No_1_January_1969 — Page 21

offered further

urban renewal sites

months plus one month per storey of eight projects and construction work the building to be constructed.

In addition the developer will be given: priority of clearance of layout and building plans to ensure early commencement of building operations; simulated sketch plans for development sites as guidance; and vacant possession of the sites within three months after the approval of the building plans.

Selection of tenders, which are due to be returned by March 14, 1969, will again be made on the premium offered, the overall economic return and the design merits of the project. The Board does not bind itself to accept the highest tender.

Of the first 14 urban renewal sites offered, the Board accepted tenders for

on all eight is now underway. A ninth project - the skyscraper Hotel Merlin in Golden Mile (architects, Eric Tay- lor and Associates) has been pro- has been pro- visionally accepted and is awaiting cabinet approval.

―

No offers were received for the re- maining five sites and the Board has now announced that it is prepared to negotiate with possible developers for these sites, under the same terms as those offered in the tender invitation.

While the Singapore Government is to be commended for its progressive approach to the problems of urban renewal, it has failed in one respect, in that overseas corporations have not been attracted to invest in the projects.

A reason for this may be that for overseas investors insufficient informa-

tion is available from the brochure and contract form regarding cost of mate- rials, taxes, rentals obtaining and labour conditions in Singapore.

They would not be encouraged too by the fact that flats cannot be leased until after completion of the building - creating mortgage difficulties both for the developer and for the prospective purchaser.

Another deterent for overseas in- vestors may be that their tenders are to be judged on both price and plans, which means that the Board has the

authority to assess without saying what are its criterions. A more correct meth- od would surely be to award the project to the highest bidder, if his plans are acceptable.

Models of suggested schemes:

A Chin Swee Road - offices/hotel/shopping B Chin Swee Road offices/shopping Tras Street - offices/hotel/shopping

C

ד

D Penang Road – offices/hotel/showroom/

car park

E

Cecil Street - offices/shopping F North Bridge Road

car park

offices/shopping/

G Synagogue Street

car park H Anson Road – offices/showrooms

offices/showrooms/

STREET

Me. CALLINE

KER

CECIL

E

STREET

Far East BUILDER, January 1969.

STREET

REDEVELOPMENT UR

REN: MERG

25

H