A guide to living in Sengkang - HiLife By Qing Jian (Asia1)

by AsiaOne

    

Sengkang is a relatively new town that used to be a fishing village. Did you know, the name of the town means "prosperous harbour"?

In the past decade, it has been established as a choice destination to live as private homes are built alongside rivers and next to parks and green connectors.

With a community hospital slated to open in 2018, this residential town is earmarked for even greater expansion.

Many amenities are conveniently located and you don't have to head to Orchard Road to get your shopping fix. In fact, there are 4 shopping malls located in Sengkang or along Rivervale Drive for you to shop till you drop.

If you have just moved into the area, we have just the guide for you to the amenities that are available in this town, so you know just where to go for last-minute groceries or to fill up your tank if your vehicle is running low on fuel.

Feel free to bookmark this article on your desktop or mobile browser or share it with your friends or new neighbours. While this list is not exhaustive, we hope you will find it useful, somehow.

Shopping centres

Getting to the shopping centres within Sengkang is convenient as many are available in the area.

A wide array of shops are available at the following malls listed below to suit all your shopping needs. Ranging from dining to clothing, these malls offer you plenty of choices to choose from.

Where to shop

• Compass Point: 1 Sengkang Square, #01-48, Compass Point, S545078
• Rivervale Mall: 11 Rivervale Cres, Rivervale Mall, Singapore S545082
• Rivervale Plaza: Blk 118 Rivervale Dr, S540118
• Seletar Mall: 33 Sengkang W Avenue, S797653

Clinics

If you ever fall sick, there are over 20 clinics and healthcare services available all across Sengkang, making access to medical services just a stone's throw away.

The Sengkang Polyclinic is located opposite Compass Point at Sengkang Square and close to Oasis LRT station.

In addition, a 1,400-bed Sengkang General and Community Hospital is slated for completion in 2018.

Most of the General Practitioners in the clinics around Sengkang are partners of the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), offering government subsidies for medical and dental care to Singapore Citizens from middle and lower-income families, as well as senior citizens.

View the list of clinics in Sengkang here:

Petrol stations

If you are new to the town and need to know where to go to refuel your vehicle, there are 3 petrol stations in the area.

• Esso: 821 Punggol Road S829169
• Shell Station: 61 Sengkang East Road S545015
• SPC: 91 Sengkang East Way S544885

Schools

For residents who are keen to send their children to schools in the vicinity, Sengkang has 8 mainstream primary schools and 6 secondary schools to choose from.

They are:

• Anchor Green Primary School: 31 Anchorvale Dr, Singapore S544969
• Compassvale Primary School: 21 Compassvale St, Singapore S545091
• Fernvale Primary School: 1 Fernvale Lane 797701
• Nan Chiau Primary School: 50 Anchorvale Link S545080
• North Spring Primary School: 1 Rivervale St, Singapore S545088
• NorthVista Primary School: 20 Compassvale Link S544974
• Seng Kang Primary School: 21 Compassvale Walk, Singapore S545166
• Springdale Primary School: 71 Anchorvale Link, S544799
• CHIJ Saint Joseph's Convent: 62 Sengkang East Way, S548595
• Compassvale Secondary School: 51 Compassvale Crescent S545083
• Nan Chiau High School: 20 Anchorvale Link, S545079
• NorthVista Secondary School: 11 Rivervale Link S545081
• Pei Hwa Secondary School: 21 Fernvale Link S797702
• Sengkang Secondary School: 10 Compassvale Lane S545090

Community Centres

Sengkang has 3 community clubs that offer access to some basic community services.

They are conveniently located beside other major facilities such as the Sports Centre, Compass Point and the neighbourhood police post.

Sengkang CC has a multi-purpose hall for various activities from pickleball to line dancing. On Saturdays, residents can also sing karaoke with a live band.

Rivervale CC offers parent-and-child baking sessions, as well as a free PC clinic twice a month to assist residents troubleshoot their computer problems.

Anchorvale CC is nestled at the east bank of the Punggol River along with the Sports Centre. Residents can book the multi-purpose halls for community activities or have a unique dining experience along the river.

Where to locate CCs:

• Anchorvale Community Club: 59 Anchorvale Road, S544965
• Rivervale Community Centre: Blk 193 Rivervale Drive, #01-787, S540193
• Sengkang Community Club: 2 Sengkang Square, S545025

Eateries/ Supermarkets

Looking for a quick meal after work? Sengkang presents a whole range of options. One of them is Kopitiam Square (above) which is a market cum food centre located right next to Sengkang MRT station.

Housing 60 food stalls, the 1,200 seater food centre offers a diverse range of hawker food like chicken rice and bak kut teh. Half of the stall also operate 24/7 - so you know where to go if you need to grab a late meal or some supper.

Those who want to do their marketing can also shop for fresh produce at Kopitiam Square. Market stalls close as late as 9pm.

But if you prefer shopping at supermarkets, there is no lack in the area.

Where to stock up on groceries:

• Kopitiam Square: 10 Sengkang Square S544829
• Cold Storage: Compass Point, #B1-38, S545078
• FairPrice Finest: Seletar Mall, #B2-24, S797653
• NTUC Fairprice: Rivervale Mall, #03-01, S545082
• Prime Supermarket: 263 Compassvale St, S540263

24-hour supermarkets

NTUC Fairprice outlets can be found at these 3 locations:

• 277C, Compassvale Link , #01-13, S544277
• 21, Sengkang West Avenue , #01-11/12, Fernvale Point, S797650
• 118, Rivervale Drive, #01-08, Rivervale Plaza, S540118

Fitness

Want to exercise? Head to Sengkang Riverside Park or Sengkang Sculpture Park where there's plenty of space for a brisk walk or jog. Or visit the Sengkang Sports Centre that is co-located with the Anchorvale Community Club. There are 2 swimming pools there, a gym and a world-class hockey field (above).

Where to get some exercise:

• Sengkang Riverside Park
• Sengkang Sculpture Park
• Sengkang Sports Centre: 57 Anchorvale Rd, S544964

Religious sites

And if you are looking for a place of worship, here are some in the neighbourhood.

• Al-Mawaddah Mosque: 151 Compassvale Bow, S544997
• Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnanamuneeswarar Temple: 50 Rivervale Cres, S545029
• Pu Ti Buddhist Temple: 121C Punggol Road S546637
• Sengkang Methodist Church: 31 Anchorvale Rd, S545056
• St Anne's Church: 66 Sengkang East Way, S548593

- See more at: http://web.asia1.com/hilife/a-guide-to-living-in-sengkang#sthash.zgq6Nn4U.dpuf

Source: HiLife By Qing Jian (Asia1)

Singapore's North-East - HiLife By Qing Jian (Asia1)

Exciting today, even more so in the future.

by Qingjian Realty

    

In just a few years, Singapore's North East region has grown from a developing town to one of Singapore's most residential districts. From Sengkang, Punggol to Seletar, this region has seen the completion of many coveted projects like the waterways and parks of Punggol, the development of the Seletar Aerospace Park, among many others. Yet, one can still look forward to even more exciting changes to make this region even more desirable than it is today.

Future surge in rental demands

As one of Singapore's most livable districts with its waterways, rivers, parks and many family-friendly amenities, Sengkang/ Punggol has always been a popular choice for both young and multi-generation families. With the introduction of new commercial, industrial and educational activities, employment opportunities are set to soar and further increase rental demand around these newly developed areas. Seletar Aerospace Park is also still developing. Upon completion, it is set to create about 10,000 employment opportunities. With the future pent-up demand for housing in this area, make the right decision now and own a home here in this district.

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Seletar Aerospace Park

The 320ha site is dedicated to the aerospace industry and its aviation research and development activities. With Rolls-Royce, Eurocopter, ST Aerospace, Jet Aviation and more, some 10,000 jobs are expected to be generated for local and foreign professionals.

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North Coast Innovation Corridor

A large commercial belt spanning from Woodlands to Punggol. This will be an innovative economic corridor buzzing with ideas, creative design and new technologies.

