Lifestyle hub a buffer for Serangoon Gardens residents
Sited next to workers' dorm, it aims to offer family-centric activities
By Jessica Lim & Cheryl Ong
COMING up next to the controversial foreign workers' dormitory in Serangoon Gardens: a lifestyle centre with art workshops, drama studios and sports facilities.
The $1 million refurbishment of the Lifestyle Hub @ Burghley includes building a carpark, renovating existing buildings and constructing sheltered walkways. It is likely to be ready next month.
The centre's operator, Hean Nerng Facilities Management, was awarded the tender by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) in June.
The subsidiary of LHN Group, which manages more than 10 properties including residential and commercial properties, said there are 15 units available for rent. A list of prospective tenants is awaiting SLA's approval, but so far none of them had been given units.
The 6,880 sq m site - slightly larger than a football field - is about 15m away from the dormitory and is separated from it by a fence about 2m high.The site, a sub-plot of the old Serangoon Garden Technical School, currently has three single-storey blocks with a gross floor area of about 1,900 sq m. The rest of the former school compound now houses the controversial foreign workers' dormitory.
Residents in the area were upset when the Government proposed building the dormitory there two years ago. More than 1,400 residents petitioned against it, citing concerns that it would increase crime rates and lower their property values.
To address the problem, the quarters took in 600 workers to prevent the area from becoming overcrowded. An access road was also built so the workers would not have to go through the estate to get to the dormitory.
The lifestyle centre was, in fact, 'deliberately carved out to form a buffer between the dorm and the residential areas in Serangoon Gardens', said Member of Parliament for the area Lim Hwee Hua, who had previously met residents to allay their fears.
The member of the Aljunied GRC team pointed out that there is no direct access between the centre and the dorm. Describing the new hub as 'largely family-centric', she said pains were taken to ensure that businesses in the centre would be compatible with the surrounding residential area. 'We were concerned about potential traffic issues if too many people were to descend onto this area, or if there were noise and other disruption to the residents,' she said.
The site is approved for art schools and studios, and for sports facilities such as tennis and squash courts. It is not approved for retail or food and beverage outlets.
However, this might be exactly the problem for the new sub-tenants there, said property developers.
Research director Colin Tan of Chesterton Suntec International said it might be tough for tenants to succeed unless they can attract those who live beyond the estate.
'The catchment is quite restricted to people who drive or those who live nearby,' he said. 'Tenants have to be quite well known to draw people from outside the estate.' The short lease, he added, made it a challenge for them to establish themselves in the area.
Hean Herng's initial lease agreement is for two years, but can be renewed until 2014. The company was the only bidder. It offered to pay $21,008 a month, more than $6,000 above the estimate given by the SLA.
Residents have been enthusiastic about the centre.
Retired teacher Rajakrishnan, 71, who lives a minute's walk away from the centre, said: 'We have a lot of retired folk in this area so it'll be good if we don't have to travel too far to participate in activities. It's just a hop, skip and jump away from my home.'
Asked about the dormitory, she said: 'The situation is not bad at all. The fence around it has helped to keep the workers from coming into our estate. None of my neighbours has grouses against the foreign workers. The hub will be in between us and the dorm - it helps things.'
Others such as retiree John Leow, who chaired a residents' committee on the dormitory issue, said he did not object to the hub as it would 'add to the facilities in Serangoon Gardens'.
However, the 69-year-old, who met SLA about two months ago to discuss plans for the site, said some tenants were a no-go. 'We would definitely object to tenants such as bars or karaoke lounges,' he said, adding that he will be meeting SLA again to find out more about the tenants who will be moving in.
limjess@sph.com.sg
ongyiern@sph.com.sg
The new lifestyle centre being built next to the workers' dormitory at Serangoon Gardens will feature art workshops and sports facilities, but not retail or food and beverage outlets. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment