BEFORE Changi International Airport came along, there was Singapore's first civil airport that was hailed at its 1937 opening as the "best airport in the British Empire" — and went on to serve in World War II as the principal airfield for the Allies' fighter jets.
More than half a century on, the old Kallang Airport, which has since been converted into the People's Association's (PA) headquarters, is set to charm its way back into Singaporeans' hearts — complete with al fresco eateries and spa resorts, under the new name of Old Airport Square and retaining its Art Deco facade.
The PA will shift its HQ to Tyrwhitt Road next year. And come 2020, the former airport would be part of the new Kallang Riverside precinct, a key proposal in the Urban Redevelopment Authority's latest Draft Masterplan.
Unveiling the blueprint for Singapore's urban planning for the next 10 to 15 years, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said on Friday: "Together with the Sports Hub, Kallang Riverside will be a significant sports and lifestyle cluster with a slice of history, supported by beachfront hotels."
Bounded by Nicoll Highway, Kallang Road and Sims Way, Kallang Riverside would see 64 hectares of land developed into retail and food and beverage shops and a residential enclave flanking the Kallang River.
A network of walkways will serve the area, including an elevated pedestrian path linking Kallang MRT station to the Sportshub.
A new park connecting Lavender MRT station to the waterfront would also be developed.
Some 600,000 sq m of commercial space would be set aside for development, with 3,000 hotel rooms expected to be built. In addition, 4,000 new private waterfront homes would offer "more opportunities for Singaporeans to enjoy city living", said Mr Mah.
Developers gave the proposal the thumbs up with some describing it as the jewel in the latest Draft Masterplan, given its "great" potential.
Mr Simon Cheong, president of the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore, described the timing of the proposal as "fantastic", given that Singapore's waterways would be cleaned up by then with the construction of the Marina Barrage.
Housewife Molly Tan, who lives near the Indoor Stadium, said: "It's a bit too quiet and it's time we have a shopping mall or something."
However, Knight Frank's research director Nicholas Mak noted that it would take "at least five years" for Kallang Riverside developments to take shape — although a buzz would be generated in the next few years by the Youth Olympics.
Jones Lang Lasalle head of research Chua Yang Liang noted that the concept of urbanising Singapore's waterways has been "given a greater push" by the strong positive market response to similar developments in Sentosa.
Dr Chua felt that providing more waterfront homes would "greatly enhance social equity by making such homes more affordable".
The Draft Master Plan would be exhibited at the URA Centre from now until June 20.
THE BUSINESS OF PAYA LEBAR CENTRAL
The growth of Paya Lebar Central as a suburban commercial zone would be the latest step to ease congestion in the Central Business District (CBD), as urban planners address the imbalance in the ratio of jobs to homes in the various parts of the island.
Since 1991, Tampines, Jurong East and Woodlands have been developed – with varying success – into regional commercial centres as part of a “decentralisation” strategy.
On Friday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan announced that 12 hectares of land in Paya Lebar Central – which translates to more than 500,000 sq m of commercial space – would be made available for office, retail and hotel developments.
The area would retain its distinctive Malay character with a new civic centre to replace the Malay Village – a private venture that failed to take off – next to the rebuilt Geylang Serai market. The Geylang River would also be realigned to run through commercial developments along Tanjong Katong Road.
CBRE Research executive director Li Hiaw Ho said Paya Lebar Central would be a “commercial corridor that geographically bridges the CBD and Tampines Regional Centre”.
Mr Mah said: “In the west, traditionally, we have more jobs than homes. In the east, especially in the north-east, we have more homes than jobs.” He added that more jobs will be created in areas such as Sengkang and Seletar while more homes are being built in the western and central regions.
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