Bustling Days And Dazzling Nights With New Downtown Project

By Wong Siew Ying and Bryson Chew

From bustling days to dazzling nights, Singapore’s downtown has it pretty well covered. And now, more housing options will be added to the Marina South area, much to the delight of those who want to get up close and personal to the city vibes.

A new 1.73-hectare White site in Marina Gardens Crescent could offer up to 775 new housing units and an estimated 6,000 square meters of commercial space. The 99-year leasehold in the Rest of Central Region (RCR) received a sole bid of $770.5 million (equivalent to a land rate of about $984 psf per plot ratio) from a three-way joint venture between GuocoLand, Intrepid Investments (an entity of Hong Leong Holdings) and TID Residential, in a tender which closed on 18 January 2024.

The last GLS site that was sold in the area was the Marina Gardens Lane plot, which was awarded for about $1.034 million - translating to a land rate of $1,402 psf psf ppr - in July 2023. The Marina Gardens Lane project has yet to be launched for sale at the time of writing.

Spectacular views and convenient urban living

One of the perks of living in this upcoming development has to be the prospect of breathtaking seafront views towards the Straits of Singapore or panoramic views of Marina Bay. Future residents will also be at the heart of all the action – getting their “front-row seats” to key events happening in the area, such as the New Year’s Eve Countdown, River Hongbao celebrations, Christmas Wonderland showcase, and the iconic F1 Singapore Grand Prix night race.

Convenience is also likely going to be a buzzword that will be used to describe the Marina Gardens Crescent project. Not only, will there be commercial offerings on-site, the project will also be connected to the upcoming Marina South MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). This means residents will get from home to the MRT station likely within 2 to 3 minutes. 

Connectivity

The TEL currently offers seamless rail connectivity to commercial hubs like Shenton Way and Orchard Road, and on towards Woodlands. When fully completed in 2025, the TEL will significantly improve connectivity to Eastern Singapore, with stations traversing from Katong Park to Marine Parade, Siglap, Bayshore, and further on to Sungei Bedok. It is also well-served by major roads, with direct access to the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE).

As a nod towards sustainable living, the new 45-hectare Marina South precinct – where the Marina Gardens Crescent site is located – has been envisioned as a car-lite and community-centric residential precinct, according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The upcoming precinct has been planned as a mixed-use residential neighbourhood comprising a mix of residential, hotel, retail and some office uses.

The URA said that Marina South will be characterised by “pedestrian-friendly streets, a comprehensive cycling network, a pedestrian mall and an underground pedestrian network” that connects to the MRT stations. In addition, a series of planned elevated pedestrian connections will also seamlessly connect the precinct to Gardens by the Bay and to the coast. This sounds enticing, particularly for avid cyclists, hikers, and just about anyone who loves a stroll in the city. Currently, cyclists and joggers can easily get from Marina Bay to East Coast Park via the Park Connector Network (PCN) for their recreational activities.

Urban oasis

It is not all hustle and bustle, chances are residents will get to enjoy pockets of peace and a good dose of nature. The URA also noted that when fully developed, Marina South will enjoy good access to amenities such as parks, public spaces, recreational options, shops and F&B outlets, as well as community facilities such as childcare centres.

Notably, the Marina Gardens Crescent site is within walking distance to Gardens by the Bay; and slightly further lies the Marina Barrage and Bay East Garden, which offers a grand view of Marina Bay and the central business district.

Therefore, the upcoming Marina Gardens Crescent has the makings of an urban oasis, with given its proximity to these parks, as well as the public spaces and greenery that will be offered in the Marina South precinct.

Amenities and schools

Future residents will likely not lack in F&B and retail options, with the on-site commercial offerings, as well as a plethora of amenities nearby. These include shops and restaurants at Marina Bay Sands, food courts and eateries at Asia Square, and Marina One, and the famous La Pa Sat hawker centre. Moving a bit further, there are more dining options in the Telok Ayer area, Tanjong Pagar, as well as Marina Square, Millenia Walk, and Suntec City across the bay.

Where they may be lacking could be the limited schools in the vicinity. There are presently no primary schools within 1-km of the Marina Gardens Crescent site - the nearest being Cantonment Primary which is more than 2 km from the plot. While this could be a concern for families with young children, it may not be an issue for those with older school-going kids.

Along the TEL, there are schools such as: Singapore Chinese Girls’ School and Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) situated near Stevens station; CHIJ St Nicholas Girl's School near Mayflower station, and the CHIJ Secondary School (Toa Payoh) near Caldecott station. When the TEL is fully-operational, it opens up more school choices in the East, including Dunman High School, Canadian International School, St. Patrick’s School, CHIJ Katong Convent, and Victoria School and Junior College.

Transformation central

As if being part of the new Marina South precinct is not enough, there is more excitement in the future, as the phased development of the Greater Southern Waterfront is set to link Marina Bay towards Keppel and Pasir Panjang. Among the first developments in Greater Southern Waterfront would be the Keppel Club site which will be transformed into a new residential precinct with some 9,000 private and public housing.

Hence, home buyers will be buying into not just the prospects of the new Marina South estate, but also look to potentially enjoy the benefits from the upcoming Greater Southern Waterfront as well.

About the Developer

GuocoLand is an award-winning developer firm with a diversified portfolio comprising residential, hospitality, commercial, retail and integrated developments spanning across the region. GuocoLand has been awarded with a number of accolades both locally and internationally, in recognition for its quality, innovative developments and commitment to business excellence. In Singapore, the Group has successfully developed 36 residential projects yielding approximately 11,000 apartments and homes. Some of its most recent projects include, Midtown Modern, Midtown Bay, Wallich Residences, Meyer Mansion, Martin Modern, Leedon Residences and Goodwood Residences.

Intrepid Investments is a subsidiary firm of Hong Leong Holdings. Hong Leong Holdings was formed in 1968 as Hong Leong Group's privately held property investment and property holding vehicle. It has since established itself as a major player in the property market, making it one of the most sought-after providers of a comfortable home. To date, it manages eight commercial projects and has developed close to 100 residential properties, including a range of mid to high-end residential projects in some of the country's most coveted neighbourhoods; the projects included Penrose, Midwood, The Avenir, Sage, and The Tate Residences.

TID Residential is a long-time partnership between Hong Leong Group and Mitsui Fudosan. Hong Leong Group is a Singapore MNC while Mitsui Fudosan is a one of Japan's leading real estate companies. The partnership has successfully developed and launched several residential projects in Singapore. Among them, The St. Regis Singapore Hotel & Residences, The Oceanfront @ Sentosa and the Optima @ Tanah Merah, One North Eden, Forest Woods, The Brownstone EC.