ST : Central Punggol for sale

Nov 27, 2010
REJUVENATING PUNGGOL
Central Punggol for sale
By Elgin Toh



The new project was part of a larger plan to make Punggol a town with as many HDB flats and residents as Toa Payoh. -- ST FILE PHOTO

Efforts to create a vibrant town in Punggol will receive a boost next week, when a mixed commercial-residential project at its town centre is put up for sale by tender.

The proposed site will comprise a 685-unit condominium estate and a 50,000 sq m commercial space - slightly larger than the Ang Mo Kio Hub - for leisure and shopping.

Located in Punggol's town centre, beside Punggol MRT station and a waterfront project, Punggol Waterway, it is aimed at injecting life into the young and growing town, and will eventually become the town's hub of activity.

However, potential bidders have to pay attention to a twist: they will be required to provide space for community events and activities, said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan when announcing the project yesterday. The size of this community space was not revealed, but more details will be announced by the HDB in the coming week.

Mr Ong Teck Hui of Credo Real Estate said the idea of integrating space for community events enhances the desirability of the project.

The new project was part of a larger plan to make Punggol a town with as many HDB flats and residents as Toa Payoh. If demand for new projects stays robust, the HDB is on track to complete 35,000 flats there by the end of 2015.

Punggol is one of three pilot towns being given a facelift under HDB's Remaking Our Heartland initiative, which aims to rejuvenate housing estates. The other two towns are Dawson and Yishun.

Mr Mah was speaking at Dawson, where he attended a ground-breaking ceremony for SkyVille and SkyTerrace - two build-to-order projects that are among the most pricey new HDB flats ever launched. Still, they were oversubscribed by six times.

The projects will be developed with a mind to preserving Dawson's identity as one of Singapore's earliest housing estates.

The HDB has collected from residents interesting memorabilia to be displayed at heritage boards in the estate - including a pair of 1973 movie ticket stubs from the Queenstown cinemas which, at one time, ranked among the most popular entertainment spots here.

Elgin Toh