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Waterway Point

4 levels of shopping, dining and entertainment, all by the waterfront! There is also a library, a 24-hour NTUC Finest, a community club, a 1000-seat IMAX cinema and many more!

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Punggol Learning Corridor

Designed to house new educational institutions including a new tertiary institution, this area will be developed alongside the Creative Cluster to meet the dynamic needs of innovation.

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Punggol Creative Cluster

A new district to house innovative new industries, with green spaces, community spaces and excellent waterfront views to provide an attractive work and play environnent.

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Punggol Waterway Park

A 12.25ha riverine park located just minutes away from Punggol Town Centre. Adults will enjoy the scenic view of the Waterway while kids will have a ball of a time at the water and sand play area.

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The Sengkang General and Community Hospitals

Slated for completion in 2018, this 1,400-bed integrated hospital will offer cutting-edge general hospital competencies with community-based care. It will be next to Cheng Lim LRT station and across from the Sengkang MRT station.

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Compass Point

Just one LRT stop away, Compass Point has everything for everyone! Visit the library, get a manicure or have coffee in one of the many cafes. Compass Point is also an integrated transport hub, making travel to the rest of Singapore so convenient.

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Nan Chiau Primary School

Discover reputable schools like Nan Chiau Primary (within 1-km radius) and High Schools, CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent, and many more!

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Fernvale Point

A one-stop shopping centre that caters to the daily needs of residents. The mall offers a wide tenant mix which includes a supermarket, a wet market, a food court and a clinic.

The Seletar Mall

Next to Fernvale LRT station, the new 4-storey complex will offer more than 130 brands including FairPrice Finest, NTUC Foodfare, a Japanese clothing brand, a department store and Shaw Theatres.

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Sengkang Sports Centre

A short stroll away, Sengkang Sports Centre houses many activities under one roof. Lead an active life, sign up for classes at the community centre or let kids have fun at the waterslides.

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Sengkang Riverside Park

Designed to provide a tranquil experience to visitors, the park houses a unique water feature that doubles as a wildlife habitat. Look out for many mangrove birds that visit this wildlife sanctuary.

- See more at: http://web.asia1.com/hilife/singapores-north-east#sthash.sm3We0aR.dpuf

Source: HiLife By Qing Jian (Asia1)

Bumper crop of 12,000 new flats to launch in November - AsiaOne

SINGAPORE - A total of 12,000 new flats will be up for a 'mega launch' in November, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced on Wednesday (Sep 23).

Mr Khaw said that the September BTO launch had been delayed to integrate three new housing policies: the new 2R Flexi Scheme, the increase in the income ceiling for new flats and enhancements to the Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG).

The minister added: "As implementation of any new policy does require some time, we therefore decided to delay the September BTO launch by a few weeks, so that these initiatives can benefit as many Singaporeans as possible starting from the very next BTO launch. Looking at the timing of the November BTO launch, we decided that a practical way is to merge the two launches into one mega launch in November."

The launch includes 7,000 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats in six HDB towns across the country - Bidadari, Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Punggol Northshore and Sengkang - as well as 5,000 balance flats in a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise. 

The September exercise would have yielded 2,150 studio apartments and three- to five-rooms in the Bidadari estate.

debwong@sph.com.sg

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015

AsiaOne

Source: AsiaOne

Move to ease traffic congestion at Sengkang, Punggol to kick in end-September - Channel NewsAsia

Over the past year, residents have complained about the bottleneck in traffic at the Sengkang-Punggol exit, which was the result of two bus lanes that opened in 2014. 

SINGAPORE: From end September, drivers entering Sengkang and Punggol towns from Tampines Expressway (TPE) can enjoy smooth travel, even during peak hours, according to the Pasir Ris-Punggol and Punggol East Grassroots Organisations and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday (Aug 28).

Over the past year, residents have complained about the bottleneck in traffic at the Sengkang-Punggol exit, which was the result of two bus lanes that opened in 2014. The bus lanes serve two bus stops and 11 bus services, while motorists currently travel on the other two lanes.

The bottleneck issue was brought up to the Chairperson of the Public Transport and Traffic Committee for Punggol North Loke Choon Wai, and Chairman of the Punggol East Citizens' Consultative Committee Raymond Lye.

"When the bus stop opened in August last year, I think what became apparent very soon was that the traffic flow changed, because there were two dedicated bus lanes and there were two car lanes," said Mr Lye. "So when the bus stop opened, I think the bus users were very happy because the bus stop was generally clear all the time for the buses, so the buses had a very smooth journey.

"But for the car owners, they realised that the traffic flow became worse. Jams started to build up, and during peak periods the jam could go all the way back to the KPE exit into the TPE." 

Mr Lye went on to explain that they had received feedback that the bus lanes were sometimes relatively empty while motorists faced congestion in the other two lanes during peak hour.

“I think some of the car owners got a little bit frustrated when they were caught in the jam, and they started driving into the bus lane,” he said, adding that when there appeared to be more unhappiness when traffic enforcers took photos of motorists who drove through the bus lanes.

“It's like, 'look, the car lanes are congested, the bus lanes are empty, so when I use the bus lanes, I'm not causing any congestion for the buses, so why are you doing this?'” said Mr Lye. 

After months of discussions with the LTA, motorists will be able to travel on the outer bus lane, although they must still give way to buses when on this lane. The lane will feature a second Mandatory Give-Way To Bus road marking.

This will benefit buses exiting the first bus stop at the exit, before they continue straight on to TPE or turn right towards Punggol Town. It is expected to ease traffic congestion, and ensure commuters can continue enjoying smooth rides while travelling on public transport.

Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Vice Chairman of Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council Janil Puthucheary, who lobbied for the enhancements to improve traffic at the exit, welcomed the approval of the proposed solution.

"This new bus lane enhancement is actually quite useful, because it gives the bus the right and also a path that is clear to bring our residents home," said Mr Teo.

- CNA/kk/ek

• By Liyana Othman
• POSTED: 28 Aug 2015 16:12
 
• UPDATED: 28 Aug 2015 23:37
• Source: Channel NewsAsia

Great hangouts in Sengkang - AsiaOne

SINGAPORE - Has anyone ever said to you that Sengkang is "ulu" (Malay for remote or out-of-the-way) and boring when you told them that you live there?

Well, the next time someone tells you that, you can inform him politely that he's very wrong, and prove it to him by taking him to these few places:

Sengkang Swimming Complex

It used to be that to play on water slides in Singapore, one had to visit a resort or amusement park - cue memories of Wild Wild Wet at Pasir Ris, Fantasy Island in Sentosa and Big Splash at East Coast Park (for the older folks).

Now, all you have to do is head over to Sengkang Swimming Complex.

With five pools - including a jacuzzi pool and a 50m sheltered pool - and eight slides, it is a resort unto itself. Younger children can play in the fun pool, where a bucket full of water empties itself onto the kids every few minutes!

This public swimming complex is a part of the larger Sengkang Sports Centre. Admission cost is just $2 for adults and $1 for children on weekends.

Sengkang Riverside Park

Next to the Sengkang Sports Centre is the sprawling Sengkang Riverside Park. At 21ha, the park is about the size of 28 football fields put together.

This pocket of calm and tranquillity in busy Singapore even has a constructed wetland. There are many trails here to let visitors view and learn about the marshes and fruit trees.

Visitors can cycle with the family or take a leisurely stroll. Nature lovers can indulge in some bird-watching, while photography enthusiasts can snap photos of the constructed wetlands.

Sengkang Floating Wetland

The PUB Sengkang Floating Wetland in Punggol Reservoir is located within Sengkang Riverside Park and connects the park to the Sengkang Sports Centre.

This is a project by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to improve water quality and to give birds and fishes a natural habitat.

There are boardwalks that allow visitors to get close to and learn about nature. Information panels make the boardwalk an educational trip for both adults and young ones.

Kite-flying spaces

If you're in the mood to take flight, there are a few open spaces in Sengkang where you can indulge your kite-flying hobby, or let the kids run free.

Sengkang Riverside Park comes to mind readily, though you'll have to watch out not to step into the constructed wetland. Near to the park, the open space opposite the Farmway LRT station is favoured by many kite-flyers.

