14 town centres pilot scheme to revitalise shops
AN ageing estate that has been an informal hub for pet shops since 1986, Serangoon North Neighbourhood Centre is like Singapore's "second zoo", in the words of Mr Patrick Ong, president of the area's merchants' association.
HI THERE: Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu (centre) at Serangoon North, one of the estates that will be revitalised.
Now, it will get a new lease of life and a branding boost — with Serangoon North picked as one of the 14 town centres to pilot the Revitalisation of Shops (ROS) Scheme. Other sites include Bedok Town Centre, Toa Payoh Town Centre and Jurong West Neighbourhood Centre 5.
Under the $6-million scheme, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Spring Singapore will work with local merchant associations in each estate to co-fund upgrading of common areas and promotional activities.
HDB tenants who renovate their shops will also enjoy a rent-free period for one month under the scheme.
The co-funding scheme will have shop owners paying for half the cost of upgrading works, such as new walkways. The HDB and the Town Council will bear the other 50 per cent, or up to $10,000 per shop. For rental shops, HDB and town councils will bear 100 per cent of the upgrading costs, or up to $20,000 per shop.
While the HDB is overseeing the upgrading of the infrastructure, the owners also have to make sure that the interior of their HDB shops are attractive, said the Minister of State for National Development, Ms Grace Fu, who visited the Serangoon North centre yesterday.
As such, Spring Singapore will be helping HDB shop owners in areas such as marketing, packaging and displays.
Mr Steven Ker, a pet owner in Serangoon North, told Today that the revitalisation scheme is "very good" as it builds on the area's strength as a "one-stop shop" for pets.
Mr Alan Chong, who has been running his furniture store in the area for 12 years, said other shop owners will also benefit.
Ms Fu also announced the implementation of the final batch of the Restructuring Programme for Shops, involving shop tenants at 11 HDB blocks in estates such as Commonwealth Drive, Haig Road and Jalan Sultan.
The programme, first introduced in March 2005, is aimed at helping HDB shopkeepers who are located in areas where there is an oversupply of shops and suffer from poor business. The scheme provides financial assistance, in the form of ex gratia payment of $60,000 or a removal allowance of $10,000, to shopkeepers who either want to close shop or restructure their business.
Ms Fu said: "Shop owners see the challenges ahead of them. But individually, they might not have the financial resources nor the ability to carry out the revitalisation of their neighbourhood centres."
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