Coming up: Waterfront living for HDB residents

5 Feb 07

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20070204/ST_IMAGES_WYHDBTRYt.jpg

WATERFRONT living, until now the preserve of condominium developments, is making its way to the public housing sector.
The Housing Board's first waterfront project will be completed in about three years. Five blocks comprising 816 three- to five-room flats will be built in Bendemeer Road, where two waterways - Kallang River and Sungei Whampoa - meet.

And getting first pick of the cherry will be some residents affected by the HDB's programme to redevelop old residential blocks.

The 816 flats are among 1,670 new ones made available to residents of seven blocks of flats in Sims Drive and Upper Boon Keng Road as replacements for their 27- to 31- year-old ones, which have been slated for the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers). The other replacement flats are located in Upper Boon Keng Road.

Registration for the replacement flats opened to those eligible at the end of last year, and surplus flats will be sold to the public later.

The Bendemeer waterfront development sits on a site 2.86ha in size, about the size of seven football fields. The most common flat type on offer is the four-room one, with about 550 units - either 85 or 90 sq m in size.

Externally, the residential blocks, numbered 41A to D and 42A, are of staggered heights for a more distinctive skyline, and there will also be a lookout plaza that affords a view of Kallang River and beyond, towards the National Stadium, said the HDB.

With Sungei Whampoa and Kallang River being part of a $517 million facelift of the surrounding Jalan Besar area and with a major makeover of Singapore's water bodies in the works, waterfront living is set to make a bigger splash for even more Singaporeans.

Financial consultant Victor Wu, 32, agrees: 'It is definitely good news because with HDB in the picture, it means such waterfront living will be accessible to more people, especially if prices are kept affordable and the flats are nice.'


By Liaw Wy-Cin

I wished they'll stop using the euphemism "waterfront" when it's basically two longkangs meeting. The Whampoa and Kallang Rivers are of the concrete with dirty trickle through and green rust railing variety.... hopefully the "rejunvenation" will change the "waterfront" appearance .... hehehe:lol:

Since the government's selling expensive land to build truly waterfront homes for the rich, they are so ''gracious'' as to not leave the rest of the poorer population out so they give us waterfront homes as well, though IMO its still a longkang until they beautify it.

how tall?

how tall?

It looks either 30 or 40 floors to me...cant be too sure...I think parts of Kallang & Boon Keng can support 40-storey height allowance.

Haha ... maybe it is time to give Waterfront some grading system ...

Waterfront Class A - Next to sea water ...
Waterfront Calss B - Next to real river ...
Waterfront Class C - Next to big canal ...
Waterfront Class D - Next to big longkang ...

YFG ... ...

Haha ... maybe it is time to give Waterfront some grading system ...

Waterfront Class A - Next to sea water ...
Waterfront Calss B - Next to real river ...
Waterfront Class C - Next to big canal ...
Waterfront Class D - Next to big longkang ...

YFG ... ...

I am kinda WaterFront Class D - Next to Big Longkang. Will my property value rise?!!!!!!:lol:

You see the new developement along Alexandra Canal, says waterfront living. The "river" is a big longkang. Somewhere in River Valley, forgot condo name. :rofl:

For every 10% increase in the property market, the increase for :

Waterfront Class A - Next to sea water ... = 25%
Waterfront Calss B - Next to real river ... = 18%
Waterfront Class C - Next to big canal ... = 10%
Waterfront Class D - Next to big longkang ... = 5%

Haha ...

YFG ... ...

PS : If I know so zhun ... I will be busy investing liao lor ... my accuracy so far is just slightly more than 70% ...

You see the new developement along Alexandra Canal, says waterfront living. The "river" is a big longkang. Somewhere in River Valley, forgot condo name. :rofl:

That was Domain 21.

Haha ... maybe it is time to give Waterfront some grading system ...

Waterfront Class A - Next to sea water ...
Waterfront Calss B - Next to real river ...
Waterfront Class C - Next to big canal ...
Waterfront Class D - Next to big longkang ...

YFG ... ...

Yah lor. Otherwise, every development also tout theirs as waterfront homes. One example is Tribeca. The stretch of Singapore river near to Tribeca is so narrow that it is no different from a big longkang/big canal.

No offensive to anyone who bought Tribeca. Tribeca can be purchased for many other reasons, just not of because their supposedly "by the waterfront" lifestyle [as per their website].

It looks either 30 or 40 floors to me...cant be too sure...I think parts of Kallang & Boon Keng can support 40-storey height allowance.
I think they could build higher now but in the past there might be a lower height limit as helicopters and C130 planes regularly fly along the Kallang River upstream.... I think that was a regular flight path in the past.

That was Domain 21.
Yep... Domain 21. When I visited their showflat and was kinda interested in getting a unit there, the agent made the mistake of taking me and my spouse for a nature walk nearby to see how close Domain 21 is to the "Singapore River". That's when we smelled the stench from the "Singapore Longkang" and saw trash floating in the waters .....:runaway:

Yep... Domain 21. When I visited their showflat and was kinda interested in getting a unit there, the agent made the mistake of taking me and my spouse for a nature walk nearby to see how close Domain 21 is to the "Singapore River". That's when we smelled the stench from the "Singapore Longkang" and saw trash floating in the waters .....:runaway:

Yes, sometimes you will made up your mind once you are ON LOCATION. I had a similar experience. I walk around the Tribeca surroundings, walked to the Singapore River, saw the HDB in front, then left the place, without even going into the showflat. :lol:

For every 10% increase in the property market, the increase for :

Waterfront Class A - Next to sea water ... = 25%
Waterfront Calss B - Next to real river ... = 18%
Waterfront Class C - Next to big canal ... = 10%
Waterfront Class D - Next to big longkang ... = 5%

Haha ...

YFG ... ...

PS : If I know so zhun ... I will be busy investing liao lor ... my accuracy so far is just slightly more than 70% ...


For waterfront class A you can subcategorise it to A1 and A2. A1 will be clear view with no ships in sight and A2 with all kinds of ships in sight and view of cranes, etc. Not all sea views are nice to look at.

You left out one category - Next to Reservoir. I am presently staying right in front of a reservoir. For me this is one of the top 5 views in Singapore. However, the prices have not risen at all and it is all for 350psf. If Sky@Eleven had this view, it would be priced at least 2000psf.

Singaporeans to pay premium price for waterfront public housing
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Singaporeans are expected to pay a premium price for waterfront public housing in future.

Under the PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters Programme, Singapore's waterways will be developed to bring people closer to the water.

But property agents say the private property market may not be too affected by the change.

Punggol resident Koh Lin Wei can expect more than just a quiet walk along the Punggol River in the near future.

With a proposed floating wetland area, a community club and sports hub, and a fruit park on the opposite bank, the area is expected to be bustling with activities.

"As a new estate, we have hardly any activities for us here. So with this new build up, I think it's a very good idea. I personally enjoy water sports so I'm looking forward to more activities. And of course with a growing family, I hope to have more activities for the children rather than just for teenagers and adults," says Punggol resident Koh Lin Wei.

Also waiting eagerly for the development is undergrad Ma Kwun Kit, a dragon boat enthusiast.

"Every Sunday, I used to travel to Kallang for dragon boating but if they start to have dragon boating here, I can come here for training instead of Kallang," says Ma, also a Punggol resident.

Residents can give their feedback to the PUB on the transformation they'd like to see, as the waterways near their homes are developed under the ABC Waters Programme.

This effort will not only beautify the area, but likely raise their property profile also.

"I do admit that waterfront housing comes with a premium price. For example in our neighbouring countries, it's the rich who stay by the rivers, waterways and ocean. If we have this now in Singapore, I would expect the prices of these properties to be higher than properties in areas not fronting the waterfronts," says Chris Koh, director of Dennis Wee Properties.

But he says private property like condominiums will still be popular, as buyers also go for the prestige which comes with private housing.

And there's also the question of location.

"There are some people today who buy for the views but at the same time, they buy because it's near their work, schools, parents. So, location still plays a vital part," says Koh.

He says it is a good move by the government as it gives residents a variety of housing options. - CNA /ls

"Premium waterfront flats" is so subjective... I personally would prefer a flat facing a busy main road than a stinky, unkempt concrete longkang .... :lol:

"Premium waterfront public housing" is so subjective... I personally would prefer a flat facing a busy main road than a stinky, unkempt concrete longkang .... :lol:
I believe the first blocks of "premium waterfront flats" by HDB would be build on this piece of land within the next 2 years. PUB is doing some major upgrades to the banks of this riverfront (or longkang depending on how you see it) in the heartlands:

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/1058/cimg2318fo1.jpg

^^

The water looks amazingly blue! :eek:

^^

The water looks amazingly blue! :eek:
Yep.... reflection of the blue sky on a sunny day.

You would have seen the models of the future HDB "waterfront" blocks on this piece of land at the recent ABC Clean Waters exhibition. The river banks here would be the PUB's first demonstration project. It would be transformed with boardwalks, floatings decks, water wheels etc. and residents would be encouraged to take to the waters for kayaking to enjoy the clean waters.

Work has just started on a section of it.

yes the model of the future flats was prominently displayed as a 'showcase' development.

besides this totally new development, i would love to see the tired Rochor Canal spruced up too.