DO NOT describe Punggol as an ‘ulu place’ to Ms Chen Hui Zhen’s face. The 28-year-old logistics executive is likely to widen her eyes and retort: ‘But I’m so proud to live here.’
She will also likely add: ‘There is space and plants, and it feels like a resort, with easy access to the MRT and the expressway.
‘Amazingly, I can get to Dhoby Ghaut in less than 40 minutes.’
Ms Chen is so enamoured of her hometown for the past six years that she intends to stay on.
Last week, she and her fiance Jimmy Toh, 27, bought a four-room flat at Treelodge@Punggol, launched recently as Singapore’s first truly green housing project.
The seven 16-storey blocks, expected to be ready in 2012, will have, among other things, corridor lights powered by solar panels, common areas washed by recycled rainwater and plants growing vertically covering the exterior of walls.
They paid slightly over $200,000, wooed by the project’s unique features and its location close to the home of Ms Chen’s parents.
But isn’t the distance from the city centre too huge a sacrifice for these swanky fittings?
The couple beg to differ. Punggol MRT station, a mere seven-minute walk away, is their link to the rest of Singapore. The light-rail system connects them to the wet market, supermarket and shops at Punggol Plaza.
When they have children, they can choose from more than five primary and secondary schools in the area. More are set to come up.
Penny-wise, Punggol is also a smarter choice than a home in a mature estate. The design and features on offer make the flat seem like a private condominium - but at public housing prices, says Ms Chen.
For her fiance, who has always lived in centrally located areas like Jalan Besar and now, Potong Pasir, life in a new town will take some getting used to.
Says Mr Toh, who works in a multinational firm dealing in plastic products: ‘I’ll miss the food places near my current home, but if we buy a car, getting around will be easy.’
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s vision of a jazzed up and vibrant Punggol town has also added to their optimism.
He described a waterway weaving its way through the town, with parks, gardens and water sports and alfresco dining facilities on its banks, turning Punggol into a vibrant waterfront estate.
The couple say they look forward to kayaking and canoeing, walking and jogging in the gardens, and inviting friends over for barbecues in the park.
Ms Chen, who tries to complete two books a month, is also hedging her bets on a public library opening soon.
She quips that when all the plans materialise, perhaps the value of her flat will also go up.
But even without that possibility, she is already sold on the promise of Punggol. ‘With the LRT station at my doorstep…plants and trees everywhere, and a well-designed flat, what else can I ask for?’
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