- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
- Messages
- 30,580
- Points
- 0
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1222823/1/.html
SINGAPORE: Some residential and commercial properties will be acquired for the construction of the new Thomson MRT Line.
The post office along Upper Thomson Road will be one of them. It was opened 54 years ago.
The next closest post office for the area is at the Bishan Community Club.
But to many patrons, what's special about the stand-alone Thomson Road Post Office, is the ease and convenience of doing business there.
"There're parking lots for us, maybe for a while, like... five to 10 minutes. If they rebuild a new post office with a parking space, that would be good for us," said one patron.
"Occasionally I come here, I do not live around this area... (The post office) has been around for a long time and I have over the years been coming here. I would kind of miss it," said another.
One of the more iconic buildings in Chinatown, Pearls Centre, will also be torn down to make way for the new Thomson Line.
Pearls Centre has been around for some 40 years.
The 243 tenants have about two years to move out.
But some of the 44 residents Channel NewsAsia spoke to were surprised at the announcement, as they had recently renovated their units.
The Singapore Land Authority said compensation will be pegged to the market value of the property as determined by professional valuers.
But some tenants are worried the compensation would be lower than what they would get, if the building had gone en-bloc.
Christina Sim, director, Residential, Cushman and Wakefield, said: "Certainly when a development goes en-bloc or collective sale, there is a premium attached to what a property seller would be able to command if it is sold on an individual basis and certainly much so if it is compared to a compulsory acquisition."
Ms Agnes Low, a resident at Pearls Centre, said: "If the government gives us a price that is not acceptable, of course we will not agree to sell off. Of course everybody wants to make money."
Bryan New, a shop tenant at Pearls Centre, said: "It's really not a shock to me because I heard from some of the tenants that the management is trying to do an en-bloc for the whole building, but what I didn't expect is the government (coming) in."
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Indranee Rajah, will meet tenants of Pearls Centre on Saturday to better understand their concerns about having to move out within the next two years.
Ms Indranee said the next two days will give business owners and residents time to digest the news.
Her greatest concern is for those using their units as a home, who now need to find another place.
She said the Singapore Land Authority will do its best to facilitate, but stressed it's not like the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme, where there is a replacement unit.
"In any land acquisition... your compensation (will be) the market value of the unit. It is not for the replacement unit. So I quite clearly understand how they think and feel about it. So the question is, what is the next best thing that can be obtained for them. Because I fully understand the feelings especially if you've stayed there for many years of your life. It's not just the physical place, it's the whole atmosphere," she said.
- CNA/cc
SINGAPORE: Some residential and commercial properties will be acquired for the construction of the new Thomson MRT Line.
The post office along Upper Thomson Road will be one of them. It was opened 54 years ago.
The next closest post office for the area is at the Bishan Community Club.
But to many patrons, what's special about the stand-alone Thomson Road Post Office, is the ease and convenience of doing business there.
"There're parking lots for us, maybe for a while, like... five to 10 minutes. If they rebuild a new post office with a parking space, that would be good for us," said one patron.
"Occasionally I come here, I do not live around this area... (The post office) has been around for a long time and I have over the years been coming here. I would kind of miss it," said another.
One of the more iconic buildings in Chinatown, Pearls Centre, will also be torn down to make way for the new Thomson Line.
Pearls Centre has been around for some 40 years.
The 243 tenants have about two years to move out.
But some of the 44 residents Channel NewsAsia spoke to were surprised at the announcement, as they had recently renovated their units.
The Singapore Land Authority said compensation will be pegged to the market value of the property as determined by professional valuers.
But some tenants are worried the compensation would be lower than what they would get, if the building had gone en-bloc.
Christina Sim, director, Residential, Cushman and Wakefield, said: "Certainly when a development goes en-bloc or collective sale, there is a premium attached to what a property seller would be able to command if it is sold on an individual basis and certainly much so if it is compared to a compulsory acquisition."
Ms Agnes Low, a resident at Pearls Centre, said: "If the government gives us a price that is not acceptable, of course we will not agree to sell off. Of course everybody wants to make money."
Bryan New, a shop tenant at Pearls Centre, said: "It's really not a shock to me because I heard from some of the tenants that the management is trying to do an en-bloc for the whole building, but what I didn't expect is the government (coming) in."
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Indranee Rajah, will meet tenants of Pearls Centre on Saturday to better understand their concerns about having to move out within the next two years.
Ms Indranee said the next two days will give business owners and residents time to digest the news.
Her greatest concern is for those using their units as a home, who now need to find another place.
She said the Singapore Land Authority will do its best to facilitate, but stressed it's not like the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme, where there is a replacement unit.
"In any land acquisition... your compensation (will be) the market value of the unit. It is not for the replacement unit. So I quite clearly understand how they think and feel about it. So the question is, what is the next best thing that can be obtained for them. Because I fully understand the feelings especially if you've stayed there for many years of your life. It's not just the physical place, it's the whole atmosphere," she said.
- CNA/cc
