9 Hougang blocks to be torn
down for estate makeover
Move aimed at better land use, says HDB; part of area will be used
for private homes
Straits Times, The
(Singapore)
Prime News
November 16, 2007
Author: Tan Hui Yee, Housing Correspondent
NINE blocks of rental flats, shops and workshops, and a hawker
centre in the opposition ward of Hougang are being cleared by the
Housing Board.
The board said yesterday that the move was 'part of ongoing plans
to rejuvenate older estates and to facilitate better land
use'.
It will give tenants a chance to move to newer or upgraded homes
and 'inject new life to the estate and offer new housing options
and modern commercial facilities', said the HDB.
Similar clearing exercises have been conducted in Clementi and
Tanjong Pagar.
The selected blocks - 3, 4, 8 to 11, and 11A to 14 in Hougang
Avenues 3 and 7 - are about 33 years old. The site occupied by
blocks 12 to 14 - which has 60 workshops - will be put up for sale
for private homes in 2009.
The remaining land freed up will be developed for residential or
commercial use after 2010, depending on market conditions.
The Hougang cluster includes 654 one- and three-room rental flats
as well as a hawker centre described by residents as the heart of
the ageing community.
'The stallholders are very close to the customers...the community
spirit is very strong,' said Ms Nur Aidah Abdullah, 39, who sells
drinks at a stall.
The food centre is also a place where local MP Low Thia Khiang, who
is the Workers' Party's secretary-general, meets his residents. The
incumbent MP defeated People's Action Party challenger Eric Low in
last year's election.
Among the 654 rental flats being cleared, 400 are let out to
low-income families. The rest are leased to companies - which use
them mainly to house foreign workers - and managing agents, who let
them out in turn.
All residents will have to move out in about a year.
Many, like Ms Lin Caifeng, 65, said they will miss the place. 'I've
been living here for 10 years and have friends from all the blocks.
If I move elsewhere, I won't have anybody,' she said.
Unlike HDB's selective en-bloc redevelopment scheme - which is
offered to property owners - relocated tenants are not offered a
single alternative development to move to.
The HDB will offer flats in housing estates such as Pipit Road,
Beach Road, Geylang Bahru and Ang Mo Kio, but has reserved small
clusters of flats so that some tenants can be rehoused
together.
Eligible low-income tenants and stallholders will get the standard
clearance benefits and aid when necessary.
Tenants who want to continue renting will receive priority in
getting flats. Those who choose to buy will be given priority over
other buyers.
Tenants will also get a $1,000 allowance to help with the
move.
MP Mr Low told The Straits Times by e-mail that he was informed
about the plan only yesterday morning.
'I would expect the HDB to provide adequate assistance to
residents, market stall holders and shop tenants who are affected,'
he said.
The removal of the market and shops will inconvenience Hougang
residents, he added.
'Since the market and commercial area, according to HDB, will only
be developed for residential and commercial use after 2010,
depending on prevailing market conditions, why is there a need to
clear them by August 2008? What is the urgency?'
He did not reply when asked how he would help affected
residents.
The PAP's Mr Low said the residents would be better off on the
whole after the move: 'The kampong spirit may have to be given up.
But on the whole, this will be better for them.'
[email protected]
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KUA ZHEN YANG, KEITH LIN & GOH CHIN
LIAN
Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited
