Saturday, May 27, 2006
[RealEdge] TodayOnline : Changi Hospital to be put up for public tender next month
 This story was printed from TODAYonline | |
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| Reviving an old haunt Changi Hospital to be put up for public tender next month Weekend • May 27, 2006 Cheow Xin Yi xinyic@newstoday.com.sg THE old Changi Hospital, the favourite haunt of Singapore's paranormal sightings and late night escapades, is set for an injection of life. The three-block property — standing on a total site area of 12,975 sqm — will be put up for public tender by interested developers and enterprises next month. Once a military hospital, the 70-year-old building situated on Halton Road was where prisoners of war were brutally tortured during World War II. It was vacated in 1996 and formally returned to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) two years later. The SLA, together with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), has been studying appropriate uses for it that would "complement the rustic character and tie in with the overall planning vision for Changi point", said its chief executive, Mr Lam Joon Khoi. After consulting planning agencies, a list of permissible uses was decided upon for the building. They included turning the compound into a commercial school, student hostel, chalet, recreational club, adventure camps and a spa. Although the SLA felt it has thought of most possible options, it said it is open to evaluating new ideas upon submission of proposals. "The old Changi Hospital seeks out enterprising spirits ... to retain Changi's charm, shed its ghoulish image and enable people to enjoy more of Changi," said Mr Lam. Dr Kevin Tan, the president of the Singapore Heritage Society, welcomed the development and said it was a "sensitive and adaptive" way to re-use old buildings. "We do not want historic buildings to end up being totally commercialised. But given the guidelines, there's a public social element to it — to have it as a school or retreat, something to heal and educate. It's in the right spirit. "Hopefully, it will not just be given to the highest bidder, but also someone with the best concept plan," he said. Property experts, however, are less optimistic about developers' interest for the space, given its location and short three-year renewable tenancy, up to a maximum of nine years. "Since the lease is only for three years, whoever gets it would try to minimise capital investment into the project," said Mr Nicholas Mak, director of consultancy and research at Knight Frank. "They have to spend an amount which they can write off quite quickly. The building is not designed for uses such as chalets or adventure schools, so the demand would be quite limited," he added. Property consultant Mr Wallace Chu suggested hostels as a viable option, as it could cater to schools around the Changi area. "People may not want to change a lot of things. So, they will adopt the facilities of the hospital with its many wards and modify it according to what they want to do," he said. | |
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// posted by Shajahan @ 10:17 AM 