YET another underground shopping plaza could be added to downtown Singapore's warren of subterranean malls next year, linking Raffles City Shopping Centre with the upcoming Esplanade MRT station.
The $20 million link is being developed by Raffles City and should be ready by the middle of next year, providing another boost to Marina Bay.
Raffles City is studying the feasibility of opening the mall next year, though the Circle Line will not open until 2010. The new mall will create a more comprehensive underground network than the one beneath Orchard Road.
Spanning a 90m stretch from Raffles City to the station, it will be connected to CityLink, Suntec City and Marina Square.
Mr Danny Yeo, executive director of real estate firm Knight Frank, said the mall will be profitable even without the Circle Line running. The question is: how much?
The connection has only about 1,400 sq m of shop space, about two-thirds the size of the Wisma Atria food court, but Raffles City general manager Anthony Yip believes it will still draw shoppers. 'It will be built to the latest standards: Wide corridors, high ceiling, not just a pass-through,' he said.
When opened, commuters will be able to leave the Esplanade station, walk through the mall and end up at the Basement One marketplace of Raffles City. The basement floor was recently given a $20 million makeover converting the hotel operations area into space for 50 stores, which will open on July 15. New tenants include restaurants Din Tai Fung and Kuriya, MPH Bookstore, Billabong and That CD Shop.
This is the second overhaul for the 20-year-old mall. Its neighbours, Marina Square and Suntec City, have also been undergoing facelifts.
Din Tai Fung, which is opening its fifth outlet at Raffles City, said the opening of the Singapore Management University, the National Library and the reopening of the Singapore History Museum will add bustle to the area. Its spokesman, Ms Joyce Koh, said: 'If they could open it (the link) earlier, it would be better.'
krist@sph.com.sg
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