A new chapter in urban living

Rachael Goh

A slew of gleaming, high-rise properties is set to transform Beach Road, Rochor Road and Ophir Road — collectively known as the Beach Road/Ophir-Rochor corridor — in the years ahead, carving a new work-live-play hot spot to rival the likes of Orchard Road.

Strategically located near the Central Business District (CBD), the area saw a tide of change a few years ago with the completion of mixed-use developments South Beach and Duo, which have brought with it a constant stream of corporates and tourists, jazzing up the retail, commercial and nightlife scene.

More recently, the district has been primed for a fillip with the launch of Guoco Midtown by GuocoLand last year.

 

Midtown makeover

 

Spreading across 950,600 sq ft, Guoco Midtown will further define the potential of the Beach Road/Ophir-Rochor corridor with a 30-storey office tower, more than 200 residences, and large public and retail spaces.

Completing in 2022, the development surpasses the total area occupied by The Shoppes at Marina Bay.

Its location at the intersection of Nicoll Highway and the future North-South Expressway in the city centre is expected to be a crucial piece in the district’s rejuvenation.

Mr Cheng Hsing Yao, group managing director of GuocoLand Singapore, explains that the mixed-use development is designed to be a “mini city for the future”, with flexible office spaces, housing and networking spaces all rolled into one address.

“The idea is that work, live and play elements are going to be merged not just for offices, but for residents and the public as well. Residents can join a network hub, which functions like a social club for people across all walks of life, interact and come up with ideas for innovation.”

 

The M's the word

Another star project worth looking out for is The M Condo on Middle Road.

Located next to Guoco Midtown, the mixed-use development by Wing Tai Holdings will house commercial establishments on its first storey, and residential units in a lower six-storey block and higher 20-storey building.

It will launch in Q1 2020 and is scheduled for completion in 2024.

The M is designed to provide unblocked street frontage for residents and uninterrupted views of nearby architecture buildings. When completed, it will be a short walk from Bugis Junction and Bugis MRT station, and a 5min drive to the CBD and Marina Bay Sands.

Ms Stacey Ow Yeong, marketing head at Wing Tai Property Management, adds that its location in the Bugis district will offer residents and office tenants an “unmistakeable” city vibe and colourful heritage attractions.

“The Ophir-Rochor corridor is undergoing rejuvenation and The M is truly ‘right in the middle of everything’ as our tagline suggests,” she says.

Residents and office tenants will have easy access to the historic district of Kampong Glam, a treasure trove of hole-in-the-wall boutiques, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants, colourful street art and galleries.

They can also visit the iconic Malay Heritage Centre, the former palace of a 19th-century ruler of Johor, in the thriving neighbourhood. Presently under the management of National Heritage Board, the centre houses six permanent galleries and has hosted more than a million visitors since it was restored and opened in 2005.

Mr Nicholas Mak, head of Research and Consultancy at ERA Realty Network, says: “The M is an example of urban renewal of the area, with plenty of food and beverage options, heritage sites within reach and possibly sea views for their high-rise condominium units.”

 

The rise of District 7

 

The revival of the Beach Road/Ophir-Rochor corridor is set to stretch into the next decade.

There are plans to redevelop the 42-year-old Shaw Tower into a new, 35-storey Grade A office and retail building. The Government also intends to develop the sprawling Kampung Bugis white site, which is nearly the size of 14 football fields, over the next nine to 11 years. The aim is to add 4,000 private homes and 50,000 sq m of retail, offices and community facilities to the waterfront district.

This facelift has not gone unnoticed by property firms.

In its Q3 2019 Property Market Index report, PropertyGuru predicted that District 7, covering the Beach Road, Bugis and Rochor areas, might surpass District 9, Orchard, as the most expensive district in Singapore.

Mr Tan Tee Khoon, PropertyGuru’s Singapore country manager, says: “With the upcoming developments in District 7, we are witnessing the transformation of a history-rich, predominantly commercial precinct into a hip, culturally-rich and vibrant Civic District that could give the location a unique selling point.”

As the district cements its identity as a commercial and lifestyle hub, Singapore seems poised for a new address in prime residential living. And that’s something for prospective home buyers to keep an eye on.