from cdl website

Urban Resort Living at Kitchener Road

An affordable investment offering quality, convenience, comfort and luxury. Ideal for those seeking a resort home but yet wish to be located within close proximity to the city, the still unnamed residential development is located in the city suburb along Kitchener Road. Residents will also be spoilt for choice as they are surrounded by a wide range of shopping and dining picks. Best of all, it is only a 2 minute walk from the Farrer Park MRT station.


To be launched later this year, this will be a 30-storey freehold development with 910 units ranging from 1-bedroom studios to 4-bedroom units offering a host of facilities like 3 basement carparks and a comprehensive range of recreational, fitness and aquatic facilities. The apartments also face the favoured North-South direction.


Nestled within lush greenery and water features both tranquil and exhilarating, this tropical landscape development offers serenity and excitement both at once. The development is fundamentally an urban oasis of water and flora captured in a stylised gardenesque ambience. Clean architectural lines and panoramic views promise a sophisticated home amidst a relaxed ambience of modern greenery living.

OMG 30 storeys?

is it u/c yet? any pics?

I think it should be nearby the 3x 30 storey Kerrisdale development.

dunno leh.. no pics. quite excited about this one.. sounds promising.

Urban Resort Living at Kitchener Road

An affordable investment offering quality, convenience, comfort and luxury. Ideal for those seeking a resort home but yet wish to be located within close proximity to the city, the still unnamed residential development is located in the city suburb along Kitchener Road. Residents will also be spoilt for choice as they are surrounded by a wide range of shopping and dining picks. Best of all, it is only a 2 minute walk from the Farrer Park MRT station.

To be launched later this year, this will be a 30-storey freehold development with 910 units ranging from 1-bedroom studios to 4-bedroom units offering a host of facilities like 3 basement carparks and a comprehensive range of recreational, fitness and aquatic facilities. The apartments also face the favoured North-South direction.

Nestled within lush greenery and water features both tranquil and exhilarating, this tropical landscape development offers serenity and excitement both at once. The development is fundamentally an urban oasis of water and flora captured in a stylised gardenesque ambience. Clean architectural lines and panoramic views promise a sophisticated home amidst a relaxed ambience of modern greenery living.

[Sources:
1. http://www.cdl.com.sg/cdl2.nsf/citynews_sep04~pg02.htm
2. http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/sh/?id=100422&txt=city+square&button=Search]

This development by CDL (named City Square I think) has four 30-storey high condos and one 8-storey high mall. Think is gonna be another Great World City? That big piece of land was previously New World Amusement Park (the old entrance is still there on the side of Jln Besar) CDL is still preparing the showflat at Kitchener Road. It is very near Kerrisdale Condo. Anyone has more information about the development?

not yet :/ saw that too on the cdl website. quite interesting. hope it wont look cheap like kerrisdale or something

I think the Kitchener Rd project might be launched next year, the site is indeed massive.

Hopefully with the completion of these new projects the general feel of the area will be enhanced. There are some nice shophouses in that area as well.

Another monster coming up soon at Kitchener Road where an amusement park used to stand. It will have 941 residential units, plus a retail podium. Its gonna be huge! :D

whats the size of the retail podium? how many storeys?

Cant remember leh...maybe 5 floors? i think I made the entry somewhere in skyscrapers.com...

Sia?! :eek2:

Is the entrance at Jalan Besar?

The website says 8-storey podium. By deduction, the entrance is most probably at Kitchener Rd (assuming they will remove the parking lots there) Serangoon side is a park and MRT entrance, thus not quite possible. Jln Besar side not quite possible too unless the shophouses are torn down.

wow 8 storey podium is really big!!! thte mall can't be 8 storeys can it!!

that's according to this website... :) http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=206577

Was that your entry???

Walao what you all thinking...mini berjaya times sq ah? :D

uh please no not so ugly

The website says 8-storey podium. By deduction, the entrance is most probably at Kitchener Rd (assuming they will remove the parking lots there) Serangoon side is a park and MRT entrance, thus not quite possible. Jln Besar side not quite possible too unless the shophouses are torn down.

Actually, the old gateway arch of the New World is still there. I already suggested it for preservation. :)

Actually, the old gateway arch of the New World is still there. I already suggested it for preservation. :)
Oh nooooo.......! :lol:

I dont even noe how it looks like loh.

the showroom has just been completed, I think the project will be released in phases

Hmm? Where is it?

mmmm..its just behind the Farrer Park MRT station, at the junction of Kitchener & Serangoon Rds

it sits on one side of the site, which is a HUGE rectangular field (I wonder if it will be built over the MRT line)

the showroom can view liao?

Actually, the old gateway arch of the New World is still there. I already suggested it for preservation.

uh please no it would kill sales of the project i imagine.

the showroom can view liao?


no, they only completed the shell of the showroom. Showrooms can sit around for a long time too until they decide to launch the project. I think this is coming next year...

Hmm...I would htink it is going to cover the entire plot from Serangoon to Jln Besah....at least if I remember an old article about this correctly.

Farrer Park MRT might end up getting busier over the years...haha!

yup..these are intense developments but theyll breathe new life into the area, and not just the seedy kind :cool:

HAhaa...actually last time where exactly is the red light district ah? Desker Road seems nearby, but the whole area is also lidat meh?

heh heh

its generally along there and along Petain Rd i think not THAT sure...its not too far from Little India...that area just has this feel to it at night...its quite interesting lar, theres also good late night food there :cool:

the showroom can view liao?



uh please no it would kill sales of the project i imagine.