The green space bounded by Sengkang East Avenue, Anchorvale Lane and the Punggol Park Connector is actually designated a "kite-flying area", according to certain online maps.

Alternatively, head to the open space bounded by Sengkang West Road, Sengkang West Avenue and Fernvale Lane. Here, you can also see some football enthusiasts enjoying their sport on certain evenings.

Sengkang Fire Station

It's likely that not many people know this, but all fire stations in Singapore - except the one in Jurong Island - are open to the public on Saturday mornings, between 9am and 11am.

The fire station open house helps the public learn more about what the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) does. The children will have a blast clambering into the driver seats of the various SCDF vehicles; and they can try their hands at the equipment that firefighters use during the
demonstration.

Visitors can walk in for the open house, but a booking is required if your group has more than 10 people, SCDF said on its website.

Seletar Mall

When it comes to hanging out, Singaporeans love their malls - and there's a spanking new one right in Sengkang. Seletar Mall, which opened late last year, is next to Fernvale LRT station.

There's a cinema, a department store and shops like Uniqlo. There are also enrichment centres to cater to young families with children.

Apart from the food court, visitors can also find restaurants and cafes like Din Tai Fung, Fish & Co. and Starbucks Coffee.

Greenwich V

A stone's throw away from Fernvale is Greenwich V, at the junction of Yio Chu Kang Road and Seletar Road. The mall exudes more of a laid-back charm, with more outdoor spaces.

Here, you can find cafes like The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Toast Box, Cold Stone Creamery and Quiznos Sub, and restaurants serving Thai food, sushi, and many others. There's also a supermarket and children enrichment schools.

Even Rufus is in for a special treat, with a pet-grooming shop in the mall.

Jalan Kayu

For the ultimate laid-back vibe, dine at Jalan Kayu, near the northern part of Fernvale.

For decades, Jalan Kayu has been synonymous with roti prata. Generations of Singaporeans have dined at the prata shops there.

Some of the shops don't seem to have changed at all over the decades, retaining an "old-world" vibe with its decor.

You can probably get good prata elsewhere nowadays, but the ambience here will probably remind you of the time you spent with school or army buddies on a weekend night, enjoying crispy prata and teh tarik.

- See more at: http://web.asia1.com/hilife/great-hangouts-in-sengkang#sthash.0mVniEkF.dpuf

Steven Sin
AsiaOne

Source: AsiaOne

Bumper crop of shoebox units to come in 2017 - AsiaOne

High Park Residences in Sengkang has enjoyed roaring sales in recent weeks, but investors in its smaller units may have trouble leasing them out.

Many shoebox units are coming onstream, peaking around 2017, according to data from R'ST Research. Most will be in District 19 - Hougang, Punggol and Sengkang - with at least 700 of them set for completion over this period, based on caveats lodged.

Leasing demand is untested but supply is rising and fewer foreigners here may be able to afford them.

"Increasingly, many (overseas nationals) can't even afford renting a single shoebox unit, but would instead rent a room in an apartment... Rents will be under further pressure," said Savills Singapore research head Alan Cheong.

In District 19, projects with shoebox units completed last year and in the first half of this year include A Treasure Trove in Punggol Walk and Bartley Residences in Lorong How Sun. 

Others due this year and next year include The Promenade@Pelikat in Hougang, Parc Centros in Punggol Central and River Isles in Edgedale Plains. Later projects include Jewel@Buangkok and La Fiesta in Sengkang Square.

Other shoebox hot spots are District 14, with Eunos, Geylang, Kembangan and Paya Lebar, with at least 527 units; and District 12, including Balestier, Moulmein, Novena and Toa Payoh, with at least 383 units on the way.

In the suburbs, District 17, which takes in Changi, Loyang and Pasir Ris, will have at least 224 units, while District 22, covering Boon Lay, Jurong and Tuas, will have at least 151 units, said R'ST Research.
Overall, shoebox units account for an estimated 18 per cent of new sales for projects completing in the second half of this year and next year, according to SRX Property.

