Condos within Walking Distance of Michelin-Starred Hawker Stalls

By Esther Hoon

/ The Edge Property |

August 26, 2016 10:59 AM SGT

Seventeen hawker stalls scattered across Singapore were recently awarded the Bib Gourmand in the 2016 Michelin Guide Singapore.

The Edge Property has rounded up five food centres with the most Michelin-starred hawker stalls, and the condominiums located within a 500m radius. For foodies, a walking distance of 500m is not far at all — for great food.

Amoy Street Food Centre

First on the list is Amoy Street Food Centre in Tanjong Pagar, which opened in 1983. Located next to Tanjong Pagar MRT station in the heart of the CBD, the food centre has been refurbished twice — in 2003 and December 2014. It now has a capacity to seat 1,000 and continues to attract a strong lunch crowd comprising people working at nearby offices.

Four stalls at Amoy Street Food Centre received the Bib Gourmand award: J2 Crispy Curry Puff; Hoo Kee Rice Dumpling; A Noodle Story, which serves Singapore-style ramen; and Hong Kee Beef Noodle.

The J2 Crispy Curry Puff stall (second from right) is among the Bib Gourmand awardees at Amoy Street Food Centre

Within a 500m radius of Amoy Street Food Centre are residential towers in the Tanjong Pagar area such as The Clift on McCallum Street, the upcoming Wallich Residence at Tanjong Pagar Centre, One Shenton, V on Shenton and Robinson Suites.

The Clift is a 312-unit, 99-year leasehold condo tower by Far East Organization that was completed in 2011. It clinched the FIABCI Singapore Property Awards for the residential high-rise category the following year. The project has predominantly one- and two-bedroom apartments measuring 495 to 829 sq ft, and two-bedroom lofts measuring 1,076 sq ft.

The most recent transaction at The Clift was that of a mid-floor 527 sq ft, one-bedroom unit that fetched $1.1 million on July 21. Monthly rents for a one-bedroom unit at the project averaged $3,683 in July.

The 312-unit The Clift is located across the road from Amoy Street Food Centre

The 341-unit One Shenton, a 99-year leasehold twin tower development by listed property giant City Developments (CDL), was also completed in 2011. One Shenton was crowned the World Gold Winner at the FIABCI Prix d’Excellence Awards in the residential high-rise category in 2014. While most are one- and two-bedroom units measuring 517 to 1,141 sq ft, there are also three- and four-bedroom units measuring 1,485 to 2,271 sq ft. There are also four-bedroom duplexes of more than 6,000 sq ft.

The latest transaction at One Shenton was that of a 581 sq ft one-bedroom unit sold for $1.08 million on Aug 10. The average monthly rent of a one-bedroom unit in the development was $3,786 in July.

Meanwhile, Robinson Suites is the only freehold residential tower in the CBD. A redevelopment of the former VTB Building on Robinson Road, the project was launched in December 2010 and all the residential units except the penthouses were sold at an average of $3,000 psf. All three shops on the first level were snapped up at an average of $5,000 psf. The 167-unit residential project comprises mainly one-bedroom-plus study units of 484 to 506 sq ft and two-bedroom units of 603 to 614 sq ft. The project is jointly developed by Yi Kai Development and Fission Group, and scheduled for completion by year-end. A handful of units remain unsold.

The other project expected to be completed this year is V on Shenton, a redevelopment of the former UIC Building into a mixed-use project with a 23-storey office block and 54-storey residential tower. The 99-year leasehold project is developed by land owner UIC. Of 510 residential units, 392 have been launched, of which more than 75% have been sold. The most recent transaction was that of a 452 sq ft, one-bedroom unit that fetched $1.13 million ($2,504 psf) earlier this month.

Wallich Residence is the residential component at Tanjong Pagar Centre, a 64-storey mixed development located above Tanjong Pagar MRT station. With a height of 290m, Tanjong Pagar Centre is slated to be the tallest building in Singapore when it is completed by year-end. The project by GuocoLand comprises 890,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, 100,000 sq ft of retail and F&B space, a 222-room hotel operated by Sofitel and 181 residential units.

Whampoa Drive Makan Place

Whampoa Drive Makan Place is another prominent hawker centre in Singapore, located off Balestier Road. Two stalls — Balestier Road Hoover Rojak and Liang Zhao Ji braised duck — received the coveted Bib Gourmand award.

Residential developments within walking distance include Bliss Loft, The InterWeave, Cradels and Okio. All four residential projects sit on freehold land.

Bliss Loft, on Kim Keat Close, is a 48-unit boutique development by Oxley Holdings and was completed in 2012. The most recent transaction was that of a 786 sq ft, two-bedroom unit that changed hands in May for $875,000 ($1,114 psf).