Not if they restore the gateway arch! :yes:

The entrance of City Square is at Kitchener Road. Since, the shophouses on the Jln Besar side will be conserved. Hmmm... Kerrisdale is almost surrounded by such shophouses...

http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/images/petain.jpg
http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/images/serangoon.gif
http://img49.exs.cx/img49/1926/MWSnap084.png

Anybody knew why the streets are named "Petain" / "Sturdee" / "Flanders" in that area?

http://img49.exs.cx/img49/1926/MWSnap084.png
You took screen shot from ura site ah? Interesting to see there is a green patch there thou. :D

Anybody knew why the streets are named "Petain" / "Sturdee" / "Flanders" in that area?

As for the street names...they all appear related to the military in Europe? Some are names of generals and so on...others are key battlesites!

The green patch is one of the proposed parks in that area.

Were these European people in Singapore before? I read something on the web that Sir Fredrick Sturdee was a Naval Commander in WWI. Wonder why these streets were named after them. BTW, Sir John Jellicoe and Beatty was also mentioned in this article. http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/sturdee.htm

Found another interesting site (requires flash plugins) on WWI by Flanders Fields Museum http://www.inflandersfields.be/

uhuhuhh so where is city square??? is it that large blue coloured patch?

uhuhuhh so where is city square??? is it that large blue coloured patch?

Yes. :)

Is the entrance at Kitchener or Jalan Besar?

Is the entrance at Kitchener or Jalan Besar?

What do you think?

Well, there IS a 'break' within the row at Besar, where now stands the old gate of New World...

I could be wrong. But, usually when developer states the road name with their development, that road name will be the entrance. In this case, the project is described with Kitchener Rd. There are parking lots there, but can be removed if City Square can cater more carpark lots. As for Jln Besar, I don't see any suitable gaps for entrance especially this is a huge development. Also, the shophouses there are under conservation status. Similar argument for the Serangoon side, there is a proposed park and MRT entrance, no suitable entrance. Go visit the site if you can to understand this better.

Well, just my deduction. Things could change along the way.

sometimes developers also avoid using certain names to describe their project, names they deem less attractive, although that probably isnt in this case

Okay. :) Tell me what do you all think after careful observation of these 2 pictues?

http://img122.exs.cx/img122/8646/Photo34.th.jpg (http://img122.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img122&image=Photo34.jpg)

http://img124.exs.cx/img124/1636/Photo39.th.jpg (http://img124.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img124&image=Photo39.jpg)

in the second pic, is the green patch on the left the Farrer Park MRT station?

in the second pic, is the green patch on the left the Farrer Park MRT station?

There are 2 green patches. Smaller one is next to Farrer Park MRT.

what are those patterns on the site of City Square? to the right of the smaller green patch. the footprints of the condos?

what are those patterns on the site of City Square? to the right of the smaller green patch. the footprints of the condos?

I am not sure. But, sure look something like the layout of City Square...

Wow!! I didnt know they have the layout done already! and yeah...Kitchener is clearly the entrance in this case.

From where did you snap that from?

URA. Not obvious unless you are reading the details on the urban layout off the wall. Very near the Singapore city model.

URA. Not obvious unless you are reading the details on the urban layout off the wall. Very near the Singapore city model.
Icic...thanks for the tip-off! :D

You took screen shot from ura site ah? Interesting to see there is a green patch there thou. :D

Green patch? If you are talking about the light green one, it is Jln Besar Stadium.

Green patch? If you are talking about the light green one, it is Jln Besar Stadium.
No lah....the one on the corner facing the MRT....the "future park" as marked out in the model too. Why they bother putting a park there. :D

Pictures at City Square [Taken on 3 Dec 2004]

City Square Site
http://img118.exs.cx/img118/5951/c9-citysquaresite.jpg

Sales Office
http://img41.exs.cx/img41/6483/11-citysquare.jpg

The Old Gate
http://img81.exs.cx/img81/5701/bd-DSCN0950.jpg

What's going on at the old gate? :eek:

I am not sure... Probably waiting to be restored???

The Old Entrance... Looked so much better then... and very different.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005838-8106-3181-7827/img0118.jpg

Is this Christ Church School?

http://img88.exs.cx/img88/4875/30-christchurch1.jpg

hyacinthus, yes thats the old Christchurch Sch

and that old entrance..totally different :eek:

the sales office looks almost ready

the site is now bounded up by coloured fencing but no construction equipment inside

Update:

Walked past the site, a huge signboard with renderings is being readied and now it seems this project will have SIX blocks of 30-storeys! :cool:

what do the blocks look like? more iconish, lincoln modern-ish, or sail-ish, or hdb-ish?

I dunno yet, the rendering wasnt put up on the board, but i think we should be able to know soon..heh ^^

Preserved the New World gate into a National Monument, and use it as the entrance to the condo? :jk:

the gate is preserved. But, too small for 2-way traffic as discussed in earlier posts...

6 blocks of 30-storey residential blocks... CDL said it's selling 910 units based on its newsletter... so, each block on average has 150 units... 5 units per flr... all north-south facing... hmmm, guess it will be slim at east-west angle then... :P

the gate is preserved. But, too small for 2-way traffic as discussed in earlier posts...

6 blocks of 30-storey residential blocks... CDL said it's selling 910 units based on its newsletter... so, each block on average has 150 units... 5 units per flr... all north-south facing... hmmm, guess it will be slim at east-west angle then... :P

sounds very logical!

Lets see if your analysis is accurate ! :colgate:

26 Feb 2005
City Square Model... heh... blurry... No Photography allowed even outside the showroom which is not opened yet. There were 3 models there + some layout models of the apartments. Has a big park... see 6 blocks on the right?
http://img237.exs.cx/img237/8510/city15pl.jpg

Some Details
http://img136.exs.cx/img136/7448/city27la.jpg

doesnt look like a landmark project leh...

Why no photograpy of the model? :eek:

For god's sakes, it's just a model!!!

@heirloom
I don't describe it well... and the picture wasn't clear... It's best you visit the place yourself. Hopefully, the showroom will open in March/April cos it's about 90% completed.

@redstone
don't you know all showflats here do not allow photography?

Yes, but why?:?

26 Feb 2005
City Square Model... heh... blurry... No Photography allowed even outside the showroom which is not opened yet. There were 3 models there + some layout models of the apartments. Has a big park... see 6 blocks on the right?
http://img237.exs.cx/img237/8510/city15pl.jpg

Some Details
http://img136.exs.cx/img136/7448/city27la.jpg
Looks so HK like. :D

are you pleased about it?

A larger-sized model

http://img172.exs.cx/img172/5650/citysquare4nf.jpg

looks so different. I wonder what else would they add to the models.

Looks so normal...... :(

looks so different. I wonder what else would they add to the models.

There were 2 sets of models in the showroom. This one (larger size) and the white one posted earlier which was much smaller.

Looks very generic. One of those "fillers" in the skyline.

Combined with Kerrisdale which is next door, that area around Farrer Park will have 9 30-storey blocks! a huge plateau if you ask me :cool:

Looks like HDB flats leh....have they decided to share designs or something?

I guess HDB flats have caught up to condo standards in terms of appearance

then again, this is like a mass-development itself....the renderings might provide more details :cool:

Haha...and private developments have moved backwards to match the standards of HDB? :D

i wouldnt go so far to say hdb flats are as 'good' as this (not that this is anything wonderful at all). note it still has more full length windows than seng kang flats. but are the windows really blue? it would look so much more beautiful with just plain clear windows. look at the trumps in kembangan. i love it so much despite the ugly toilets. one of the ugliest condominium toilets i've ever seen, but the rest of the development is drop dead gorgeous.

Combined with Kerrisdale which is next door, that area around Farrer Park will have 9 30-storey blocks! a huge plateau if you ask me

dont forget citylights and the 30 storey hdb blocks in the vicinity.

shit we're going to have a 30 storey tampines / simei / bedok near the city :!!!

CityDev going ahead with Serangoon site mall

8 Apr 05

Development, costing $150m, will have 700,000 sq ft of retail space

By ARTHUR SIM

BANKING on the appeal of inner city living, City Developments (CDL) will be going ahead with the development of City Square Mall, at the junction of Kitchener Road and Serangoon Road.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-04-08/ascdl8-223111.jpg
City Square Mall: Artist's impressions of the exterior (above) and interior of the mall (next) which will have direct access to Farrer Park MRT station
http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-04-08/ascdl8-223253.jpg

The site on which the mall will be built was once New World. It was bought by CDL in 1987 for $35 million. The entire site is said to be 36,354 sq m. When completed, the mall will add 700,000 sq ft of retail space to the market and the retail mix is likely to include a hypermart, cineplex and various F&B outlets.

CDL has appointed Australian design firm, Lend Lease Group, to undertake the design and says the main design feature will be the use of natural light to create a different ambience in the mall.

The whole shopping mall development is expected to cost $150 million to construct. The development will consist of a four-storey podium block with two basement levels for 'subterranean retail' shops.

One of the factors that will guarantee its success is direct access to Farrer Park MRT station by a purpose-built link. At the moment, the only other shopping mall and supermarket is the nearby Mustafa Centre on Serangoon Road.

'This project will transform, re-vitalise and create a new vibrancy and buzz to the precinct,' said Chia Ngiang Hong, CDL group general manager.

City Square Mall will not be the only development on the large site. Last week, CDL also soft-launched City Square Residences, a 910-unit residential development. Offering a wide range of unit sizes, the condominium has one- to four-bedroom configurations.

And response has been encouraging. Launched at an average price of $559 per square foot, CDL said 108 of the 180 units offered at the soft-launched were snapped-up.

This development, along with the successful The Sail @ Marina Bay and Parc Emily signals CDL's growing confidence of a turnaround in the economy here. Last year was a noticeably quiet year for the company.

Reluctant to sell units at lower prices, CDL's chairman said last year that the company was prepared to wait because 'replenishment of land at reasonable cost is becoming increasingly difficult'.

CDL expects property prices to improve by 5 to 15 per cent this year.

$559 psf is definitely cheap for a FH near the city and so near MRT. Have you visited the showflat yet?

$559 psf is definitely cheap for a FH near the city and so near MRT. Have you visited the showflat yet?

its about the same as Balestier i think....

nope..but I might want to go there to look at the model and for any renderings :yes:

This one should be better than Kerrisdale.
I've visited Kerrisdale showflat, and the appartments layout makes it really bad for the views. Actually the only interesting views will get blocked by the City Square project ^^

The 6 blocks are given the names Vista, Park, Boulevard, Galleria, Maxim and Promenade Towers.

http://img79.exs.cx/img79/6267/citysq18kt.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

looks cool! :)

hmmm... how's the layout of the condo, park and mall like?

hmmm...I will try to scan the plans in

but basically the condos are arranged in 2 rows (3 + 3), with swimming pool and facilities in the middle.

The condos will be situated at the furthest end of the site (away from the MRT station), with the mall at the MRT station entrance ^^

in the rendering above you can see the mall at the bottom of the pic. Kitchener Rd is that road on the right

what are the toilets like?

hmmm...I will try to scan the plans in

but basically the condos are arranged in 2 rows (3 + 3), with swimming pool and facilities in the middle.

The condos will be situated at the furthest end of the site (away from the MRT station), with the mall at the MRT station entrance ^^

in the rendering above you can see the mall at the bottom of the pic. Kitchener Rd is that road on the right

That means the blocks are not in north-south direction as stated in their newsletter earlier... unless, the 2 rows are not parallel to Kitchener Rd...

If parallel to Kitchener Rd, the units will face south-west direction...

aiyo... RC, I want to see the brochure...

