who City di Mare Is For — And Who It Is Not
City di Mare is suitable for buyers who:
- Require large, clean titles within Cebu City
- Are building commercial or institutional assets
- Understand long-term development timelines
- Value planning controls over organic chaos
City di Mare is not suitable for buyers who:
- Need immediate yield or fast resale
- Are looking for small, fragmented parcels
- Depend on organic street retail behavior
- Prefer loosely regulated environments
Most dissatisfaction in CDM comes from buyer mismatch, not from the estate itself.
Moving from Township to Specific Properties
City di Mare should be evaluated top-down:
- SRP corridor logic
- City di Mare township controls
- Block-level suitability
- Lot-level feasibility
Jumping directly to pricing or availability without this sequence leads to poor outcomes.
Next Step
If City di Mare aligns with your commercial objectives, the logical next step is to evaluate specific parcels based on:
- Intended use
- FAR efficiency
- Frontage and access
- Development horizon
Frequently Asked Questions About City di Mare (SRP)
What exactly is City di Mare within South Road Properties?
City di Mare is a master-planned commercial township within South Road Properties designed for long-term, large-scale development.
Unlike standalone parcels in SRP, City di Mare operates under unified planning controls, defined commercial zones, and estate-wide infrastructure systems intended to support institutional-grade business use.
Is City di Mare primarily a residential or lifestyle development?
No.
While residential components exist to support daily activity, City di Mare was planned first as a commercial and mixed-use business district. Residential density is secondary and structured to reinforce, not dominate, the township’s commercial function.
What types of commercial uses are best suited for City di Mare?
City di Mare is best suited for:
- Corporate offices and headquarters
- Institutional and medical facilities
- Hotels and destination-oriented developments
- Long-term multi-tenant commercial buildings
Uses that disrupt a controlled business environment—such as nightclubs, cinemas, and certain standalone retail formats—are restricted under township rules.
What is the difference between the Coastal Block and the Greenway Block?
The Coastal Block is designed for landmark, visibility-driven developments. It offers larger lot cuts, higher allowable density, and direct exposure to the coastal road and sea frontage.
The Greenway Block is designed for campus-style and office-oriented developments. It features smaller lot sizes, adjacency to linear parks, and a more controlled density profile.
The two blocks serve different business strategies and should not be evaluated interchangeably.
Why are there strict use restrictions in City di Mare?
City di Mare is governed by use and design controls to preserve long-term commercial value, avoid incompatible developments, and maintain a cohesive business district environment.
These restrictions reduce uncertainty for large capital investments but may feel limiting for buyers seeking flexibility or short-term experimentation.
Is City di Mare suitable for short-term investment or quick resale?
Generally, no.
City di Mare is designed for buyers with longer development and holding horizons. The township prioritizes planning certainty and infrastructure quality over short-cycle speculation.
Buyers seeking quick turnover or short-term yield typically find the township misaligned with their objectives.
How does City di Mare compare to other SRP locations?
City di Mare differs from other SRP sites in three key ways:
- It offers master-planned cohesion, not piecemeal development
- It provides estate-level infrastructure already in place
- It enforces use discipline, reducing long-term downside risk
These advantages come with higher entry standards and tighter controls.
What should be reviewed before considering a specific lot in City di Mare?
Before evaluating individual parcels, buyers should be clear on:
- Intended use and tenant profile
- Floor Area Ratio (FAR) efficiency
- Access, frontage, and circulation needs
- Development timeline and capital patience
City di Mare performs best when evaluated top-down, not lot-by-lot.
Where does pricing fit into the decision process?
Pricing should be reviewed only after confirming that City di Mare’s planning controls, use restrictions, and development horizon align with your objectives.
Looking at prices without this context often leads to incorrect comparisons and poor decisions.