Condo Site Near Circle Line Station Up For Sale

Source : The Straits Times, August 28, 2008

A LAND plot for a condominium has been made available for sale in Serangoon Avenue 3, next to the Lorong Chuan MRT Station on the new Circle Line.

Despite lacklustre activity in the private housing market, property consultants expect this 1.39ha site to be favourably received, given its choice location.

'Although the current cautious mood and slow sale activity in the residential market have diminished developers' appetite for development sites, there is a high probability that the site will be released for sale by tender because of its favourable location with good surrounding amenities,' said Mr Nicholas Mak, director of research and consultancy at Knight Frank.

The plot is adjacent to Nanyang Junior College and near other schools such as St Gabriel's Primary and the Australian International School. It is also close to Serangoon Gardens and the Chomp Chomp food centre, as well as the mega mall in the future Serangoon Hub.

Mr Mak expects site bids of between $83 million and $107 million, or $200 to $255 per sq ft (psf) of potential gross floor area.

Mr Ku Swee Yong, director of business development and marketing at Savills Singapore, was slightly more optimistic. He said bids could come in at about $130 million, or $300 per sq ft of potential gross floor area, based on an expected selling price of $850 psf for the finished units.

'There are a couple of smaller developers who may be in need of land, and who may find this medium-sized mass market property suitable,' Mr Ku said. A new condo on the site could host 350 to 400 units of 1,000 to 1,200 sq ft each.

The Government yesterday said the site was open for applications by interested buyers. If a developer submits a minimum acceptable bid, it will trigger a public tender for others to submit offers.