@heirloom, the toilets looked decent, with those boxy looking basins that jut out. The master bedrooms offer nice corner windows and the living rooms have nice full length glass.

@hya, heres the site plan. The mall is that beige thing. Currently the showflat occupies the site of the mall. A new road called Kitchener Link will be created.

http://img173.echo.cx/img173/9029/cssite1jo.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

its connected to farrer park mrt station by underground link?

^

the mall is...I dont think the condos are

kinda weird... the public park belongs to CDL too? :?

dunno..should be?...well its good that they make that space into a park. It will improve the quality of that part (which is rundown)

CityDev launches Serangoon project

14 Apr 05

Units at City Square Residences start from $560 psf

By ARTHUR SIM

THE boundaries of the city centre look set to grow wider with yet another development - City Developments' City Square Residences - being launched this week in Serangoon, around Little India, a district quickly being annexed by the city.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-04-14/ascity14-205545.jpg
Fringe appeal: City Square Residences is in District 8 but punters don't seem to mind. Of the 250 soft-launched units, 192 have been sold.

Marketed as 'city living', the 910-unit development between Serangoon Road and Jalan Besar is actually not in the crucial District 9, 10, 11 belt.

Just a few minutes' walk from Little India, it is in fact in District 8, but punters do not seem to mind. Of the 250 soft-launched units, 192 have already been sold.

CityDev says that 83 per cent of buyers so far are Singaporeans. Permanent residents make up 10 per cent and foreign buyers, the rest.

This is significant as it seems to reinforce the new trend of Singaporeans favouring inner-city living. And these are not the singles and Dinks (dual income no kids) who generally go for urban develop ments.

CityDev group general manager Chia Ngiang Hong says he has noticed 'better upgrader sentiment' with recent sales.

Along with its small 53 sq m one-bedroom units, City Residences will also have a range of larger units, topped by the family-friendly four-bedroom type with 140 sq m of space.

One of the value-added extras is the new City Square Mall, also by CityDev, which adjoins the condominium complex.

A hypermarket is expected to be one of the anchor tenants, so condo residents will not have to go far for their weekend shopping.

Key to the marketing strategy is affordability.

At the soft-launch, prices started at $560 per square foot. This works out to roughly $320,000 for the small one-bedrooms and $840,000 for the large four-bedroom apartments.

These prices are, however, set to rise. Due to brisk sales, CityDev says that prices will be raised incrementally by about 2 to 5 per cent at each subsequent launch until a top average price of $600 psf is reached.

For those who want to be in District 9, there is Parc Emily just down the road at $750 psf (and co-developed by CityDev and TID).

So far, 200 of the development's 250 units have been launched, with a take up of 140 units.

These are healthy sales figures too, with some prepared to pay a premium for being on the right side of Rochor Road.

City Residences, along with CapitaLand's CityLights and Allgreen's Kerrisdale, also in the same neighbourhood, will, however, certainly make it harder to decide.


___________________


New World Park's original gate to front new park

THE original gate to the former New World Park will get a new lease of life at a 45,000 sq ft public park next to the new City Square Residences condominium.

The park, the condo and a large shopping mall make up City Developments' City Square project, which sits on the amusement park's former site.

New World Park, which had a cabaret, open-air cinemas, boxing arenas and opera halls, opened in 1923 and closed in 1987.

It was one of three amusement parks, along with Great World and Gay World, around which Singapore's nightlife revolved from the 1920s to the 1960s.

'Those who have been to the old amusement park will surely recognise the gate,' said CDL's group general manager Chia Ngiang Hong. 'It will bring a sense of nostalgia... particularly for those familiar with it.'

CDL has enlisted landscape architect Belt Collins International to develop the park, which was a requirement for the site. It is due to be completed in 2009.

Good news... :) Adding vibrancy to the area.

Somebody was asking if the New World gate will be preserved right? where's that somebody now??? not posting recently... :colgate:

yes...that somebody has been MIA for quite some time.

I'm also glad they are preserving an important piece of history :cool:

however, confusing names... City Residences, Citylights and City Square especially... will Taxi Drivers get confused. Going to JB or Kitchener Rd?

aiyar.. i went to see the showroom and i noticed the workmanship is significantly more shoddy than otehr showrooms seen recently - most obviously in the kitchen. the shelves were not properly fitted. i hope this is just an aberration. i like the clubhouse entrance though...

The units start from 350k. Its at 599 psqft.

Quite cheap, considering its freehold. If I were to buy it, I'll get the non-pool views.:D

The most popular block is the Promenade Tower as it offers the best city views..many units were taken up since Sunday.

almost all the three bedroom units released facing the city have been taken up, except the lowest floor units. the two bedrooms high floor mostly taken up.

That plain space at the bottom will be a park? What a waste!

whats city residences?

That plain space at the bottom will be a park? What a waste!

It's a 4-storey mall with 2-storey basements. There will be 2 parks though. The bigger one is on the top left. The smaller one is near the Farrer Park MRT exit/entrance (which is currently closed) after City Square mall.


@Heirloom

"THE boundaries of the city centre look set to grow wider with yet another development - City Developments' City Square Residences - being launched this week in Serangoon, around Little India, a district quickly being annexed by the city."

oh... i see.

Yiaks. They could have build more than twice the number of blocks man...

CityDev sells 133 more condo units

20 Apr 05

By KALPANA RASHIWALA


CITY Developments has sold a further 133 units at its City Square Residences freehold condo in Kitchener Road since last Saturday when it officially launched the project, marking the start of an advertising campaign.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-04-20/city_sq-220943.jpg

It has raised its average prices by 2 to 5 per cent from the initial price of $560 per sq ft when it soft-launched the project on April 1. In the first fortnight, it sold about 190 units. Market watchers described the latest weekend sales as impressive, and hoped they bode well for the Singapore residential property market as a whole. However, some analysts lamented that there was a dearth of affordable suburban condos for developers to launch to spark a recovery in home-buying in the mass-market.

CityDev is also developing a 700,000 sq ft mall next to the condo. Standing on the former New World Amusement Park site in Kitchener Road that the group bought about 18 years ago from Shaw Organisation, both mall and condo will be connected to Farrer Park MRT station. With the latest sales, the listed property company has sold 325 units in City Square Residences condo since April 1. To date, it has released 380 of the condo's 910 units.

Does it occupy the whole of the New World site?

no. see rafflescity's scanned picture on the prev pages

What a very scary crowd. Dont think I want to be neighbours with these people, the way they rush around the showroom. Even the real estate agents were too busy to entertain us.

The proximity to Serangoon Rd and its culture pervades the atmosphere. 2 apects of theview will be obstructed by KErrisdale and Citylights at Lavender, which is surprisingly closeby

yah... the agents were "very pragmatic"... they judge your worth first by your attire, then your address written on the visitor log and decide if they want to serve you. If they do, they will give a brief intro to the project and ask straight away if you had the intention to buy...

The stressful competitive environment and targets made them so... eventually, it's the dollar and cents that drives them... about the scary crowd, they may not be the buyers... just there to look see look see... which I see many were the saturday I was there....

It was a refreshing change moving from City Square to Kerrisdale showroom. The agent who entertained us was a pleasant/sweet lady and it was really nice talking to her about interior design etc. The agent who served me the day before at Rivergate was professional too.

Well, one could argue they didn't have many visitors/competitor agents at the showroom.

Just an observation, when you have more people (customers and competitor agents) in a showroom, the service level is almost always sub-standard.

I guess I could visit Citysquare in better conditions, I was offered an appointment to do so at Meraprime showroom (same developer) ;-) But I declined ;-)

it's a very competitive business. sometimes, we do get invitation (by mail/email) to the same private development from different property marketing companies! :P

Visit City Square on weekdays. I believe is less crowded.

CityDev scores another residential coup

8 Jun 05

Two-thirds of 910-unit Kitchener Road project sold in two months

By KALPANA RASHIWALA


(SINGAPORE) City Developments has quietly sold two-thirds of its massive 910-unit condominium development at Kitchener Road in just two months. Since early April, it has sold 615 of the 650 units it has released so far in the freehold project, BT understands.


It's the group's second major coup in the Singapore residential sector in the past year, after The Sail @ Marina Bay condo. Some 98 per cent of the 681 units in The Sail's taller tower are now sold, achieving an average price of about $960 psf. CityDev is developing a 99-year leasehold waterfront project jointly with AIG.

Analysts expect the group to reap a total pre-tax profit of more than $800 million from selling homes in the two developments as well as a mall next to City Square Residences. The progressive recognition of profits from the three projects should provide a fillip to the bottom line for several years.

CityDev, controlled by Kwek Leng Beng and his family, is expected to book its maiden profit from its half-share of The Sail in the second half of this year, while profits from apartments sold at City Square Residences are likely to start featuring in results next year.

The group's net profit for the first quarter ended March 2005 rose 8.3 per cent to $61 million.

The huge profit projections by analysts for the group's residential and retail projects at Kitchener Road - on the former New World Amusement Park site - reflect the low historical cost of the site.

CityDev bought the 455,000 sq ft freehold plot from Shaw Organisation in 1987 and has paid $17 million in development charges to the state.

This works out to a land cost of just $29 per sq ft of potential gross floor area - possibly less than 10 per cent of what the land would fetch today. The site is connected to the Farrer Park MRT Station.

City Square Residences will comprise six towers of up to 30 storeys. The mall next door, which is being designed by Australia's Lend Lease Group, will comprise a four-storey podium block with two basement levels. CityDev began selling the apartments in early April at an average price of $560 psf but later raised prices by between 2 and 5 per cent, according to earlier reports.

Over at The Sail, which faces Marina Bay, analysts are watching to see just when the group releases the second tower, which will be 63 storeys high and have 430 units. The first tower, which it began selling in late October last year, will be 70 storeys high - making it one of the world's tallest residential buildings.

The Sail will also be the maiden residential development in the area, which is designated as Singapore's New Downtown. The condo is next to the mega Business and Financial Centre being sold through a tender that closes on June 21. CityDev is widely expected to bid for the BFC land parcel.

21 Aug 2005

Some Details about City Square Residence
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4162/dsc83678ae.jpg

This is the office. Condo site is over at Kitchener Rd side.
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/6990/dsc83681iq.jpg

The New World gate had been decked with adverts!!! :runaway:

It's only temporary. The developer will restore the gate too.

Would it be a real entrance or for deco only?

My guess is probably a decor only

Thanks for the update hya, this is going to be a massive construction site.

8 Oct 05

Massive construction site with lots of cranes in there

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5363/cs08101kp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1 Nov 2005

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9691/dsc94413en.jpg

Citylights looks so small from here ^ ^ but in fact it's pretty big already.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7055/guess33mi.jpg

thats a great capture of the site

the coast looks deceptively nearby

Not in front of the sea but it's quite near actually. There is no zoom on the above pic. In fact, I reduced the size. I wanted to kill myself when I realised I took those pics in the lowest resolution. :rant:

looking at the site, I think it will be a few months before the first storey rises out of the ground

and did you see the very dirty and black looking shophouse? :eek:

looks interesting to investigate :D

u have a pic?

nope...which is why I feel curious about it :O

hmmm... I dunno what you are taking about. :?

I wanted to kill myself when I realised I took those pics in the lowest resolution. :rant:

Haha....which is why I never change the resolution once I set it......:yes:

the gritty-looking shophouse in front of the field...only the back is shown

Here's another one...

