Here is part2 of the thread for this project.

The disucussion for part 1 is archived and can be found here:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=85847

Some renderings

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/103sailpano.jpg
http://img49.exs.cx/img49/8675/sailnitepano.jpg
http://img33.exs.cx/img33/715/sailpano2a.jpg

The site at end of October 2004

http://img27.exs.cx/img27/5912/sailsite.jpg

More renderings

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/3130/2829marina.jpg

http://photo.starblvd.net/Raffles/4-4-5-1083355759?m=1&pg=3&ro=3&co=4

Ministry of National Development
Addendum to President's Address
Mr Mah Bow Tan
Minister for National Development
MND will contribute to making Singapore a land of opportunity. We will enhance Singapore's position as an exciting, attractive and modern metropolis, a hub for talent and enterprise, and a home for our people. We will guide Singapore's continued development as a city of distinction, characterized by its architectural and urban design excellence and a high quality living environment. We will continue to ensure affordable quality public housing to meet the diverse needs of our people.

AN EXCITING, ATTRACTIVE AND MODERN METROPOLIS
Our land use policies and development efforts will be geared towards making Singapore an attractive destination for businesses and new investments. We will adopt a pro-business approach and ensure flexibility in land use to accommodate changing trends and new needs. Besides the timely release of land for businesses, we will introduce new land sale mechanisms to facilitate innovative and exciting concepts that create value. Shorter leases and other measures to reduce upfront land costs for businesses will also be explored.

Downtown at Marina Bay will be a key focus of our development efforts. The development of the Business and Financial Centre, along with the redevelopment of the existing Central Business District, will enhance Singapore's position as a business and financial hub. The development of the waterfront promenade and the connecting bridge to Marina Centre will create a vibrant and exciting continuous loop of recreational and lifestyle activities around the Marina Bay.

The rejuvenation of Orchard Road will ensure it retains its status as a premier shopping district. We will review our development guidelines for the area and encourage property owners to upgrade and enhance their properties.

We will promote architectural and urban design excellence. A distinctive city, where a quality built environment is the hallmark, will enable Singapore to distinguish itself from other cities.

A HIGH QUALITY LIVING ENVIRONMENT
MND will continue to ensure a high quality living environment for our residents. We have a well-deserved reputation as a premier Garden City, appreciated by visitors and residents alike. We will establish a second national botanical gardens at the Downtown at Marina Bay. A showcase of horticultural displays, it will feature an iconic conservatory of cool tropical as well as temperate plants. We will also organize a world-class biennial horticultural show at the new botanical gardens.

We will continue to expand and upgrade the network of parks and park connectors. Together with our corporate and community partners we will upgrade and build new recreational facilities and attractions, and promote activities and edutainment programmes in the parks. We will also encourage local communities to participate in the management of the gardens in order to foster a greater sense of belonging and care for the environment.

We will review and strengthen the code and regulatory framework for building and construction, to ensure that our buildings are of good quality, safe and elder-friendly. In particular, with an ageing population, MND will work closely with other agencies to ensure that the accessibility in and between buildings and public areas will be barrier-free as far as possible.

Despite our high dependency on food imports, Singapore is a paradise for food lovers with the wide variety and quality of food available. MND will continue to strengthen our food safety management regime by improving our testing capabilities for food-borne hazards. We will work with major traders and diversify our food sources to ensure resilience in the food supply.

AFFORDABLE QUALITY PUBLIC HOUSING
Public housing has played a critical role in promoting rootedness and social cohesion among Singaporeans. It has given our people a tangible stake in the country and facilitated upward social mobility.

MND will continue to provide affordable and quality public housing that meets the needs and aspirations of Singaporeans. We will continue to promote home ownership for the vast majority who can afford it. The Government will gradually liberalise the public housing market to promote greater private sector participation in the design and development of public housing. This will give greater housing choice and variety for flat buyers. Subsidized rental housing will be provided for the needy who cannot afford home ownership flats.

MND will free up rules and regulations on public housing to encourage HDB lessees to be more self-reliant, responsible and entrepreneurial. We will give HDB residents more opportunities to participate in the management of their estates to foster greater ownership and a sense of belonging.

Rejuvenation of our older HDB towns and estates will continue, through upgrading programmes and the Selective En-Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), within the resources available. In view of our rapidly ageing population, we will step up the pace of lift upgrading in HDB estates.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/redstone/cranescbd.jpg

http://imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/107903.jpg
:?:?:?

So has construction started or not?:?:?:?

Sons of Ryanair founder come in for a landing - at The Sail

27 Jan 05

$9.4 million price tag: Sources say the Ryans have bought all 11 units on the 16th floor at The Sail, shown here in the artist's drawing as the white towers

By KALPANA RASHIWALA

(SINGAPORE) Two scions of Tony Ryan, the founder of Irish budget airline Ryanair, have bought an entire floor of The Sail@Marina Bay for about $9.4 million or $922 per square foot, sources told BT yesterday.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-01-27/krryan-235813.jpg

Brothers Cathal and Declan Ryan, who are in their 40s, are said to have picked up all 11 apartments on the 16th floor of the 70-storey tower that The Sail's developers, City Developments and AIG, began selling in late October.

The brothers are said to be looking at re-arranging the layout of the apartments on the floor they have bought. The transaction was inked a few days ago.

Gerry de Silva, spokesman for CityDev's parent, the Hong Leong Group, told BT yesterday there had been an en bloc sale of an entire floor located 'between the 15th and 20th storeys' to British investors at $9.4 million - but he would not confirm the buyers' names or the floor.

He said, however, that the 11 apartments they bought comprise six sea-facing units and five with city views.

The one, two and three-bedroom apartments add up to 10,215 sq ft.

To date, CityDev and AIG have sold 555 of the 681 apartments in The Sail's taller tower. They have yet to announce plans for other block, with 63 storeys and 430 apartments.

The average price achieved so far for the 99-year leasehold condo is $967 psf.

Mr de Silva said about 38 per cent of the buyers are foreigners, including mainland Chinese, Hong Kongers, Malaysians, Britons, Americans and investors from the Indian subcontinent.

The Sail is the first condo coming up in the Marina Bay area where Singapore's Central Business District extension is being developed. At 70 storeys, it will, when completed, be Singapore's tallest residential project and the world's highest apartment buildings.

Cathal and Declan were understood to be looking for an en bloc deal involving several contiguous high-rise floors at The Sail, but these are no longer available in the tower that has been released for sale.

The Ryan family is one of the richest in the UK, according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2004.

The family is aiming to repeat its European budget carrier success in Asia. The Ryans' private investment arm, Irelandia Investments, has a 16 per cent stake in Tiger Airways, the low-cost carrier started by Singapore Airlines.

The Sail@Marina Bay (245m/70 + 63 floors, due 2009)

the problem with the sail...it's 4 four years of agonizing wait!!!

true...but the good thing is, activity can be seen on the site now :cool:

27th January 2005

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/2421/sail27013ej.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Great news ! ^^
It seems that there's also a lot of activity going on on the BFC site... Is it a pilling machine that I see ?

I didnt look closely at the BFC site

I know theyre building the underground road networks for the future roads there, but I will be surprised if theyre actually doing any piling for a specific building there ^^

Actually, I'm expecting the construction to begin soon on the BFC... Why ? Because I believe they won't want to have a big mess of a construction site just next door when they launch the Sail... In 2009, that is, right ? ^^

Actually, I'm expecting the construction to begin soon on the BFC... Why ? Because I believe they won't want to have a big mess of a construction site just next door when they launch the Sail... In 2009, that is, right ? ^^

that makes sense, especially for the residents of Sail (but the Sail and the BFC are separated by a green space dont forget)

but we dont know who the developer of the BFC will be, unless theyre doing this project in utter secrecy, which sounds unlikely.

The BFC is the next site to be launched, but I dont think theyre building it..hmmm

I would have thought that the BFC will be government-owned...

I would have thought that the BFC will be government-owned...

The government is actively encouraging its development but ultimately it has to be the private sector and demand for office space that decide if the BFC is built. There was an article rumouring that CapitaLand would be one of the developers though.

CapitaLand is a 100% private company ?
Take One Marina Boulevard, for example. It's government-owned, isn't it ? But it is being leased to private companies also. Huh, I'm not sure if I'm being clear ^^ (we're damn off-topic, anyway, lol).

