Singapore's first heritage house, showcasing Peranakan lifestyle and culture, officially opened its doors Thursday evening, and gracing the occasion were President S R Nathan and Mrs Nathan. The 150-year-old Baba House was previously home to highly-respected Peranakan community leader, Tan Cheng Lock, who was president of the Malayan Chinese Association from 1949 to 1958. It was acquired by the National...
September 2008
Australia's James Cook University opened its US$3.5 million campus at Upper Thompson on Thursday. It has plans to double its student enrolment in Singapore to more than 2,500 students by the end of next year. When James Cook University first opened in Singapore in 2003, it had 50 students. Now, it has 1,200, of whom about 60 per cent are foreign. This stands as a stark contrast to the University of New...
But analysts divided over 2010 ‘nightmare scenario’ DESPITE healthy profits reported for subsales in the first seven months of the year, there seems to be an uneasy air looming over the property market - in particular, the slowing mid- and high-end residential segments - these days. The coffeeshop chatter found its way into public discourse last month when Wing Tai Holdings’ chairman Mr Cheng Wai...
Revamp of Jurong East could translate into high resale prices for property there UNLIKE Jurong West, which boasts over 70,000 homes, Jurong East has always been viewed as a rather sleepy estate with just over 22,000 homes. Even neighbouring Bukit Batok and Clementi have over 32,000 and 24,000 homes respectively. Other than the Singapore Science Centre and Chinese Gardens, there was not much going for...
The National Development Ministry has said the location of temporary dormitories is limited by the available choices of vacant state buildings. It tries to avoid housing foreign workers in residential areas and seeks residents' understanding and support if some dormitories are located near their homes. The ministry said this in response to Channel NewsAsia's query after residents of Serangoon Gardens...
Foreign Minister George Yeo said the temporary dormitory proposal at Burghley Drive, where Serangoon Garden Technical School used to be located, is at a preliminary stage. Mr Yeo, who is also an Aljunied GRC MP, was speaking to Serangoon Garden residents at a dialogue on Wednesday. He said the residents' concerns are legitimate and he will pass their feedback to the Ministry of National Development and...
Where the present exudes a seamless flow of indomitable class, its sense of legend to its past is a continuum of prestige. While the transformation breathes new life and style, the Butterfly House still retains its most endearing expressions. This unique historical and architectural interest, designed by Regent Alfred John Bidwell with a "butterfly" style was an artistic innovation. Like his other...
Property developer CapitaLand is selling its Capital Tower Beijing office tower for US$352 million. It declined to name the buyer, except to say it is a Fortune 500 company, which is looking to set up a corporate headquarters in Beijing. CapitaLand intends to use the funds to reinvest in other opportunities in China. It will also recognise a gain of about US$115 million. The developer said it received...
Residents are used to the food-lovers who invade the area’s eateries on weekends. But of late, there’s been a buzz of consternation, and a petition, going around Serangoon Gardens - following rumours of intrusion of another kind. The talk, which surfaced last week, is about how an empty school compound in the middle of the private estate could be turned into a temporary dormitory to house 1,500...
Auction sales of properties in Singapore hit a record high in August at S$22.7 million, 37 per cent higher compared to a year ago. The increase was mainly due to the sale of four residential infill land sites by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), despite taboos associated with property purchase during the Hungry Ghost month. The report by Collier's International said this confirms that investors are...