17th December 2005
http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/ssc/051217_citysquare01.jpg

It will offer some nice views on Novena skyline ;-)

I don't see them building the mall yet. :p

Hmm.....the mall opening in 2008 also?? Wah that year got quite a few new malls opening......:yes: (Central at Clarke Quay, Orchard Turn)

Seems like 2008 will be quite exciting....:yes:

2008 = "Yi Teng Teng Fatt" correct? :D

I like 20.08.2008 ;)

2008 = "Yi Teng Teng Fatt" correct? :D

I like 20.08.2008 ;)

:lol: Hopefully it's really fatt.......;)

Hmm.....the mall opening in 2008 also?? Wah that year got quite a few new malls opening......:yes: (Central at Clarke Quay, Orchard Turn)

Central mall only opening in 2008 ??? Are you sure ? It looks almost finished already :-/

Central mall only opening in 2008 ??? Are you sure ? It looks almost finished already :-/

Yes according to the SOHO@Central website, it'll be ready in the 2nd quarter of 2008.....:yes:

Pengui, was that taken from Lavender flats?

great view!

27 Jan 2006

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/676/dsc00012nd.jpg

Why is it circular in shape?

Frankly, I don't know. Similarly, by the same developer, the Sail's construction site started with a peanut-shaped hole.

My guess is the basement carpark is round though the development itself are 6 boxes.

The circular pattern resembles the site for La-Salle School of Arts

maybe circular = more stable?

hmmm... peanut-shaped hole means doubly stable? As the Sail is more than twice the height of City Square Residences?

actually I'm not sure :lol:

but the Sail is quite elongated and wide

I hope it opens soon.....Little India needs a decent mall......:yes:

WAH!!! :eek:

Hole so big?!

11 Feb 2006

It's deep too.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9204/dscn29610eg.jpg

Looks more like a mine than const site. :D

Taken from Feb 2006 Issue of CDL News

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/75/untitled14nu.gif

The mall should elevate Little India status as a bustling cultural hub......:yes:

It should provide a nice respite from the chaotic surroundings for sure...and should be well served by future residential developments in the vicinity.

Whatever it is. Hope to see construction for the mall start soon.

3 Mar 2006
The digging has reached 3 basements.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3943/dscn31200lt.jpg

wah...

Wah so deep...need to make way for carpark i guess.

yap Rafflescity was correct ... circle = more stable hehe ^_^

Whoa!!! What a massive hole!!!

2 Apr 2006

More tower cranes and deeper digging.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4990/dscn31824rq.jpg

Hmm....still in the process of doing groundwork.....:yes:

I'm quite excited about this development and future ones at Farrer Park...it should really transform the feel of that area :cool:

I'm quite excited about this development and future ones at Farrer Park...it should really transform the feel of that area :cool:

Yes......it'll bring more people to the place.......:yes:

7 May 2006

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8885/12sy6.jpg

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5821/23wb2.jpg

Coooool, seems it's going to start growing soon :-)

I hope to see work started on City Square mall as well. Guess they aren't starting till next year? :dunno:

What does the site of the mall look like now?

Yes, the first signs of growth of the condo can be seen starting...hmmm...by end of the year I guesstimate the condos will baround 10 floors high

still the same. no digging has started.

hmmm... maybe. probably, speed varies from one block to another.

just wondering... no City Square owners viewing this thread?

still the same. no digging has started.

hmmm... maybe. probably, speed varies from one block to another.

just wondering... no City Square owners viewing this thread?


Thanx for bringing the photos of the latest developments. I've gotten a unit here, at Galleria Tower, the block closest to the mall site, facing Kitchener Road. Probably cos they launch the units facing Kitchener Road first, which is why the building is faster at that side? The last time I went to the showroom, the lady told me BLK 8 was the latest launch (the one nearest to Jalan Besar and farthest away from the mall site), which was launched a few months back.

Any other owners here?

Appreciate hyacinthus's postings of the photos - thanks, look forward to your regular updates. I'm also a owner of a unit in Galleria Tower.

no problem as long as I am still in Singapore. Look forward to your sharing of the views from your unit too :)

21 May 2006
Some details of the front 2 towers nearer to Kitchener Rd

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9966/citys3tk.jpg

The size of the floor area make it feel exciting....:cool:

no problem as long as I am still in Singapore. Look forward to your sharing of the views from your unit too :)

That's probably going to take some time! Haha! But of course, wud love to share the views with everyone here once it's ready to move in. But a bad thing is I'm staying on the 10th floor, not very high up, so some views might be obstructed...

Maybe if I ever have a chance to get into the condo management committee, I would try an propose the building of sky gardens at the top of each block so that all residents can get a superb view at the top of where they stay :p

^hmmm... interesting ^_^

4 Jun 2006
Lowest basement floor for the front 2 blocks seem completed.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2648/dscn34694pq.jpg

Hmm....good to see some progress here....:yes:

woah.... rarely see such a big construction site...

1 level done, 30+ levels to go. Looks like the 2 blks will be ready before end of 2008... actually the whole project should be almost ready by end 2008.
Hyacinthus - looks like your outstanding views will be partially blocked by then...

Hmm, CDL is building St Regis Residences, and it seems like the completion date is even earlier than 2008. Dunno whether this will cause CDL to give priority of resource use to St Regis, thus slowing down the construction of City Square..

Interesting thought on St Regis Residences... never came across my mind. Quite possible for CDL to concentrate on St Regis Residences - since margin seems bloody high. Hope they don't drag their feet on CSR construction, as interest rate seems to be only going up & up.

Any new updates from Hyacinthus? :p

Those owners remember to invite us to your place for bowling wor ...