Wohooo!!!!!!!! :banana:
I'll start an Update thread on construction of Sail! :D

CapitaLand is a 100% private company ?


nope, not 100% ^^

OH my...I wish I could buy a whole floor on the top...:D

Here are some news I got from french press, translated for you ^^
FYI, Bouygues is a french company and one of the biggest construction companies in the world.

Bouygues Construction to build two towers in Singapore for 140M EUR

AFP | 24.01.05 | 11h20

Bouygues Construction has won the bid for the construction of two residential towers in Singapore for 140 millions Euros (approx SGD 300M). The work, which has already started and will be finished during the first trimester 2008, includes the building of two towers of 71 and 63 storeys located on the seafront and called "The Sail@Marina Bay". With height of respectively 245 and 215 meters, those towers will become the tallest residential towers of the country, ranking 10th in the world, said Bouygues. Located above a subway line, they will be built on reclaimed land, therefore needing the creation of special foundations 80 meters deep. Apart from 1111 luxury apartments, those two sail-shaped towers will host three swimming pools, two tennis courts and a carpark, added the french building company.

Here are some news I got from french press, translated for you ^^
FYI, Bouygues is a french company and one of the biggest construction companies in the world.

Bouygues Construction to build two towers in Singapore for 140M EUR

AFP | 24.01.05 | 11h20

Bouygues Construction has won the bid for the construction of two residential towers in Singapore for 140 millions Euros (approx SGD 300M). The work, which has already started and will be finished during the first trimester 2008, includes the building of two towers of 71 and 63 storeys located on the seafront and called "The Sail@Marina Bay". With height of respectively 245 and 215 meters, those towers will become the tallest residential towers of the country, ranking 10th in the world, said Bouygues. Located above a subway line, they will be built on reclaimed land, therefore needing the creation of special foundations 80 meters deep. Apart from 1111 luxury apartments, those two sail-shaped towers will host three swimming pools, two tennis courts and a carpark, added the french building company.

Pengui, Thank you for the translation :)

Interesting...

Construction Cost = S$300,000,000
Land Cost = S$288,900,000
Site Area = 9,090.9 sqm
Plot Ratio = 13
Max GFA = 118,182 sqm (approx 1,271,959sqf )
Saleable GFA = 1,017,567sqf (assuming the Saleable GFA is 80% of Max GFA)

Therefore, equivalent to S$579 psf for just land and construction cost!

did i calculate/assume wrongly? :?

Can you elaborate on your result ?
How does it compare to business' standards ?

I dun think there is a similar 99-year city reseidential project to compare to in Singapore... The nearest is probably Icon.

Construction Cost = S$90,100,000
Land Cost = S$125,280,000
Site Area = 6,566.6 sqm
Plot Ratio = 8.4
Max GFA = 55,159.44 sqm (approx 593,665sqf)
Saleable GFA = 474,932 sqf (assuming the Saleable GFA is 80% of Max GFA)

Therefore, equivalent to S$454 psf for just land and construction cost (over saleable GFA, similar for The calculations above) for Icon.

Hmmm... if the figures are correct and assuming both The Sail@Marina and Icon is fully sold, the profit of The Sail@Marina is much, much higher than that of Icon given the average cost of The Sail@Marina units is S$1,000psf while Icon is S$650psf.

Still, not fair to compare the 2... The Sail@Marina is unique. :)

215m, so thats the height of the other block..thats ALMOST as tall as Millenia Tower, 218m :cool:

How tall are those 40 ones at TP?
Like 110m or so?:?:?:?

I think 114m tall only

I dun think there is a similar 99-year city reseidential project to compare to in Singapore... The nearest is probably Icon.

Construction Cost = S$90,100,000
Land Cost = S$125,280,000
Site Area = 6,566.6 sqm
Plot Ratio = 8.4
Max GFA = 55,159.44 sqm (approx 593,665sqf)
Saleable GFA = 474,932 sqf (assuming the Saleable GFA is 80% of Max GFA)

Therefore, equivalent to S$454 psf for just land and construction cost (over saleable GFA, similar for The calculations above) for Icon.

Hmmm... if the figures are correct and assuming both The Sail@Marina and Icon is fully sold, the profit of The Sail@Marina is much, much higher than that of Icon given the average cost of The Sail@Marina units is S$1,000psf while Icon is S$650psf.

Still, not fair to compare the 2... The Sail@Marina is unique. :)

How do you get the max GFA figure ?
Is it official-imposed one ? Or do you get it from the floor areas ?
If second choice, I believe the saleable GFA for the Sail must be less than Icon compared to the max GFA. The Sail has to cope with much more height, so more space is needed for the lift cores, staircases and such...

How do you get the max GFA figure ?
Is it official-imposed one ? Or do you get it from the floor areas ?
If second choice, I believe the saleable GFA for the Sail must be less than Icon compared to the max GFA. The Sail has to cope with much more height, so more space is needed for the lift cores, staircases and such...

max GFA = site area x plot ratio. :)

The developer can only build up to the max GFA including non-saleable areas like common areas, carparks... etc

hmmm... so, the saleable GFA ratio is lower?

Oh I see ^^
So they're likely to build up to the max allowed GFA :-)

Well, I believe that the floor plates of the Icon will be more efficient as it's not so tall and also they have more space to expand horizontally... It would be interesting to compare floor plans ;-)

One more photo of the site.
Thinking about it, I believe they must be using those machines to take "carots" of the ground and test it.

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/ssc/050204_sail01.jpg

"carots" ?

Not sure how they are called in english, but that's the word used in french ;-)
That's when you drill in the ground for a few dozens meters, and bring back the cylinder of ground to the surface to make analysis on it. This cylinder is the carrot ;-)

23 February 2005

http://img222.exs.cx/img222/2948/sail23026ru.jpg

Not much yet... :(

yah..and I wasnt expecting them to cover that hole seen previously..I wonder whats going on -_-

23 February 2005

http://img222.exs.cx/img222/2948/sail23026ru.jpg
Wonder what's up with that hole...

Under the site is the MRT tunnel. Maybe they tested its stability or its cover???

The Sail Construction (26/2/05):

http://img213.exs.cx/img213/6007/pic0007515ud.jpg

The foundation works appear very slow. A visit on saturday showed no new activity. The ground had instead been flattened. Its almost March now.
Saw a few couples at the show flat : interestingly, non locals. A few angmor guys with ? local char bors.
Anyway i think 1 Raffles Quay appear terribly closeby.

7th March 2005

materials have moved onto the site

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/1339/sail07033wi.jpg

Hmm...........
Oh, is that former pier now the showroom?

Not sure how they are called in english, but that's the word used in french ;-)
That's when you drill in the ground for a few dozens meters, and bring back the cylinder of ground to the surface to make analysis on it. This cylinder is the carrot ;-)

:rofl:

Interesting!

perhaps they are keeping up with singapore's tradition of digging roads and filling them up, and digging them up again to insert new cables etc instead of proper planning and completing them at one go..

Perhaps the first stage is to dig the hole for some MRT related ducts.. they finish their job, then close up the hole, so that the piling and cable guys need to dig up the hole again...

^

I wonder what those blocks are for. I've seen those on other sites before.

but i can see them working on a lot of the underground infrastructure for the new downtown

Building Common Services Tunnel (term used at URA Exhibition) at new Downtown probably.

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/singapore-property-pictures/condo/the-sail-at-marina-bay.htm
How come the unit size info here is different from what CNA gave? :? :? :?

We need an update now.....

28 March 2005

http://img100.exs.cx/img100/7361/sail28038ir.jpg

interestingly, non locals. A few angmor guys with ? local char bors.


funny... i went with an ang moh guy also. (but i'm not a char bor)

you're the one that bought a unit at the sail? how do you feel about living with predominantly foreign neighbours?

funny... i went with an ang moh guy also. (but i'm not a char bor)

you're the one that bought a unit at the sail? how do you feel about living with predominantly foreign neighbours?

Who are you talking to?! Who bought a unit at the sail????

whatever the case, as long as you buy the Singapore floors(which are only released here) you will have local neighbours.:)

oooops... i was referring to asciano... better go edit my post now.

Angmors actually make good neighbours, tho cant quite bear the sight of the clingey local charbors. Anyway I m truly anti-social - make no conversation, do not allow any opportunity to interact with my neighbours ie leave me alone

Hahaha...wats happening here?

same here - i have no interest whatsoever in my neighbours. soem are disgusting, some are nice - the steward and stewardess couple next door give me ben & jerry's and haagen dazs ice cream :)

This photo was take on 17 Mar 2005.

http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/pict0064.jpg

^

I wonder what those blocks are for. I've seen those on other sites before.

but i can see them working on a lot of the underground infrastructure for the new downtown

Those blocks are for load test done for all high rise construction project.

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/singapore-property-pictures/condo/the-sail-at-marina-bay.htm
How come the unit size info here is different from what CNA gave? :? :? :?

Is this link reliable?
Any comments?


Those blocks sure are stacked up high... :eek:
For how long would they be placed there?

Those blocks are for load test done for all high rise construction project.

Thank you for the info ^^

yes thats interesting! Probably explains the unusually high number of blocks seen in this project!

15 April 2005

dont see the blocks on the site anymore

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3513/sail15044wu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And now can see the concrete factory in the centre :-)

oh so thats what those green cylinders are for huh^^

Can't tell you what they are used for exactly, but they're part of it yes :-)

RC, where you took those from?! :eek:

UIC Building.

Heres the overview of the area:

http://tinypic.com/4trosg

http://www.streats.com.sg/article/data/images/mh041112a.jpg

http://www.streats.com.sg/article/data/images/mh041001a.jpg

http://www.cdl.com.sg/cdl2.nsf/imageFiles/marinamagic@@images@@The_Sail_Site_Map.jpg/$FILE/marinamagic@@images@@The_Sail_Site_Map.jpg

just wondering, where's the new casino gonna be relative to the sail on the map you just posted?

hi and welcome to the forum :cool:

The Casino is on the part called "Bayfront Promontory" I think

Hi everyone...

I guess the project should be totally, or almost totally, sold out by now in view of the IR announcement.

Anyone knows what the current p.s.f. sub-sale prices of the units are now?

thanks!

i hear tower 1 is 98% sold out, and that the sail is so hot tower 2 is going for 20% higher than tower 1 prices, even though it is the shorter building!

Yes, the project is not sold out as all of the units hasn't been released yet.

Btw, even if it solds out, you can still go to OSIM and buy some stuff, every $300 you spend in their shops will give you a chance to win a unit at the Sail ;-) I saw that at Takashimaya S.C.

thanks!

i hear tower 1 is 98% sold out, and that the sail is so hot tower 2 is going for 20% higher than tower 1 prices, even though it is the shorter building!

Wow! Where did you hear that tower 2 is going for 20% higher? That's a very steep appreciation.

I heard only about 10% higher...

Btw, even if it solds out, you can still go to OSIM and buy some stuff, every $300 you spend in their shops will give you a chance to win a unit at the Sail ;-) I saw that at Takashimaya S.C.
Haha...saw the ad on tv. Man...so now we know who bought those apartments. :D

27 April 2005

http://tinypic.com/4r734l

06 May 2005

The Sail@Marina Bay built to withstand earthquakes
By Chua Chin Chye, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : City Developments' The Sail@Marina Bay project will have one of Asia's tallest buildings, but the residential project could also be one of the safest: it is built to withstand even earthquakes.

The Sail@Marina Bay will have two towers, with the taller one standing at 245 metres.

Engineering design consultants involved in the project claim this is Singapore's only residential project designed to withstand earthquakes.

But why spend so much money on doing that, when Singapore is not even in an earthquake zone?

Said Alfred Yee, president of Applied Technology Corporation, "When you have anything that high, you don't want to think that an unpredictable first-time event will cause a catastrophe -- all the lives, all the damage that goes with it. But I want to be sure that if it did happen, we at least are prepared for it."

S Nasim, managing director of Meinhardt Singapore, said, "All the safety measures are state-of-the-art, and currently available technology has been built into this building. The whole idea was really, trying to secure the peace of mind for the purchasers."

The idea to invest in the additional safety features came from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US.

Experts drew lessons from the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, where poorly protected lift shafts and stair shafts gave way, resulting in tragedy.

Mr Yee said, "In the project here at the Sail, we have got reinforced concrete walls for all the lifts, all the stair shafts. It will take a lot of explosive power to break through those. It is unlikely to have any damage, even in an explosion. So people can get down without worry that they have their passage way blocked."

But observers say with proper planning, those extra features won't come at a significantly higher cost to buyers.

Channel NewsAsia understands that no other developer is currently considering such features for their developments. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Walan...what a claim. Its not the only building built to withstand earthquakes!

it says 'residential building'.

Yeah. As I thought ^^
40 storeys HDB blocks are designed to withstand "lateral movement", not earthquakes ^^

is there any showroom of the sail @ marina bay already?
where is it located?

is there any showroom of the sail @ marina bay already?
where is it located?
There was a launch in Jakarta quite some time ago what. ;)

the sail@marina bay showroom has been open for many many months.. not sure if its still open now. its behind the overseas union house.

the sail@marina bay showroom has been open for many many months.. not sure if its still open now. its behind the overseas union house.

I heard its closed, and the showflats are being prepared for the launch of Tower 2 in June ...

Yeah. As I thought ^^
40 storeys HDB blocks are designed to withstand "lateral movement", not earthquakes ^^

are they sort of the same? Just to different degrees.

19 May 2005

CityDev may keep one block of Sail@Marina to rent out
By Loh Kim Chin, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : City Developments has said it may rent out the second block of its waterfront Sail@Marina condominium project instead of selling the units.

This is because of the development's proximity to one of the two proposed integrated resorts in Singapore.

CityDev's chairman Kwek Leng Beng made the comment at a hotel industry function on Thursday.

He says that with an integrated resort nearby, there will be a strong demand for rental, with tenants wanting to be within walking distance.

CityDev is currently in talks to tie up with a resort operator for the integrated resort project.

Mr Kwek says CityDev will probably decide on a partner by September.

He also gave a bullish outlook on the property sector, saying that home prices in Singapore could rise as much as 30 percent in the next two to three years. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

They initially wanted to make central park tower rented out in the first place right?

If CDL confirm not selling Tower 2, then looks like sub-sale prices of Tower 1 will go up another notch... :runaway:

Anyone know what the current sub-sale prices are like now, for Tower 1?

I know that $900 psft is a thing of the past.:D

If only I knew! I would have bought the entire floor!!!!

But what bank would lend me ten million?

I know that $900 psft is a thing of the past.:D

If only I knew! I would have bought the entire floor!!!!

But what bank would lend me ten million?

Bank Of Sharks.......:D :jk:

hey I went to look at the site on Friday and I saw some interesting developments..they seem to be laying out the shape of the taller tower in concrete, like drawing the perimeter outline..will try to take a pic of that soon...I wonder whats going on :cool:

http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/pict0007.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/pict0010.jpg

This is taken yesterday, but didnt have a chance to get to higher ground.

But seems like the concrete blocks are back at the site just right behind the ORQ. Judging by the numerous red cylindrical containers at the site(cement factory, shd be la ), construction shd be starting soon!

Strange why the concrete blocks were removed and reappeared :eek:

Maybe they want to be on the safe side after some test that dont show up the expected result. Afterall its reclaimed land.

Hmmmm...concrete blocks should be gone by now, the construction site ouside my house already had their blocks moved, and now they are working on the foundations.

The blocks are there again, but moved into the far right corner of the site in the pic below

25 May 2005

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/1664/sail25053hb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

wonder what theyre doing

http://tinypic.com/5dl2kx

They are performing another load test on a pile and the are building the guide wall for the future diaphragm wall which will ensure the area during the excavation.

hi binouz. welcome to the forums! :D

Welcome to the forums!!

Pass by the site today, the block has been moved to the left side of the site. But no significant change from the last update. But the road leading ORQ between 1 Marina Boulevard and ORQ has been completed, already paved. Work has resumed on ORQ.

yes, the road is getting readied...also they seemed to have concreted over that part where the Marina Bay Tower is, and I saw lots of concrete blocks again.

The picture looks so much bigger than 245m...........such a shame

Jason, how do u mean?

Not much progress from the last update, the blocks are still there. Picture taken 11 Jun 2005.
http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/tsm1.jpg
Bache Soletanche is doing the perimeter wall.
http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/tsm2.jpg
But a lot of materials are on site, once the blocks are gone then we will see some action.
http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/tsm3.jpg

What are those tall red cylinders for? I saw those on Circle Line - Farrer station site as well. Cement mixer/container? green cylinders are for?

not sure about the cylinders..but thats a lot of blocks!

I wonder if theyre going to do much digging inside the perimeter walls, because I recall a hole down there from a few months ago.

The last of the blocks are almost gone now, picture take on 18 June 05. The perimeter wall still in progress.

http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/tsm4.jpg

build quicker! :)

wadz the estimate date for completion?

TOP is 31 dec 2009, or 2010 lor.

23 June 2005

http://tinypic.com/68zqs4.jpg

Can go up One Raffles Quay? hmmm... so fast.

Hope to see Sail@Marina start building the floors soon.

no that was from NTUC Centre (Raffles Quay can be spotted very closeby though) :D

Have this been posted bfore?

http://www.nbbj.com/images/main/marinabay_02.jpg

http://www.nbbj.com/images/main/marinabay_03.jpg

http://www.nbbj.com/images/main/marinabay_01.jpg

Some...but some others I have never seen before in my entire life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its really slim for its height!

hope it turns out somewhat like the rendering :D

its the tallest building in sG from the image... so misleading... haha...

23 June 2005

http://tinypic.com/68zqs4.jpg

What's that wall thingy to the left?

according to binouz on post #96, it is

"the guide wall for the future diaphragm wall which will ensure the area during the excavation."

I got an unsolicited sms from some agent about Tower 2 The Sail, for preview soon.

Units start from $500K

That explains the activity at the showroom. The showflats for Tower One was making way for the showflat for Tower 2.


Sales start in July.

At long last, a webpage for The Sail@Marina Bay

http://www.thesail.com.sg

20 July 2005

http://tinypic.com/99nqmq.jpg

Wow....something not often sees around!, The Titan Pilling Crain on left !! :okay:

it sounds exciting :D

what exactly is a Titan Piling crane though? :P

It's bigger than Normal Crain, normally to make a Pile-hole for the Super Column :)

Wow, I'm hugely impressed by the amount of regular updates in the Singapore forum! Keep it up guys! :okay:

I should be heading to Singapore soon too, so I might check out some of these sights and post my own updates too :D

Wow, I'm hugely impressed by the amount of regular updates in the Singapore forum! Keep it up guys! :okay:

I should be heading to Singapore soon too, so I might check out some of these sights and post my own updates too :D

will you be in singapore for work?

^nope, just for my holiday for a couple of weeks with family :D
I'm so excited! It's my 2nd visit btw, last time was 2001, so I hope to see lots of changes :D

You interested for a meetup?

Some of us could take you around to the lesser-known areas of Singapore! :D

Not much can be seem. The perimeter wall construction still in progress, they are putting in the steel reinforcement for forming the wall.

File too big, I have taken it out, sorry!

You interested for a meetup?

Some of us could take you around to the lesser-known areas of Singapore! :D

Thanks for the offer, but I don't think my family would approve of me organising a meetup online without informing them :D

Thank you very much though, it's good to know that Singaporeans are so kind :)

I'm leaving on Saturday, staying for a couple of weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to get some shots of construction areas such as this one :okay:

Still dredging on the perimeter wall going on, this will probably go on for quite some time. Picture take 13/08/05.

http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/tsm130805.jpg

thanks for the update...do you know what that 'rectangular mould' at the bottom left of the pic is for?

I saw the Bachy crane hoisting the huge metal claw and inserting it into the mould opening. That's the dredging part, when it is hoisted out of the hole, they will empty the soil/whatever got digged out from there onto the dump truck. But seems like most of it are soft grey stuff. I think after they have dug to a certain depth, they will put in the steel reinforcement bar and start pouring in the cement to form a wall.

This is my deduction, it might not be correct.

Yup, my new school building was built this way. When the oncrete cylinder is drawn up, it feels like an earthquake... :runaway:

Ground level view, w/signpost :D 25/08

Click to enlarge

http://img24.imagevenue.com/loc201/th_142_Sail@MarinaBay_1.jpg (http://img24.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc201&image=142_Sail@MarinaBay_1.jpg)

i know this is a bit off-topic, but does anyone know the song on the official TheSail webpage when the flash intro is played. thanks.

yay! I cant wait for this building to build up. OMG!! When can i see at least a few storeys protruding from the ground???? tht will be a long way i guess eh guys?

I doubt it will start to rise before the end of next year.
Foundation works took a long while for ORQ too. This area is reclaimed land, so the piles have to go very deep and there's a lot of dewatering job involved for digging the hole, from what I read.

A peep at the construction progress - 24 Sep 2005

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3395/p10207494hw.jpg

erm..that isnt the Sail construction site I'm afraid, but some infrastructural works for the new downtown.

hmmm... how? Can you remove the post in world forum then? :)

nvm then...maybe later...or you can always edit it to explain the construction that will be taking place around the Sail for the next few years :cool:

they're launching the second tower soon.. wonder if the specifications (like appliances provided and flooring balrblar) will be different

26 Sep 2005
What's happening? It's so slow.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6324/p10302709mk.jpg

yup...seems like so much activity...and those boulders seem to keep appearing and disappearing from the site.

I wonder whats the grey structure on the bottom right of your pic...it wasnt around on my last update...

I think I see the moulds for the core? :?

Soft launch for Tower 2 will be this Friday.

Wonder what the prices will be like...?... :)

Soft launch for Tower 2 will be this Friday.

Wonder what the prices will be like...?... :)

S$999 (Nine Hundreds Ninety Nine Only)- businessman's typical tactic: still cheap, below $1,000 dollars :tongue2:

:tiasd:

Charging Bull, are you buying? ;D

Asciano would be very happy if the selling price is >$1k psf for Tower 2. ;)

hmmm... thought I read somewhere that CDL is not selling Tower 2 but to market them as service apartments? :dunno:

Not buying, too expensive for a salarised worker like me.
99 years lease hold is too short for me, expect to live until 120 years old :hahaha:

omg... 120 years old... what is left of you then? I wouldn't want to live till that age. 80 years old is max I hope... :p

Not buying, too expensive for a salarised worker like me.
99 years lease hold is too short for me, expect to live until 120 years old :hahaha:


if u live to 120

guess u will be inside Guiness Book of Record

for the World's Oldest man :D

City Developments to soft launch The Sail@Marina 2

6 Oct 05

By Thomas Cho, Channel NewsAsia





SINGAPORE : City Developments will have a soft launch for the keenly-awaited The Sail@Marina Tower 2 on Friday.

In a move which reflects the strong demand for high-end residential property in Singapore, City Dev is pricing the Tower 2 units at an average of S$1,080 per square foot.

This is significantly higher than the average of S$930-$950 per square foot for units in Tower 1.

City Dev was originally intending to keep Tower 2 for investment.

But due to overwhelming interest from local and overseas buyers for the Tower 1 project, the developer decided to sell the units instead.

Some 430 units will be on offer for Tower 2.

The Sail@Marina, said to be one of the world's ten tallest residences, is located next the new Business and Financial Centre and the proposed integrated resort site.

Some 40 percent of units sold in Tower 1 were snapped up by foreigners.

How come my reply to RC's post came BEFORE it?! :eek2:

^^^Going tomorrow

anyway, the floors 40 and above are already sold out.:)

psst. Tower 2 is a Terrible terrible buy, it faces other buildings, availiable only below 40th floor, non freehold, more expensive than marina bay tower. But imo, is still better than some of the newton condos going at similar price.

Anyone knows what will the BFC be? Office or residential?

Imagine during the day, the office workers at Raffles Quay (the road) can see into your home! :eek:

Anyone knows what will the BFC be? Office or residential?

Largely office, but likely to have a residential component too.

Tower 2 apparently overlooks a small park with the BFC opposite it.

The quality of life in tower 2 will depend on BFC right now, it can be a huge tower that will block all light from entering the units, or a nice open concept that allows sea views.:D

No more speculations. I will make a visit tomorrow ( cant attend the soft launch - salaried worker ) and file my report.

Exactly to a year, Tower 2 is being launched
- and what a price difference, as a result of such exciting changes in that surrounding environs! Only in Singapore!