Then there is The InterWeave on the corner of Kim Keat Road and Lorong Ampas is. The 169-unit condo project by BS Capital was completed in 2014. Two 388 sq ft units in the project were sold recently: The one situated on the 11th floor was sold in July for $585,000 ($1,510 psf); the one the 16th floor fetched $595,000 ($1,535 psf).

Cradels, a 125-unit, high-rise condominium block located on Lorong Limau, was completed last year. The project by boutique developer Melrose Land is fully sold. In July, it was reported that the glass panels of the infinity pool on the fifth floor shattered. The latest transaction at Cradels was that of a 1,313 sq ft, one-bedroom-plus-study penthouse that fetched $1.15 million ($876 psf) in February this year.

Meanwhile, Okio — by Selangor Dredging’s property arm SDB Asia — is located on Bales tier Road and was completed last year. The mixed-use development comprises 104 residential units in two 18-storey blocks and a 10-unit commercial podium. Most recently, a 1,098 sq ft two-bedroom penthouse was sold for $1.35 million ($1,230 psf), according to a caveat lodged in July. The average monthly rent of two-bedroom units at Okio is $2,400, based on URA data in July.

SDB Asia’s Okio comprises 104 residential units in two 18-storey blocks and a 10-unit commercial podium

Tiong Bahru Market

Source: nea.gov.sg

Tiong Bahru Market was the first hawker centre in Singapore to be built in a public housing estate. The two-Michelin-starred hawker stalls are Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice and Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee.

As the oldest public housing estate in Singapore, Tiong Bahru exudes a unique charm stemming from its rich heritage. It is also the first HDB estate to be given conservation status by URA. The area has seen a renaissance of sorts, with the opening of trendy cafés and coffee joints such as Forty Hands, PS Café Petit and Drips Bakery Café in the area.

The latest private condo project in Tiong Bahru is Keppel Land’s Highline Residences. The 500-unit, 99-year leasehold condo on Kim Tian Road is slated for completion in 2016. Of 270 units released as at end-July, 256 were sold at an average price of $1,842 psf.

Other private condo projects in the area include 234-unit Twin Regency, completed in 2007; 104-unit Regency Suites next door, in 2008; and 158-unit The Regency at Tiong Bahru, in 2010. All three freehold private condo projects were redevelopments by UOL Group.

The 114-unit Regency Suites by UOL Group was completed in 2008

Alexandra Village Food Centre

Alexandra Village Food Centre is a hidden gem in Bukit Merah. Its Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa stall propelled its way to the Bib Gourmand Award list.

Private condos in the area include the 1,040-unit The Interlace in Telok Blangah, developed by a consortium led by CapitaLand and completed in 4Q2013. Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Ole Scheeren, the project clinched the prestigious World Building of the Year title in 2015. Recent units sold are a mix of sizeable three- and four-bedroom units measuring 1,873 to 3,208 sq ft, with prices ranging from $2.1 million ($1,126 psf) to $2.8 million ($875 psf), according to recent caveats lodged.

Another project located within a 500m radius is 775-unit The Anchorage, a freehold private condo developed by Frasers Centrepoint and completed in 1997. The Anchorage is a mixed-use development that includes Anchorpoint shopping mall. Last month, an 883 sq ft, one-bedroom apartment at the development was sold for $1.1 million ($1,246 psf).

In the Alexandra-Telok Blangah area, monthly rents of two-bedroom units range from $3,675 for a unit at The Anchorage to $3,933 for a unit at The Interlace, according to URA data in July.

The 775-unit Anchorage was completed in 1997 and is part of a mixed-use development that includes Anchorpoint shopping mall

127 Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre

Toa Payoh is the second-oldest HDB town and the first to be built by HDB. The mature public housing estate has a host of amenities, including hawker centres and restaurants. The Chey Sua Carrot Cake stall at 127 Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre won the Bib Gourmand Award.

Adjacent to this hawker centre is Trevista, a 509-unit, 99-year leasehold private condo by NTUC Choice Homes. Completed in 2011, Trevista is a popular choice among HDB upgraders in Toa Payoh, given the scarcity of private non-landed developments in the area.

The latest transaction at Trevista was that of a 1,701 sq ft, four-bedroom unit that changed hands for $2.1 million ($1,235 psf) last month. Monthly rents of two- and three-bedroom units at Trevista average $3,200 and $3,800 respectively, based on URA data for leases that commenced in July.

The latest private condo project to be launched in Toa Payoh is Gem Residences by Gamuda Land, Evia Real Estate and Maxdin. The 578-unit private condo at Lorong 5 Toa Payoh was launched in May. As at end-July, 322 units had been sold at an average price of $1,426 psf.

Let your stomach be your guide.

Trevista is a popular choice among HDB upgraders in Toa Payoh because of the scarcity of private condo projects in the area