25 Jun 2006

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_1813.jpg

Using prefab technology?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_1752.jpg

Good progress....:yes:

wow the core is rising!

that stretch along Kitchener Rd does look quite colourful at night...might be good for taking pics :yes:

Great update. It seems like they are getting ready the blocks of concrete. The buildings will sure rise fast after the core is built.

I always wonder when I passby City Sq last time ... will the profile of the weekend visitors change ? Will the mall be patronised by the same profile of visitors as Taka mall ?
Will the area become engulf as part of Little India or will it form its own enclave exclusive to only the residents ?

Only time will tell ...

I've found the profile of visitors at Tekka Mall slightly different from the rest of Little India though...hmmm...maybe I'll observe closely again

Sorry for being too direct ... but what I meant is will the City Sq Mall become an Indian Mall ? Form their Union HQ there ? and make that the Ultimate HQ and meeting point ?

Sorry for being too direct ... but what I meant is will the City Sq Mall become an Indian Mall ? Form their Union HQ there ? and make that the Ultimate HQ and meeting point ?

That will depend on the retail mix. It's managed by Bovis Land Lease - an international retail and residential group, so I am quite confident it will not become an "Indian Mall" similar to Mustafa like what you think.

Hope the red light district would not affect business there.

Regarding red light district and Indians ... you can brag & nag at it at http://www.condo.com.sg/rating/residentreview.cfm?condoid=2403.

Plse keep this site positive and keep with up the photo updates

I don't think there's anything red light at Farrer Park, at least it looked very fine to me everytime I went late shopping at Mustafa Centre :-)
Actually it's quite cool to have a 24 hours shopping centre so near to home ;-)

Oh ... we are not supposed to say negative things here ?

Opps ... I am sorry ... but a bit strange for a forum to restrict itself to only positive comments ... we dont quarrel here ... just professional comments from new to experienced people in the industry ...

The comments here are so much higher level that those in the condo.com ...

Stay cool people, being positive can mean that when these so called negative comments are raised, be ready to see it as opportunities to clear up misconceptions. If Redstone and DKSG didn't voice their views, we wouldn't have the rest like RC, Pengui and Hyacinthus who would reply with their perspectives and reason. The key is sensitivity and open-minded-ness for different perspectives and change (in people and environment). :cheers:

So welcome to the forum, moon23, it's where public meets and exchange perspectives to have new learning and knowledge. You should thank their 'negative' comments cos I got my perceptions cleared up a bit too. Except, you may need to be more patient with the general public, time is what they need. Be cool!

Ooops... I guess my choice of words are too heavy. :bash:

To DKSG & redstone - sorry if I've offended you. :)

I was just a little too tired with those topics which made the condo.com site more of a quarrelling site, it was the main topic (on City Square) for the last 1+ years ... have stopped visiting that site, as not much useful information is available.

I've found this site very informative & appreciate the constant photo updates from all the energetic folks - especially from Hyacinthus on City Square.

By the way, those 2 points are valid concerns. Red light area - I hope it'll be gone after the mall is built, but I'm not too concerned about it.
About the Indian factor... not sure if there'll be as many Indians in Singapore say 5-10 years down the road. India economy is booming, quite a number of my Indian colleagues here are planning to go back to India. Seems like they can get the same or even more salary in India now.

We will just air our views lor ... positive or negative ...

More importantly ... in this forum, there are lobangs for private previews ... u get to view the condos before the public ! ... Isnt this great !

Hi moon23 :-)

Don't worry about this kind of bickering happening here, SSC is very much an international forum (in case you didn't find the India section yet ;-) ) so racists and discriminatory comments are not welcome here you'll find. Do report to the moderators if this happens (RafflesCity is one, I'm not too sure who else ;-) ).
I'm sure a lot of people will be interested in getting points of view from Indian people or people living in Little India :-) I don't think many of them visit the forum at the moment!

Just get someone to invite us over for bowling when TOP ... ok?

1 Jul 2006

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_2176.jpg

Just get someone to invite us over for bowling when TOP ... ok?

No problem... but may have to queue up for quite a while...2 bowling lanes for 900 units...

hey moon, r u going to run for the condo management committee? i wanna run for it in future.

to begin with, the 240 monthly maintenance is a bit steep, so we should try and lower it.

another thing is, CS has quite a good location, so it is good if we can put the roof top to greater use, it will be good too. examples include sky gardens, bbq pits on roof top and so on.

good idea?

c2h5ethan,

haven't thought of running the condo management committee at the moment... after those marathon meetings at work, not really keen to have more meetings after work. But its nice to hear you're keen to contribute.

About the roof top garden, it's a good idea. Wonder what's the cost of converting the plain roof tops into gardens... it'll may not help in bringing the monthly maintenance fees down.

I take my hat off to people who run for management committee ...

*Salute ...

To bring the maint fee down ... seek tender for the mgt agency ... implement penalty for late payment of maint fees ... charge for use of facilities (coz most people dont use and those dont use subsidise those who use) ...

U can try ask me other ways also when the date comes nearer ... since u are a contributor here ... the advice would be FOC ... haha!

This will probably be my last post for City Square update.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/pano2.jpg

^ Why?? :?

hyacinthus, u're moving out of Kerrisdale?

@moon23
I've never stayed there in the first place. :)

@babystan
The construction has started and progressing upwards. It will be easy to take updates from other buildings.

I see.....:yes:

I wonder if it's a common thread for people to buy the condo but rent them out to exceutives or something?? :?

I see.....:yes:

I wonder if it's a common thread for people to buy the condo but rent them out to exceutives or something?? :?

trend you meant? ;)

maybe.

trend you meant? ;)

maybe.

