5 Freehold Properties in the Upcoming Kampong Bugis Precinct

By Aaron De Silva

/ EdgeProp |

November 7, 2017 11:58 AM SGT

With the opening of the MRT Downtown Line 3 (DTL3) on 21 October, many areas of the inner city have now become much more accessible.

Among them is Kampong Bugis, the area around Kallang Basin that roughly extends from the Singapore Sports Hub in the east to the Arab Street quarter in the west. Two new DTL3 stations have taken root in the precinct: Bendeemer and Jalan Besar. These now complement existing stations on the East-West Line (Kallang and Lavender) and the Circle Line (Stadium and Nicoll Highway).

A week before that, on 16 October, the URA announced plans to revitalise the precinct. New residential developments are in the pipeline, along with lush public parks and green spaces. Overall, the plan is to transform Kampong Bugis into a pedestrian-friendly, car-lite neighbourhood interspersed with vibrant community spaces, with the presence of no less than six MRT stations in the vicinity.

At present, Kampong Bugis is a rather bustling neighbourhood, particularly around the Arab Street quarter. As well, the northern reaches of the precinct – the area bounded by Bendeemer, Jalan Besar and Lavender MRT stations – is showing slow signs of gentrification. Boutique hotels, hipster cafes and restaurants dot the area, and new establishments pop up from time to time.

Meanwhile, the area around Kallang Basin is a haven for sports enthusiasts. From outdoor activities like wakeboarding and kayaking to indoor pursuits like rock-climbing and aqua fitness, there’s a seemingly endless array of recreational pastimes to keep adrenaline junkies occupied.

With so much already going on in Kampong Bugis, and even more to look forward to in the future, there’s no better time to consider investing in, or even relocating to, the precinct. Here are five freehold developments to mull over.

The Riverine by the Park

You could say The Riverine by the Park was a trailblazer. It TOP’d in 2010, well before the Singapore Sports Hub, located across the river, started to take shape. Today, the 96-unit development commands an average price of $1,490 psf. According to current listings on EdgeProp.sg, two-bedders can be had for around $1.5 million while the four-bedroom, 2,885 sq. ft. penthouse is up for grabs at $5.38 million.

Kallang Riverside

When Kallang Riverside TOPs in 2019, it will be among the first major projects to breathe new life to the area. The 212-unit development is situated at the confluence of two rivers – Rochor and Kallang, a positive feature for fengshui practitioners. Latest listings on EdgeProp.sg put the average psf at around $2,200, with one-bedders costing around $1.2 million and three-bedders costing about $2.3 million.

Studio 8

Image source: Alexis Land

Just three years old, Studio 8 is a boutique residence with 28 units in total. It’s situated near Kallang MRT and the start of Sims Avenue, which means two things: easy access to both the CBD and the foodie delights of Geylang. The good news is that the current average psf price of $1,279 is an all-time low. Listings on EdgeProp.sg range from $838,000 to $950,000 for a one-bedder.

Cavan Suites

Cavan Suites is unique in that it comprises a three-storey conservation shophouse at the front plus a new, six-storey residential block in the rear. The development’s 36 units are compact, ranging from 323 sq. ft. studios to 646 sq. ft. one-bedroom penthouses. Therefore, they’re best suited to singletons and investors. However, the multitude of hip hangouts in the vicinity, such as The Refinery and Chye Seng Huat Hardware make great living/dining room extensions. Listings on EdgeProp.sg indicate an average psf of around $1,700, with studios commanding $600,000 and up.

Tyrwhitt 139

Another Kampong Bugis trailblazer is Tyrwhitt 139 a 48-unit development that was completed in 2009. This was before pioneering cafes like Chye Seng Huat Hardware and hip boutique accommodations like Kam Leng Hotel set up shop in the area. And now, Bendeemer MRT is just a five-minute stroll away. Listings on EdgeProp.sg indicate prices ranging from $620,000 for a 398 sq. ft. one-bedder to $1.1 million for a 904 sq. ft. two-bedder, giving a median psf of just under $1,400.

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