Chinatown Business Association wins tender to manage iconic Smith Street in Chinatown
According to SLA, the revitalised Smith Street will see a new line-up of lifestyle concepts and eating experiences. It states that CBA’s bid of “differentiated way of life principles, corresponding programs and improvements to the public realm intends to further promote regional Chinese heritage and build up the identity of the area”.
Lim says that the tender movement was “very challenging” however CBA benefitted from its active existence in the precinct for over two decades. “Over the two decades, we have constructed and nurtured partnerships, and this has bought us a deep-rooted connection to the ground,” she says. The organisation has indeed organised past occasion such as wide-scale celebration parties such as 5 Footway Celebration and Dumpling Event, to motif markets, street activities, occasions and workshops.
The master tenant are going to take on the combined management of the shophouses and a nearby State land plot, which have a complete acreage of 34,066 sq ft and an estimated gross flooring area of 33,065 sq ft.
Lakegarden Residences condo floor plan
“Visitors to Chinatown Singapore can expect even more curated services and experiences for both locals and travellers upon the conclusion of the Smith Street rejuvenation project. We are looking to bring in much more engaging and experiential community programs, in addition to even more different offerings for example, imaginative lifestyle, retail industry and co-living/co-working approaches, whilst maintaining and commemorating the place’s ethnic and architectural heritage,” claims Lim Yick Suan, managing supervisor, Chinatown Business Association.
She includes that CBA will introduce “distinctly Singaporean F&B offerings and worldwide food offers for either locals and visitors to enjoy at Smith Road”.
The tender was assessed based on cost and the quality of each submitted idea. It brought in 5 different bidders the moment the tender closed in March, including CBA which sent the winning bid of $123,000. As the master tenant, CBA will certainly take care of the buildings for 5 years plus a second term of 4 years.
The Chinatown Business Association (CBA) has won the tender for a row of renowned shophouses along Smith Street in Chinatown. CBA consists of stakeholders running in Chinatown, such as business leaders, grassroots leaders, Chinese clan associations, hoteliers, hawkers and retailers.
Noontalk Media submitted the highest quote of $180,000, followed by runner-up CBA. Other bids ranged from $108,174 from Benlo Ventures to $68,177 from ABR Holdings and a $53,000 quote from IGYM Fitness.
“This experience is unique to CBA, and we intend to utilize on our connections in the area and knowledge of Chinatown Singapore’s heritage and society to infuse more vibrancy to Smith Road and Chinatown Singapore,” claims Lim.
The tender to assign an one master occupant to supervise the historic row of shophouses at 11 to 37 Smith Street was mutually launched by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) back in November last year.