Yeah typo error.....:yes:

Perhaps I should consider that.....I think it's better than investing in a car....:lol:

Babystan03 : That is but of course ... can easily get like 10-20% return on your investment ... but it would not be easy at first ...have to handle a lot of shit ...

any new updates for this place? seems like developer has called for yet another payment of 5%. Not too sure, since I received a caveat notice from SLA, which probably means CDL is calling for money again?

Here's an quick update from today...

29th October

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/06/061029_citysquare01.jpg

There are a few blocks with one or two storeys out of the ground. Those are the ones more towards lavender. On the Serangoon Road side, I couldn't see anything from the bus.

Is the new shopping mall out of the ground yet? They should build them at the same time in order to open in 2009.

this development have no renderings yet?

There was a rendering posted earlier but not sure if the pic works....should be available on cdl's website: www.cdl.com.sg

Will the shopping mall open in 2008?? :?

^ No. Open in 2009 Q2

2 Dec 2006
City Square Updates from Kitchener Road

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3588.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3593.jpg


City Square Mall site
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3601.jpg

hmmm... 5/9 storey commercial and retail with 4 basements?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3599.jpg

Compare the difference in 1 year...

1 Nov 2005

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9691/dsc94413en.jpg

2 Dec 2006

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3606.jpg

So many new towers!!!!

^ No. Open in 2009 Q2
2 Dec 2006
hmmm... 5/9 storey commercial and retail with 4 basements?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3599.jpg

Looks like they have pushed the open date to 2009 from 2008?

5/9 storey means what? Is it 5 levels above ground and 4 levels basement to get a total 9 floors?

Hope they have a back entrance to Kerrisdale area and the new park too.

Anyone knows whether the Flanders Sq DRA would be demolished soon?

It could mean 5 floors above ground and 4 floors below ground.

I saw in another forum that the shophouses at Flanders Square belong to a Govt agency (didn't state which. SLA?) and are currently rented to foreign workers.

The post said the lease is expiring and will not be renewed.

its a 5/9 storey (going up) and 4 basement.

It could mean 5 floors above ground and 4 floors below ground.

I saw in another forum that the shophouses at Flanders Square belong to a Govt agency (didn't state which. SLA?) and are currently rented to foreign workers.

The post said the lease is expiring and will not be renewed.

Will be demolished?? :eek:

That area is quite... sleazy with some 'activities' going on at the alleys at night. :ohno:

its a 5/9 storey (going up) and 4 basement.

very confusing. meaning 1 block of differing heights?

------------------
Found this on URA's website.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp03/images/mp15.gif
Rezoning of Lots 1371pt, 1796pt, 1798, 2003, 97948 & 97949, TS 17, at Kitchener Road, from Commercial and Residential Zone and Commercial Zone, at a plot ratio of 3.00 (gross) to (i) Commercial Zone and (ii) Residential Zone, at a maximum permissible plot ratio of 4.49 (gross). (Approved on 24 November 2004 )


:)

Will be demolished?? :eek:

That area is quite... sleazy with some 'activities' going on at the alleys at night. :ohno:

Its a DRA so that's why the activities are there as they are licensed by the police.

Demolish them would be good. They won't fit in with the character of the area between 2 big condo developments and a big mall. I read from another forum that Kerrisdale residents may have petitioned for their closure.

What's DRA?

2 Dec 2006

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3606.jpg

The surroundings would be drastically transformed when this is complete...and having a large park in there is a good idea too...a nice respite from the narrow roads

What's DRA?

See here http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2270

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/Untitled-1-5.jpg :)

Nice green park. Looks like u work for URA? :lol:

Hope the spirit of the place would not be affected. Little India is like one of the last 'natural' old towns left untouched by time.

I think the mall will enhance the feel of the area....may be like what Chinatown Point is to Chinatown

Showing Kerrisdale, Citylights and City Square (under construction) in context
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/61/untitled1rp2.jpg

If I am not wrong, there'll be a new road to serve the residents and mall visitors after the row of shophouses facing this side.

I suddenly have a strange idea that it'll be unique to have mini indoor theme park.

I suddenly have a strange idea that it'll be unique to have mini indoor theme park.

Berjaya Times Square? no no...

I suddenly have a strange idea that it'll be unique to have mini indoor theme park.

Mini-ferris wheel at downtown east?

I suddenly have a strange idea that it'll be unique to have mini indoor theme park.
Good idea. There would be a small public park behind City Square. They can install some theme park rides there and repaint the conserved New World Amusement Park gate post along Jalan Besar. Call it the Even Newer World Amusement Park ... :lol:

Good idea. There would be a small public park behind City Square. They can install some theme park rides there and repaint the conserved New World Amusement Park gate post along Jalan Besar. Call it the Even Newer World Amusement Park ... :lol:

For goodness sake, no. :bash:

:eek2:

Awesome pic!

Looks really dramatic....highrise blocks are really transforming the area

hey hyacinthus, nice to be seeing pictures from you again! anyway, how tall are the buildings now? can't really see clearly from the picture that you've posted =)

The residential towers should be around 6 stories now .... saw them working OT through Sunday. The mall is still not started yet.

11 March 07

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/147/dscf1094xa1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

11 March 07

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/147/dscf1094xa1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The mall is still not off the ground .... but at least they have good supply of concrete mixer trucks going into the site. Progress on the residences is fast.

The backyard of City Square Residences has a new development called the Residences @ Somme.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9390/cimg2312au2.jpg

Wow! How tall are the residences buildings now?

Wow! How tall are the residences buildings now?
About 7 or 8 floors, depending on block.

Taken on 23rd March ....

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8495/cimg2493vo6.jpg

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/5377/cimg2494re9.jpg

That last pic can make a nice dramatic contrast with the shophouses once the towers are ready

That last pic can make a nice dramatic contrast with the shophouses once the towers are ready

It sure would change the sleepy feel of the streetscape at Jalan Besar once these modern towers of 30 floors are ready .....