滨海舫售价
　　一年内飙升20%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


● 吴慧敏

　　城市发展的滨海舫(The Sail @ Marina Bay)共管公寓，售价在短短一年内飙升了20%。

　　高63层的滨海舫第二栋大楼，将在本周末以每平方英尺平均1080元开始预售。城市发展发言人说：“在这个预售活动中，先到的买家将享有每平方英尺平均1080元的特别优惠价，不过这只保留给有限单位。”

　　滨海舫第二大楼会抬高价格，可以说已是意料中事。早在新市区商业城地段在三个月前，由长江实业等财团以高价买下后，城市发展就不讳言，它可能以更高的价格来发售滨海舫的第二期单位。

　　这是因为整个新市区只有滨海舫和商业城两个项目会兴建住宅单位，但商业城中的共管公寓，成本必定在每平方英尺1000元以上。这意味，发展商至少会将共管公寓的售价订在每平方英尺1100元。

　　滨海舫第二大楼即使将价格抬高到每平方英尺1080元，单单是价格上，也已经足以竞争。

升涛湾也红火

　　此外，上个周末卖得红红火火的升涛湾濒水共管公寓——The Azure，售价也已经被推高到每平方英尺1000元以上。

　　这个由先得坊产业发展的共管公寓，原本以每平方英尺950元推出，比去年底以每平方英尺平均850元推出的第一个升涛湾共管公寓——泊宁轩(The Berth)高出了12%。结果，还没有正式推出，就吸引了长长的人龙，火速卖出九成的单位。

　　市场人士相信，滨海舫和升涛湾共管公寓的售价能够在过去一年来节节攀升10至20%，跟“综合度假胜地效应”(IR)有关。

　　一般相信，综合度假胜地将开创新的工作机会，吸引更多外籍专业人才在这里工作。这将刺激周边公寓的需求，带动屋价和租金上涨。

　　滨海舫预计在2009年完工，与综合度假胜地一样。去年10月底推出的滨海舫第一栋大楼，原本以每平方英尺900元推出，但由于销售反应热烈，后来逐渐调高至每平方英尺950元。

　　滨海舫第一大楼已卖出99%的单位。这栋70层高楼总共拥有681个单位。滨海舫第二大楼共有430个单位，城市发展计划在本周末先推出100个单位

The Sail Tower Two launching at $1,080 per sq ft - Business Times p10

The wildly popular The Sail @ Marina Bay will be soft-launched this weekend to invited guests. After this weekend, prices are expected to shoot up further reaching $1,200 psf.

Singapore puts its wind behind The Sail
By Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop International Herald Tribune

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2005


SINGAPORE Envisioned as the "signature image" of Singapore's 21th-century landscape, Marina Bay is being talked about as the central feature of efforts to transform the city-state into a global city.

The development of reclaimed land next to the central business district will incorporate an integrated resort and casino, residential property, a business and finance center and three waterfront gardens. "Our vision for Marina Bay is that of a 24/7 live-work-play environment that epitomizes the global city we envisage Singapore to be," said Mah Bow Tan, minister for national development.

One of the first buildings to be completed will be the luxury residential complex The Sail @ Marina Bay. The two glass-clad towers resembling sails catching the wind is the vision of the American architect Peter Pran.

The first of the structures, the 70-story Marina Bay Tower, will soar to 245 meters, or 800 feet, as the tallest residential building in Singapore and, developers say, the 10th-tallest in the world. It will be complemented by the 63-story Central Park Tower, with the entire development to be complete in 2009, around the same time as the casino-resort.

"The design represents a new international vision for Singapore; an innovative building design not seen before, redefining the city. A building that comes to mind when people think of Singapore," explained Pran, noting that his design echoes the nearby waterfront scene. The authorities are building a barrage across the mouth of the Marina channel, so the basin will become an inland reservoir free of tidal fluctuations, making it ideal for large water events.

Beyond its aesthetics, what makes this property hot is its central location, said Peter Ow, executive director of residential properties at Knight Frank real estate agency. Also, "most of the units are of a smaller size, one or two bedrooms, and this kind of development will appeal very much to expatriates, singles and young couples, who want to live in the city. Owners should get a good rental," Ow noted.

Buyers have snapped up all but a couple of the 681 units in the Marina Bay Tower. Prices ranged from 530,000 Singapore dollars, or $313,000, for a one-bedroom unit to 5.25 million Singapore dollars for a penthouse, with an average price of 930 to 950 Singapore dollars per square foot. About 40 percent of the buyers were foreigners; one floor sold for 9.4 million Singapore dollars to British investors.

Chia Ngiang Hong, group general manager at City Developments Limited, said the company was surprised how quickly the Marina tower sold and may begin sales on the 450-unit second tower earlier than planned. "We're filtering a lot of inquiries and we already have over 200 people on a waiting list," Chia said.

More than 60 percent of the apartments will have panoramic views of the small bay and the Esplanade Theater on its far side. From the upper floors the views will reach to Malaysia and Indonesia. Also, the complex will have direct access to the Raffles Place subway station and extras like an executive club with dining.

Neil Palmer bought two three-bedroom units, one for himself and one as an investment. "I'm even more confident today than when I bought them. I had an idea the government was considering an integrated resort next door, but now it has been confirmed this should add further value to the property," the senior executive at Starwood Hotels and Resorts said, pointing out that some units already resold at higher prices.

Chia confirmed that some sellers have gotten a 15 percent profit on their original price.

"For me it's all about lifestyle," Palmer said. "I'm fairly outgoing, I like to go out and about and be fairly central. This location is really at the heart of things, and I don't mind having to wait until 2009. Developments like this one are rare and worth waiting for."

Oct 8, 2005
Buying frenzy at Sail's soft launch

By Joyce Teo
Property Correspondent

CALL it the Sail of the Century. But in scenes like the property fever that gripped Singapore nearly a decade ago, some would-be buyers queued overnight to snap up units in the country's hottest condominium, The Sail @ Marina Bay.

The 100 apartments for sale at the invitation-only launch sold out completely within half an hour of a crowd of 1,000 pouring through the doors of the showflat at 9am.

Prices ranged from around $600,000 to as much as $8.8 million for the sole penthouse.

That averages out to about $1,080 on a per sq ft (psf) basis, making the iconic residential building one of the most expensive 99-year leasehold developments here.

A further 100 units were put up for sale quickly - at higher prices - and these were gone, too, by just 10am.

The developers then put even more units up for sale, and as at 6pm yesterday, out of the total of 270 units on offer, 250 had been sold.

Some buyers bought whole floors of the development, which will be Singapore's tallest residential project when completed in 2008-2009.

It consists of two towers, the first of which hit the market last year.

Three unnamed Singaporean businessmen yesterday each bought one floor, containing seven units.

And a Moscow-based Singapore businessman, Dr Sudhir Gupta, flew to Singapore in person to splash out on three floors plus the 5,834 sq ft penthouse on the 63rd floor of the 430-unit second tower.

Dr Gupta, the chairman of Amtel Group, one of Russia's major tyre-makers, paid $8.8 million, or $1,508 psf, for the penthouse, and an average of $1,150 psf for the three floors.

It was the second time in just over a week that buyers queued for a condo's invitation-only launch. They had also thronged another 99-year leasehold waterfront project, The Azure at Sentosa Cove.

The strong response for both projects shows the market is picking up finally, say analysts - though not across the board yet, they caution.

The Sail and The Azure are high-end projects offering a desirable waterfront living lifestyle that is new to Singapore, they point out.

Positive sentiment is starting to filter down to the mid-end market ($600 to $800 psf), said Savills Singapore managing director Michael Ng.

But the upgraders' market, which forms the backbone of the private residential market, is still generally weak, analysts said.

joyceteo@sph.com.sg

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved

Boom or Doom?

