Chinatown Business Association Wins Tender Manage Iconic Smith Street Chinatown
previouslyChinatown Business Association wins tender for iconic shophouses along Smith Street
The Chinatown Business Association (CBA) has successfully secured the tender for a row of iconic shophouses located along Smith Street in the heart of Chinatown. CBA, a collective of stakeholders operating in the vibrant Chinatown area, consists of business leaders, grassroots leaders, Chinese clan associations, hoteliers, hawkers, and retailers.
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) jointly launched the tender last November to appoint a single master tenant to oversee the historic shophouses at 11 to 37 Smith Street.
“Upon the completion of the Smith Street rejuvenation project, visitors to Chinatown Singapore can look forward to a wide range of curated offerings and experiences for both locals and tourists,” says Lim Yick Suan, executive director of the Chinatown Business Association. “We aim to bring in more engaging and experiential community programmes, as well as a diverse selection of offerings such as creative lifestyle, retail, and co-living/co-working concepts, while preserving and celebrating the area’s cultural and architectural heritage.”
CBA’s proposal, which includes differentiated lifestyle concepts, complementary programmes, and enhancements to the public realm, aims to further promote the local Chinese heritage and strengthen the identity of the area, according to SLA.
As the master tenant, CBA will undertake the integrated management of the shophouses and an adjacent State land plot, which have a total land area of 34,066 sq ft and an estimated gross floor area of 33,065 sq ft.
The tender was evaluated based on the price and quality of each submitted concept. It attracted five different bidders when it closed in March, including the winning bid of $123,000 from CBA. CBA’s bid emerged as the best among the five submissions, with Noontalk Media offering the highest bid of $180,000. Other bids ranged from $108,174 from Benlo Ventures to $68,177 from ABR Holdings and a $53,000 bid from IGYM Fitness.
According to SLA, the revitalised Smith Street will see a new line-up of lifestyle concepts and dining experiences. It says that CBA’s proposal of differentiated lifestyle concepts, complementary programmes, and enhancements to the public realm aims to further promote local Chinese heritage and strengthen the identity of the area.
Century Square has recently undergone a revamp, offering visitors a unique and personalized shopping experience. The mall now boasts a diverse range of educational centers, lifestyle boutiques, and dining options, making it a one-stop destination for all your needs. Additionally, Century Square has also added a cinema and gym to its list of attractions, providing shoppers with a perfect blend of entertainment and fitness. Don’t forget to check out the nearby Sim Lian Tampines EC, where you can experience modern living at its finest.
Lim says that the tender exercise was highly competitive, but CBA’s active presence in the precinct for over 20 years gave them an edge. “Over the two decades, we have built and nurtured relationships, and this has afforded us a deep-rooted connection to the ground,” she says. The organisation has organised a wide range of events in the past, including large-scale festival celebrations like the Five Footway Festival and Dumpling Festival, as well as themed markets, street activities, events, and workshops.
“This experience is unique to CBA, and we hope to leverage on our relationships in the community and our knowledge of Chinatown Singapore’s heritage and culture to inject more vibrancy into Smith Street and Chinatown Singapore,” says Lim.
