Here’s a bright side to recent developments around the island: apart from the constant gentrification of heritage sites (visit Bukit Brown cemetery or the KTM tracks while you still can); we are also seeing plenty of upgrades at five new and mature neighborhoods.
Bukit Panjang
This sleepy Northwestern part of Singapore may not have the best accessibility, but that’s about to change in 2017. The Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub is expected to be
completed after delays due to diversion works of a canal in the area, and it will connect the new Bukit Panjang MRT and the existing Bukit Panjang LRT with other retail, dining and residential developments. Of course, it’s fully air conditioned (because anything less would be inhumane). And no development in Singapore is complete without a new mall and condominium. Located near the Integrated Transport Hub, Hillion Residences (8, 10 and 12 Jelebu Rd.) is a mixed development project with retail facilities, so don’t be surprised if you see residents shopping in their pajamas.
Violet Oon’s Kitchen
Bukit Timah
Finally, an MRT line near this foodie enclave is in the works. By next year, there will be not one, but six stations along Downtown Line 2, from Stevens Road to Upper Bukit Timah. For fusspots, heading to restaurants like Violet Oon Singapore (881 Bukit Timah Rd., 6468-5430, www.violetoonskitchen.com) and La Braceria Pizza & Grill (5 Greendale Ave., 6465-5918) might not be such a road trip anymore. Even better, the new Beauty World MRT station will make it easier to hit under-the-radar eateries such as Dulukala Peranakan Restaurant (#04-04 144 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6465-2036) and You Peng Fresh Mian Jiao Zi Guan (#04-23 144 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6463-5608). After stuffing yourself with food, walk off those extra calories by heading to the nearby Rail Corridor for a stroll—there are also plans to revamp a four km stretch from the former Bukit Timah Railway Station to Hillview.
Jurong
Not quite the boondocks of Singapore anymore, this fast-developing precinct has two relatively new malls (Jem and Westgate), reliable dining choices and a new waterfront park and promenade currently under construction at Jurong Gateway. This mixed development project is also set to be the second Central Business District come 2018, so look out for more office, retail, dining and entertainment spaces. And if you’re still not convinced this former swamp has what it takes to rival financial bigwig Shenton Way, a High Speed Rail System linking Singapore to Kuala Lumpur—with a remarkable 90-min travelling time—is slated for completion by 2020. This means more business buzz and delegates thronging the area.
Punggol Waterway Park
Punggol
We can’t
emphasize how much growth this new precinct has seen in recent years, and adding to its cluster of high-tech waterfront HDB flats, idyllic parks and food and dining establishments are new shopping mall
Waterway Point (surprise, surprise), rustic off-shore retreat
Coney Island (also known as Pulau Serangoon) and
Singapore Institute of Technology’s (SIT)
new central campus. While we’re not quite sure when Waterway Point and the SIT campus will be ready, Coney Island is already
open to public and it seems there may be guided walks and bird-watching activities lined up in the near future.
Orto
Yishun
The revamped
Orto (81 Lorong Chencharu, 6257-8858), an
expanded park connector network linking cyclists to other parks, more cycling routes connecting MRT stations, amenities and nearby towns and a new community hospital are just some reasons why we
love this neighborhood. But what sealed the deal is an upcoming integrated transport hub comprising a bus interchange, shopping mall (a basic Singaporean necessity), community club and town plaza, all a stone’s throw from Yishun MRT. Plus, a new hawker centre next to Yishun Park? That’s the icing on every heartlander’s wish list.
