This is Bohemian enclave...Sep 14, 2008 · ately termed "Mickey Mouse units" for their small size....
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Publication: The Sunday Times, p 22 Date: 14 September 2008 Headline: Bohemian Enclave This is the first of a four-part series on the property scene in or around colourful spots of Singapore. This week, we feature Little lndia Bohemian enclave Bonnie Oeni Bored women, reclining languor- ously on moth-eaten couches, blow- ing slow swirls of smoke into the fierce sunshine. Quaint shophous- es, with deceptively quiet charm, that open their back doors to toy shops with less than innocent pur- poses. Fatigued labourers, sprawled all over void decks, clutching e m p ty beer bottles in their hands. Despite the seedy alleyways and dirty secrets Little India possesses, one of the nation's oldest red-light districts is becoming su~prisingly popular to live in, especially with young urbanites and artists drawn to the bohemian feel of the area. CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) research shows that since March last year, nine residential projects have been launched in the Little India and Far- rer Park area, with seven more in the pipeline, comprising 198units. Many small projects in the area have received good response. The location is attractive because com- muting time to the city is only about 10 to 15 minutes by MRT, said CBRE Research. Residents concurred. Mr Ron Tan, a travel agent who has been liv- ing in a Tyrwhitt Road shophouse for nine years, said: "Living here is very convenient. I can go nearly everywhereby bus, whether it's Or- chard, City Hall, Chinatown or even further out in the west." Ms Jalea Poon, 20, an NUS un- dergraduate and an HDB dweller on Buffalo Road, added: "Being lo- cated in a centralised district means Orchard, Bugis, Mustafa and Nove- na Square are around the vicinity and within walking distance." A day stroll along Little India's "dodgiest" area, Desker Road, re- vealed a land of shut doors. Aside Pssst...g ot Viagra?Despite its seedy alleyways and dirty secrek, Little India is gaining popularity among young urbanitesand artists. from the bustle of Syed Alwi Road a street away, where the 24-hour Mus- tafa Centre draws crowds of budget shoppers, Little India's sleaziest road is quiet, peopled only by chat- ty Indian restaurant owners, remit- tance bank managers and owners of bike repair shops. It comes alive only at night. "Walking around Desker Road in the wee hours of the morning, I feel uncomfortable because I can suddenly hear people scream. Transvestites also say 'hello', but I just ignore them," said Mr Tan, 23. Ms Poon said women may re- ceive "lecherous but harmless stares" from foreign workers who throng the area on Sunday night for relaxation and entertainmentaf- ter working the entire week. Major crime such as rape or rob- bery is low. Most misdeeds in the ar- ea involve vagrancy, drunken con- flicts, men peeing openly on public property and noise pollution on weekends when crowds of foreign workers dance to loud music in open spaces. There's traffic congestion due to "many people milling about at night", according to Ms Joyce Chua, 17, a junior college student and resident at Syed Alwi Road. "It's too commercialised, too crowded with shoppers," said MI Tan Ian Chueen, a property inves- tor who bought a City Squareapart- ment at Kitchener Link in 2005 for $550psf. He sold it for around $600 psf last year, chancing upon better opportunitieselsewhere. The father of two young children feels it's not a family-friendly area. But residents say policemen pa- trol the area on Sunday nights, which helps crowd control. The residential areas, even those near Desker Road such as HDB flats and terrace houses along Rowel1 Road, are brightly lit. Most resi- dents have no qualms about corn- ing back late at night. Little India, with its many cosy eateries and shops, conservqtion monuments, pubs and indie art gal- leries, is electrified by an eclectic mix of history, culture and aeativi- Projecl under construction ty. This vibrancy is set to continue with the completion of the 700,000 sq ft City Square Mall at Farrer Park. Developers are capitalising on the area's popularity with single working professionals and expatri- ates on local packages unfazed by the bustle. Foreign staff and stu- dents in the nearby Singapore Man- agement University also increase the area's rental potential. Recent projects focus on one- and two-bedroom units, affection- ately termed "Mickey Mouse units" for their small size. They can start from as small as 312 sq ft, such as " " 5 Chinese temple -, Hindu temple -- .w - the ones at Kent Residences at Kent Road, and go up to around 950 sq ft or more. With a price tag of about $400,000 to $800,000 each, they work out to about $800 to $1,000 psf. The most expensive is Suites 123 at Rangoon Road, which units were sold for an average of $1,050 psf, while Oxford Suites at Oxford Road, at $800 psf, is the cheapest. At City Square Residences, the big- gest residential project in the area with 910 units, the average selling price is $877 psf. Five units of Studios @ Marne in K- Mosque Church Marne Road were sold in July at a median price of $1,010 psf. CBRE said these units are afforda- ble considering the area's proximi- ty to the city centre and rising con- struction costs. Future launches in the area in- clude the 25-unit City Studios at Race Course Lane, a 51-unit project in Rangoon Road, and small apart- ment blocks with eight to 29 units at Owen Road, Roberts Lane and Kinta Road. Source: The Straits Times O Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
Transcript of This is Bohemian enclave...Sep 14, 2008 · ately termed "Mickey Mouse units" for their small size....
Publication: The Sunday Times, p 22 Date: 14 September 2008 Headline: Bohemian Enclave
This is the first of a four-part series on the property scene in or around colourful spots of Singapore.
This week, we feature Little lndia
Bohemian enclave Bonnie Oeni
Bored women, reclining languor- ously on moth-eaten couches, blow- ing slow swirls of smoke into the fierce sunshine. Quaint shophous- es, with deceptively quiet charm, that open their back doors to toy shops with less than innocent pur- poses. Fatigued labourers, sprawled all over void decks, clutching emp ty beer bottles in their hands.
Despite the seedy alleyways and dirty secrets Little India possesses, one of the nation's oldest red-light districts is becoming su~prisingly popular to live in, especially with young urbanites and artists drawn to the bohemian feel of the area.
CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) research shows that since March last year, nine residential projects have been launched in the Little India and Far- rer Park area, with seven more in the pipeline, comprising 198 units.
Many small projects in the area have received good response. The location is attractive because com- muting time to the city is only about 10 to 15 minutes by MRT, said CBRE Research.
Residents concurred. Mr Ron Tan, a travel agent who has been liv- ing in a Tyrwhitt Road shophouse for nine years, said: "Living here is very convenient. I can go nearly everywhere by bus, whether it's Or- chard, City Hall, Chinatown or even further out in the west."
Ms Jalea Poon, 20, an NUS un- dergraduate and an HDB dweller on Buffalo Road, added: "Being lo- cated in a centralised district means Orchard, Bugis, Mustafa and Nove- na Square are around the vicinity and within walking distance."
A day stroll along Little India's "dodgiest" area, Desker Road, re- vealed a land of shut doors. Aside
Pssst...g ot Viagra? Despite its seedy alleyways and dirty secrek, Little India is gaining popularity among young urbanites and artists.
from the bustle of Syed Alwi Road a street away, where the 24-hour Mus- tafa Centre draws crowds of budget shoppers, Little India's sleaziest road is quiet, peopled only by chat- ty Indian restaurant owners, remit- tance bank managers and owners of bike repair shops. It comes alive only at night.
"Walking around Desker Road in the wee hours of the morning, I feel uncomfortable because I can suddenly hear people scream. Transvestites also say 'hello', but I just ignore them," said Mr Tan, 23.
Ms Poon said women may re- ceive "lecherous but harmless stares" from foreign workers who throng the area on Sunday night for relaxation and entertainment af- ter working the entire week.
Major crime such as rape or rob- bery is low. Most misdeeds in the ar- ea involve vagrancy, drunken con- flicts, men peeing openly on public property and noise pollution on weekends when crowds of foreign workers dance to loud music in open spaces.
There's traffic congestion due to "many people milling about at night", according to Ms Joyce Chua, 17, a junior college student and resident at Syed Alwi Road.
"It's too commercialised, too crowded with shoppers," said MI Tan Ian Chueen, a property inves- tor who bought a City Square apart- ment at Kitchener Link in 2005 for $550psf. He sold it for around $600 psf last year, chancing upon better opportunities elsewhere. The father of two young children feels it's not a family-friendly area.
But residents say policemen pa- trol the area on Sunday nights, which helps crowd control.
The residential areas, even those near Desker Road such as HDB flats and terrace houses along Rowel1 Road, are brightly lit. Most resi- dents have no qualms about corn- ing back late at night.
Little India, with its many cosy eateries and shops, conservqtion monuments, pubs and indie art gal- leries, is electrified by an eclectic mix of history, culture and aeativi-
Projecl under construction
ty. This vibrancy is set to continue with the completion of the 700,000 sq ft City Square Mall at Farrer Park.
Developers are capitalising on the area's popularity with single working professionals and expatri- ates on local packages unfazed by the bustle. Foreign staff and stu- dents in the nearby Singapore Man- agement University also increase the area's rental potential.
Recent projects focus on one- and two-bedroom units, affection- ately termed "Mickey Mouse units" for their small size. They can start from as small as 312 sq ft, such as
" " 5
Chinese temple - , Hindu temple
-- .w -
the ones at Kent Residences at Kent Road, and go up to around 950 sq ft or more.
With a price tag of about $400,000 to $800,000 each, they work out to about $800 to $1,000 psf. The most expensive is Suites 123 at Rangoon Road, which units were sold for an average of $1,050 psf, while Oxford Suites at Oxford Road, at $800 psf, is the cheapest. At City Square Residences, the big- gest residential project in the area with 910 units, the average selling price is $877 psf.
Five units of Studios @ Marne in
K- Mosque
Church
Marne Road were sold in July at a median price of $1,010 psf.
CBRE said these units are afforda- ble considering the area's proximi- ty to the city centre and rising con- struction costs.
Future launches in the area in- clude the 25-unit City Studios at Race Course Lane, a 51-unit project in Rangoon Road, and small apart- ment blocks with eight to 29 units at Owen Road, Roberts Lane and Kinta Road.
Source: The Straits Times O Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