高档住宅市场出现“炒气”
　　The Azure及滨海舫第一大楼等都有人要转售

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


　　高档住宅市场开始出现“炒气”；卖得红红火火的升涛湾濒水共管公寓——The Azure、滨海舫第一大楼，以及泊宁轩（The Berth），开始出现转售单位，而且叫价比发展商原来的卖价抬高8％至25％不等。

　　单单是昨天的分类广告，这三个项目就有十多个单位求售。

　　上个周末以每平方英尺930元至950元预售的The Azure，在正式推出前就火速卖出九成单位，现在发展商将剩余几个单位的价格调高至每平方英尺1100元。

　　本报昨天联络的房地产经纪透露，目前The Azure的转售市场，叫价已经抬高到每平方英尺1200元左右。一间五楼、楼面约1700平方英尺的三卧房式单位，如果成功以200万元成交，买家转一转手，应该会有15万元，也就是8％的利润入袋。

回报非常可观

　　以短短一个星期的持守时间来说，这名买家的回报非常可观。

　　去年底就进场的滨海舫第一大楼买家，持守一年的利润，大约是20％。这个70层楼高的共管公寓在去年10月以每平方英尺900元开始预售，后来逐渐调高至每平方英尺950元。昨天，滨海舫第二大楼以每平方英尺1080元开始预售，价格抬高了20％，连带转售市场也水涨船高。

　　今年初，一些滨海舫第一大楼的高楼单位，只是以大约每平方英尺1250元转手。但目前，一些高楼的海景单位叫价已经抬高到每平方英尺1400元了。

　　一名房地产经纪说：“这不稀奇。其实现在滨海舫第二大楼的高楼单位都卖到每平方英尺1300多元了。”

　　久违了的“炒气”，为什么又再重出江湖？

　　仲量联行研究部主管冯之玮认为，一方面是新加坡正大兴土木，政商界将投入大量人力物力来改变圣淘沙岛、滨海湾，以及乌节路等地区的面貌，这预料将带动这些地区的房地产价格上升。

　　另一个可能性是，买家相信附近的共管公寓可能以更高的价钱推出，带动自己的共管公寓价格攀升。

　　以滨海舫来说，整个新市区只有商业城（BFC）会有新的共管公寓供应。但由于长江实业等财团所出的价格非常高，建起来的共管公寓成本已经至少1000元了。

　　冯之玮说：“现在买滨海舫的人，可能等到商业城推出，就可以脱手了。我听说，这个项目的共管公寓售价可能要以每平方英尺1200元至1300元推出。”

　　“现在买The Azure的人，则是等城市发展的‘迷你滨海舫’共管公寓登场。”

　　据了解，市场目前有谣言说，这个项目会在明年第二季推出，而城市发展瞄准的范围是每平方英尺1300元至1500元。

　　城市发展的“迷你滨海舫”是由南非太阳城、巴哈马Atlantis和拉斯维加斯Venetian City的同一建筑公司设计的。城市发展在今年中的升涛湾招标活动中，以这个独特的设计，赢得这个地标性地段的发展权。

　　冯之玮认为，现在市场上虽然出现了一些“炒气”，不过整个规模跟1996年的情况还相差十万八千里。

“市场尚未完全复苏”

　　“市场还没有完全复苏，现在就讲泡沫未免言之过早。”

　　她认为，每一个市场都难免会有一些炒卖活动。“有炒家进场在一定程度上会带动市场信心，现在中低档市场就是缺乏信心，如果可以由高档市场带动，应该不错，但当然要看炒卖到什么样的程度。”

　　不过，一名要求身份不要见报的国际证券行分析员却对这种情况表示担忧。“如果全部都只是想卖、想租，到时候整千个单位到底找谁去住？”

Boom or Doom?

　　不过，一名要求身份不要见报的国际证券行分析员却对这种情况表示担忧。“如果全部都只是想卖、想租，到时候整千个单位到底找谁去住？”

If it's this, it's doom. But, those who bought sail@marina should have holding power.

Went yesterday, and there was a queue even to the payment counter!!!

I have also never seen so many cheques in one place before, practically every table was a customer either waiting for his agent to pay or signing a new one.

gosh!

^ Wah so rich.....:eek:

Exactly!! I can't imagine parting with your cash just like that, better start saving.:D

Tower 2 bayview units now going for $1,400 psf and looks like going up some more... :eek2:

I hope this spurs more highrise residential developments around the Bay! :happy:

Tower 2 bayview units now going for $1,400 psf and looks like going up some more... :eek2:


End result: Buy HIGH sell low

I could not get a straight answer - were all units sold except for the remaining few, or were all launched units sold?

Whatever it was the agents were smug and pleased, especially when they regaled me with tales of 'people buying entire floors'

Best units were the 3 and 4 room with L facade which faced the bay and BFC/park

Most of the few remaining units were at level 6 and 7


Site view, construction reveals a depression

Saw the floor plans. The layouts for the 3 and 4 bedroom units are much better for Tower 1 than for Tower 2... :sleepy:

The sold ones are those that were launched, the tower has 600 odd units, while those sold were only 250+.

I have a feeling they are going to launch again when the buyers start to sell, and pin the new price accordingly.

No, Tower 2 has only 430 units

Oh oh, okay.:)
total 1111 right?

Last I heard, almost all the 430 units in Tower 2 all sold.

Left only the dregs... :runaway:

Can someone please teach me how to upload pictures/photos with my posting?

1) upload your pic to any image hosting site e.g. http://imageshack.us
2) copy the full url of the uploaded pic and paste it within <Your Pic URL here> tags here.

http://sg.yimg.com/i/sg/providers/reuters.gif

October 10 2005
Singapore's CityDev says close to project sellout

SINGAPORE, Oct 10 (Reuters) - City Developments Ltd. , Southeast Asia's second-largest property group, said on Monday it would likely cancel the public launch of its Singapore waterfront residential project after selling nearly all the apartments in early private sales.

The developer and its joint venture partner, AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., sold 400 units out of the 430 in the second phase of its luxury The Sail@Marina Bay development, less than three days after some prospective buyers were invited to sale.

The first 100 units were sold at a price of S$1,080 per square foot.

"Thirty percent of the buyers are foreigners, mostly from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and India. Many buyers were also keen to buy entire floors of 63-storey Tower Two and over 30 floors have since been sold en-bloc," CityDev said in a statement.

Singapore real estate is experiencing a resurgence after the government in July eased rules on property financing and foreign ownership.

Fuelled by foreign demand for high-end luxury residences in prime districts, private home prices saw their largest quarterly increase in five years between July and September.

Copyright © 2005Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

Speculation makes comeback in high-end property market

11 Oct 05

Business is brisk in the secondary market as buyers cash in on rising prices of new properties

By ARTHUR SIM
AND ALEXANDRA HO


(SINGAPORE) Property speculators are back in the market after a long absence, driving up prices at new high-end residential developments - even buying up whole floors.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-10-11/aasail11-232941.jpg

And business has been brisk in the secondary market of well-received developments such as the 99-year leasehold The Sail @ Marina Bay. An analysis of the caveats lodged - a key step in buying a property - for the first tower of The Sail showed that nearly five per cent, or 23 units, of the 496 units registered had changed hands two or three times.

The profits gained each time the units were sold ranged from just under 10 per cent to about 23 per cent. In one of the most profitable transactions, a 1,033 sq ft unit on one of the mid-level floors was originally purchased at $969,320 in November 2004. When it was sold in July 2005, it went for $1.19 million, or a cool profit of over $220,000.

Another unit changed hands three times, with the price shooting up 29.1 per cent overall. The 936 sq ft unit, also on a mid-level was $906,030 in November 2004. When it was sold this June, the price had risen by 14.8 per cent to $1.04 million. Upon its sale a third time in August, the price rose another 12.5 per cent, hitting $1.17 million.

In terms of dollars per square foot, prices for most of these units averaged $950-960, although a check with the classified advertisements in The Straits Times shows that owners' asking price for units at Tower One were $1,100 to $1,500.

Some buyers have also been cashing in on the success of another 99-year leasehold seafront development, Centrepoint Properties' The Azure at Sentosa Cove.

Property agents told BT that a number of buyers purchased eight to ten units en-bloc during The Azure's recent soft launch at average prices of $950 psf, and those buyers are now seeking about $1,200 psf for the very same units.

It may be too early to say if the pick up in the secondary market is being driven by speculators, but the over-heated response to The Sail has already prompted some buyers of the recently launched Tower Two to sell their units for a quick profit.

Property speculators are prevented by law from selling newly purchased units before the completion of the Sales and Purchase Agreement (S&P) - a practice known as 'flipping' - but a quick check with property consultants revealed that this is easily circumvented by 'private treaties' between buyer and seller.

According to the Housing Developers Rules, set out by the Controller of Housing, options granted by the housing developer are not 'assignable or transferable' either.

Still, if prices for high-end developments continue to rise, speculation on the secondary market could be too attractive for some to resist.

As for the primary market, The Sail's Tower Two, the City Developments and AIG Global Real Estate project launched last Friday sold more than 400 of the 430 available units by yesterday. Up to 15 floors, each with seven units, were bought by individual buyers at $8 million to $9 million each.

The first batch of 100 units at an average price of $1,080 psf were sold out almost immediately. As more units were released, CityDev says the average prices were increased by up to 10 per cent and ranged between $1,200 and $1,500 psf. BT understands that prices of some of the units on the higher floors even went as high as $1,700 psf.

CityDev estimates that over 2,000 visitors thronged the show suites, with 30 per cent of the buyers being foreigners, mostly from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan or India.

Property market watchers anticipate that the overwhelming success of The Sail will led to higher prices for future residential developments in the vicinity, such as those in the Business and Financial Centre and Marina Bay.

The last phase of Wheelock Properties' The Seaview, over on the eastern part of the island, also enjoyed good response with 45 per cent of the final 168 units sold over the weekend at an average price of $778 psf. This is up from the earlier launch price of $750 psf in June. Wheelock says that 25 per cent of the units at its other prime property, The Cosmopolitan, have been sold so far through the soft launch.

With the positive sentiment, developers like Keppel Land and WingTai Asia said they are on track to release their developments before the end of this year. Keppel's Park Infinia project off Newton Road and WingTai's Draycott 8 are scheduled for release by this quarter, as is another CityDev project, St Regis Residences at Tomlinson Road.

$1,700 psf...!!!... :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

Once the bubble bursts, we can get at 800 psqft!:happy:

That's good news!

Akan Datang-------------- Coming up soon------------------------------快 要 来

God Bless U, Speculators.


URA looking into property sales by speculators
Some buyers of high-end projects like Sail may be in breach of sub-sale rules


By ALEXANDRA HO
AND ARTHUR SIM

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(SINGAPORE) The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is looking into reports of speculators returning to the high-end property market, BT understands.



"There are individuals who are buying up the entire floor - what are they hoping to do? Move in their entire extended family?'

- Nicholas Mak, Knight Frank's director of research and consultancy




Figures of the rising number of speculative sales at recent launches reported in The Business Times yesterday have raised some concerns and it is understood that the Controller of Housing unit of URA is looking into the possibility of any impropriety.

URA has its own database of caveats lodged for property sales. Its Housing Developers Rules also stipulate that any sub-sale of property before the completion of the Sales And Purchase agreement is illegal.

Still, there seem to be ways around this and property consultants say that slowly but surely, the market is seeing the return of speculators.

'It is highly unlikely for an entire property to sell out in less than a week,' Knight Frank's director of research and consultancy Nicholas Mak says of the stunning success of The Sail @ Marina Bay and The Azure at Sentosa Cove.

'Then, there are individuals who are buying up the entire floor - what are they hoping to do? Move in their entire extended family? It's just not the usual pattern of home purchase.'





To some extent, speculation is what will eventually help drive up Singapore's lagging property prices, which have fallen far behind cities such as Hong Kong. So it's good news for developers.

Analysts reckon that at projected prices, Centrepoint's breakeven cost for The Azure could be about $670 per square foot and it could make a pre-tax profit of about $60 million, while joint venture partners City Developments and AIG Global Real Estate stand to reap a pre-tax profit of around $500 million for The Sail.

What nobody wants, however, is to go back to the runaway speculation of the mid-1990s.

Jones Lang LaSalle's national director (residential) Jacqueline Wong points out that the speculative actions of today are different from those in the last decade. 'Gone are the days before the anti-speculation measures in 1996, when you can experience an overnight gain of X amount of dollars.' But she also believes that buyers' speculative instincts are hard to contain. 'They do buy in the hope of what we call in local terms 'flipping',' Ms Wong said, referring to the practice of reselling a property almost immediately for a quick profit.

The difference today is that the action is not as broad-based as before, as it is so far concentrated on specific projects - niche and high-end markets.

CB Richard Ellis residential director Joseph Tan says he is reserving judgement on whether speculators are back. 'We will only know in the next month or two when we see what comes up in caveats, like how many units have turned around within a short time.'

Still, Mr Tan believes that should there be evidence of speculators coming out of the woodwork, Singaporeans would be in a better position to play the property market, due to what he calls 'homeground advantage'. 'Unless a foreigner is in town, or has suitable representatives here, it would be harder for them to react so quickly,' he explained.

JLL's Ms Wong says she sees more foreigners taking advantage of the stirring property market, again targeting high-quality projects in prime locations.

Evidence of buyers 'flipping' property is readily available, going by classified advertisements in The Straits Times. Buyers who manage to get the coveted units of The Sail's Tower Two, which started selling last Friday, are already trying to offload their purchases. It is a similar case with The Azure, which was sold two weekends ago.

While prices for Tower Two of The Sail are between $1,200 and $1,500 psf and reportedly up to $1,700 psf for units in the high floors, HongKong Land is taking a more conservative tack on the prices it is likely to charge for residential projects in the Business and Financial Centre (BFC).

HongKong Land's head of commercial property for South Asia, Robert Garman, thinks the $1,700 psf price is probably a spike for units like penthouses. A more realistic benchmark for the BFC, he says, would be $1,100 psf. Mr Garmen predicts that the price may increase to about $1,400 psf over five years.

HongKong Land is part of the consortium, along with Cheung Kong Holdings and Keppel Land, that won the tender for the BFC site.

Speculators are no fun. They degrade the project

I don't see why speculation should not be allowed for a handful of iconic high-end projects. It's fun to watch. :)

Its fun to watch them when the bubble bursts, hahaha....

I know its sadistic, but they are bad enough to do this to the extent of buying whole floors that the sincere people who want to actually stay there don't get a chance to buy their dream homes, and have no choice but to get 2nd hand at $1700.:nono:

13 October 2005

spot any changes?

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/1654/sail13109di.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

more of those blocks thingy :X
btw rc how do u always manage to get up to take the photos? :D

very carefully :happy:

however if its hard to get a shot from this view, you can also view the construction site from UOH at Clifford.

13 October 2005

spot any changes?

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/1654/sail13109di.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Definitely !!!

Look just below the green cement factory... There is a hole and in the hole is some kind of three axis concrete pillar (kinda reminds me of a very small Burj Dubai footprint ^^ ).
This could very well be the first bit of the Sail rising !!!
Anyone has some floor diagram of the building where we could see if this matches any part of the structure ?

Yah I wonder what the 3-axes concrete thing is. Is it a diaphgram wall or a support system?

I also see digging occuring where the podium is going to be, and on the extreme left of the pic. I think this project has 1 basement level.

Heres the 1st floor plan:

http://www.thesail.com.sg/floorplans/storeyplan.jpg

No clue what it is, looking at the floor plan... I think the diaphragm wall is finished already... Damnit, we need some insider info ;-)

The Sail worth splurging on?

16 Oct 05

Marina Bay condo costlier than landed homes but early-bird buyers see big returns

By Chua Kong Ho

PAWNSHOP owner Lam Thao Shiou took one look at the scale model of The Sail @ Marina Bay last November and bought a three-bedroom apartment on the 42nd floor, facing Marina Bay.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-10-16/16news.jpg

The 48-year-old owner of Teck Hing Pawnshop in Geylang paid $1.1 million or $946.50 per sq ft for his new home in Tower 1 of Singapore's most expensive 99-year leasehold development, which has 1,111 units.

And when apartments in the 63-storey Tower 2 were launched for sale two Fridays ago, eager buyers snapped up 200 units in one hour, paying $1,080 psf on average. Those who bought choice units on the higher floors reportedly paid $1,700 psf.

At those prices, they could have bought homes in prime, freehold projects such as Grange Residences, The Cosmopolitan and One Oxley Rise.

So is The Sail worth the money?

Yes, if you are an early-bird investor like Mr Lam. If he were to sell his unit at a conservative $1,100 psf today, he would make a cool $180,000 before fees and duties.

He could do better. Some owners are asking and getting $1,100 to $1,500 psf in the secondary market, according to agents The Sunday Times spoke to.

But some analysts say it is difficult to justify the prices.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-10-16/16anews.jpg

Mr Lee Tang Keat, associate director for auctions and sales at property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle, said: 'It's crazy. Most people are buying on a future hope that prices will go up later.'

They might be right. The condominium is in the heart of the new business and financial centre taking shape in Marina, and is across the proposed integrated resort. The condo and the resort are scheduled for completion around 2009, a year before the first offices in the centre are expected to be ready.

But consultants say that those who buy at higher prices in the later phases or on the secondary market may find it difficult to sell their units should foreign buyers flock to another 'hot' property market, such as India.

That is because there are only so many Singaporeans with the same sort of buying power.

But for the buyers, none of this matters.

Pawnshop owner Mr Lam told The Sunday Times: 'We're well aware that we can get something twice as big or freehold for that price.

'But we went in with our eyes open. It's difficult to find a place in the heart of the city with a nice view of the Esplanade.'

Madam Cheng Chih Hua, 54, who owns a construction company, bought a 65th-floor studio apartment in Tower 1 on the secondary market last month. At $1,200 psf, she is paying 26 per cent more than the original owner. But she still thinks it's a bargain because of the high floor and spectacular view.

'I'm expecting a big jump in property prices, because Singapore is just too far behind neighbouring markets like Hong Kong. It cannot go anywhere but up,' she said.

Other buyers obviously feel the same way. The buyers' list of The Sail reads like a who's who of Singapore's corporate and social scene.

There's 2G Capital co-founder Tommie Goh Thiam Poh, who spent $3.7 million on a 68th-storey unit in Tower 1.

A check on the caveats filed with the Singapore Land Authority shows that his neighbours include business partner Gay Chee Cheong, heart surgeon Leslie Lam, former Singapore Airlines senior executive vice-president Michael Tan Jiak Ngee and Mr Deepak Sharma, chief executive of Citigroup Global Wealth Management for Asia-Pacific and Middle East.

Other buyers include Hotel Phoenix general manager Noel Hawkes and his wife, Nancy. They bought two studio apartments, one in each tower because 'everyone was buying', Mrs Hawkes said.

Ms Teo Sway Heong, wife of Osim founder Ron Sim, bought three units in Tower 1, while British Chamber of Commerce president Jonathan Asherson bought one on the 41st storey.

Jones Lang LaSalle's Mr Lee said: 'These are the A-list people who got the choice of the best units. They're in the best position to make a lot of money if they exit within the next few years.'

S'pore tycoon snaps up 22 units - by phone

16 Oct 05

SINGAPORE businessman Sudhir Gupta spent $31 million scooping up three entire floors and the 63rd-storey penthouse of The Sail's Tower 2 last week - and he did it over the telephone from Moscow.

The tycoon, who made his fortune in Moscow and is chairman of major Russian tyre maker Amtel, told The Sunday Times that he was bullish about the Singapore property market, which he described as 'laggard' compared with regional markets like Hong Kong, Shanghai and Australia.

The New Delhi-born, Moscow-educated businessman paid $8.8 million, or $1,508 psf, for the penthouse, and an average of $1,150 psf for 21 units on three floors.

Dr Gupta said that he had been adding more Singapore property to his portfolio after his wife and daughter moved to Singapore in 2002 - following a failed assassination attempt on him in Moscow.

He was celebrating his 44th birthday in a restaurant when contract killers shot at his car and killed his driver.

'There's more upside to the Singapore market, especially in the very high end. There's always demand for properties at the top end,' he told The Sunday Times in a phone interview from Moscow.

His global property portfolio, estimated at between US$200 million and US$300 million, includes land and houses in Britain, Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. Singapore is the only South-east Asian country where he has bought property.

Next up on his radar screen: The St Regis Residences in Tomlinson Road by City Developments, which is widely expected to test the ultra-luxurious property market with prices upwards of $2,000 psf.

As for the 22 apartments at The Sail, he's undecided about what to do with them at this juncture. He may sell them, rent them out or maybe even give one floor each to his 23-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter.

Chua Kong Ho

hey guys, go marry his daughter :lol:

hey guys, go marry his daughter :lol:

Guy can also marry his son, why not? :hahaha:

I assume his son is straight. :)

Tower 1 will have a full view of the new Marina Bay floating platform...!... :applause:

Shocked sia.....
So many people buying units by bulk and even entire floors!!! :eek2:

Load test still going on at the moment, the stone are back again.

http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/img_0910.jpg

9 November 2005

excavating deep now

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/sail0911.jpg

whoa! Finally, seeing something different! :)

Looks peanut-shaped :D

and the blocks are gone too!

Given that there is 1 basement level, I wonder how deep down they will dig....

also, the peanut-shape hole is rather interesting, since the building overall isnt shaped like a peanut :-)

Guess we will find out eventually

Finally some action!!!

21 Nov 2005

So many workers in that peanut-shaped hole! :D
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5199/dscn19617za.jpg

Further away
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/336/dscn19603qn.jpg

^^ hya hehe the peanutshape construction site looks cool from the top..funny place to work:D

thanks for the update:yes:

Given that there is 1 basement level, I wonder how deep down they will dig....


approx. 12 - 15m?

@drwho
no problem. I can only get the pics at that angle today. can't do that in future. ;)

Thats an excellent update hya!

The digging for the taller tower has stopped, and I think its going to be up all the way from now. Hopefully in January it will pop above ground level :-)

That's faster than I expected :-)

16 December 2005

construction of a temporary 'tent' structure

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sail1612.jpg

13 January 2006

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/sail1301.jpg

the red cranes are conspicuous from across the bay

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/sailcrane.jpg

Hehe, soon there won't be need to go up One Marina Boulevard to take the update pics ^^

22.01.06
.
some of the rebar are already above the perimeter boarding, should see the groud floor soon.
http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/img_0073.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/img_0075.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/unixxi/img_0080.jpg

Cool!!! Its starting to rise fast after digging for god knows how long.

I just wish it will grow faster...

Hehe, soon there won't be need to go up One Marina Boulevard to take the update pics ^^

yup its already sticking over the fence. A good spot to view the progress would be from the balcony at Overseas Union House.

28 January 2006

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8137/sail28016kb.jpg

8 Feb 2006

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8182/dscn27784ao.jpg

IT'S RISING!!!

^^

how exciting! :happy:

8 Feb 2006

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8182/dscn27784ao.jpg

Great!

are those the foundation pillars? is there a central concrete core like ORQ?

^^

they seem like the pillars to me, and yes the building will have a central core

Still have not reached 1st floor at all??

They should be working on it now, based on the last update....

Here is another rendering:

http://www.marina-bay.sg/images/map/sail.jpg

^ So beautiful.....:okay:

Looks like something from Dubai... :lol:

Nice new avatar rafflescity..

Looks like something from Dubai... :lol:
If it were taller. :bash:

Nice new avatar rafflescity..

Thanks!

I feel the Sail will add not only mass but elegance to the skyline, from that angle :cheers:

24 March 2006

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/1968/sail24032vp.jpg

just wondering, how is the construction crane builds up its height?

15 April 2006

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4876/sail1504061yy.jpg

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/9683/sail150406a1nt.jpg

Feels exciting to see pictures like that.....it's like tracking the growth of your child.....:yes:

exactly!!! :D

Is it the carpark structure rising quite a bit already, or the first tower ?
From your picture I assume there are two tower cranes on each tower plus one for the carpark...

ORQ rox from this angle...in the last pic.

@Pengui

I think the structural columns for the taller tower has risen by up to 2 floors height, but the carpark and other tower are also all above ground level now...so a lot of cranes :-)

Now I'm suspecting that the 2009 completion date is actually the legal one, I don't see how they're going to take 3 full years to complete this... 2008 seems more realistic to me :-)

just wondering, how is the construction crane builds up its height?

Tower cranes would jack up first with support device and then insert a new piece of support frame into it. It will grow as u add in the support frame. :)

This is how it gains height. Here are the answers u wonder how the tower crane builds up.

Taken from one of the forums here.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4605/32ch1.jpg

An example of another type of tower crane using technique to jack up the frame.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/favelle/linkbelt_06.jpg

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8182/dscn27784ao.jpg

wow my it's slim!

Its really wide at one angle, and really flat at the other!

Pictures Taken on 30/04/06

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4113/img01961ei.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5388/img01864yv.jpg

Nice update :-)

The curviness can be seen already....

19 May 2006

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8711/sail19053qa.jpg

Wow, with this pace I can well imagine they finish construction before 2009 :)

Yes I think we can expect it to be at least externally complete in 2008 :-)
Here's an update ;-)

22nd May

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengssc/img/060522_sail02.jpg
Taken from One Marina Boulevard's lift at 6th floor.