Prices of some newly-completed shoebox units in the Guillemard to Changi Road area in District 14 and 15 were about $1,350 per sq ft in 2013, rising to over $1,400 psf for new completions late last year and this year, said Savills' Mr Cheong.

But rents for a 41 sq m shoebox unit have fallen from $2,600 a month in 2013 to about $2,000 to $2,200 now, taking the gross yield from about 5.2 per cent at end-2013 to about 4.1 per cent now.

Most owners have holding power, preferring to keep a unit rather than sell at a low price, so yields have further room to fall to the mid-3 per cent level for shoebox units in more accessible areas like District 14, with rents below $2,500 a month. "Once we venture into the new developments in the outlying HDB estates, the market is untested. There, yields may tend closer to 3 per cent or even dip below that," Mr Cheong said.

Overall, prices of completed small units have fallen about 10 per cent from their last peak in August 2013, according to flash estimates for the NUS Singapore Residential Price Index. 

They slipped an estimated 1.1 per cent in June from May. But R'ST Research director Ong Kah Seng said while prices will keep falling owing to rising supply, the shoebox apartment remains relevant. "These tend to be occupied by younger tenants or owners, who will bring energy to the development and area - especially important for newer residential areas like Bartley, or those undergoing rejuvenation like Hillview and Lakeside."

Still, for those on a low budget, suburban shoebox units are not a persuasive proposition, said Century 21 chief executive Ku Swee Yong. One with about $2,000 a month can opt for much larger three-room flats in city fringe areas like Ang Mo Kio, Geylang or Toa Payoh, according to HDB's second-quarter housing data.

Mr Cheong noted that many people possess the liquidity or equity to stomach the total debt-servicing ratio, and even the 50 per cent loan-to-value ratio for a second housing loan. "Even if rents collapse, households feel that real estate is something tangible and are more interested in deploying their capital, rather than looking at fundamentals... (Yields) will be challenged in some areas."


This article was first published on August 13, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Thursday, Aug 13, 2015

Rennie Whang

The Straits Times

Source: AsiaOne

HDB resale prices continue to slide, down 0.4% in Q2 - Channel NewsAsia

The HDB Resale Price Index for the quarter was 135.0, down from 135.6 in the previous quarter – the eighth straight quarter of decline.

SINGAPORE: Prices of Housing and Development Board (HDB) resale flats continued their downward slide in the second quarter of 2015, with the Resale Price Index (RPI) showing a 0.4 per cent decline from the previous quarter, HDB announced on Friday (Jul 24).

The RPI for the quarter was 135.0, down from 135.6 in the previous quarter, HDB said. This is the eighth consecutive quarter of decline.

The number of resale transactions rose by 27.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter, from 4,135 cases to 5,286 cases. Four-room flats saw the highest number of resale applications, with 2,120 applicants, followed by three-room flats with 1,518.

The number of subletting transactions rose by 1.2 per cent, from 10,385 cases in the first quarter to 10,510 cases in the second quarter. As of Jun 30, the total number of HDB flats approved for subletting rose by 2.4 per cent from 48,338 to 49,480 units.

A total of 13,426 flats were offered for sale in the first half of 2015, comprising 8,039 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and 5,387 balance flats, HDB said. Another 4,860 flats in Bidadari and Punggol Northshore will be launched in September, and an additional 4,000 flats will be offered in a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats exercise.

BUKIT MERAH TOPS 5-ROOM RESALE PRICES

Among estates with more than 20 resale transactions in Q2, Bukit Merah came in tops, with median 5-room flat prices at S$783,500. For 4-room flats, the median price in the Central region was the highest for 4-room flats at S$855,000. Tampines had the most expensive median resale price for executive flats at S$688,900, and Queenstown had the highest median resale price for 3-room flats at S$380,000.

CENTRAL COMMANDS HIGHEST MEDIAN SUBLET RENT

In towns with 20 or more subletting transactions, median subletting rents in Central were the highest for the 3-room, 4-room and 5-room categories at S$2,300, S$3,000 and S$3,500 respectively. For executive flats, Serangoon had the highest median subletting rent at S$2,900.

- CNA/cy

Source: ChannelNewsAsia

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/hdb-resale-prices/2004758.html#