A mature estate fringing the city centre, Bukit Merah is bordered by Alexandra Canal to its north, Telok Blangah to its South, Tiong Bahru to its east and Queenstown to its west. Its housing estates include Redhill, Alexandra Hill, Henderson Hill and Depot Road.
The former squatter town has become one of Singapore’s most popular housing estates. Bukit Merah flats are notoriously pricey, thanks to its prized location near the city. A 1,076sqf four-room flat at Lengkok Bahru, just across Redhill MRT and within 0.5km to Gan Eng Seng primary school, was recently listed on STProperty.com for S$780,000. Closer to Tiong Bahru MRT station is a nicely renovated 30-year-old five-room flat at Bukit Merah View. The spacious 1,421sqf five-room unit, smack in the midst of amenities like a nearby food centre and a 15-minute drive to town, is marketed at $960,000.
Bukit Merah is also home to many condominiums, including The Metropolitan, Ascentia Sky and the new Echelon that are conveniently located near Redhill MRT station.
Old Money
The high value of existing residences has priced many who grew up in the estate out of their own neighbourhood. Jessica Cheung, 27, whose parents bought their flat in Bukit Merah directly from the HDB over 30 years ago, laments: “I want to stay near my folks but the resale flats here cost so much, I simply can’t afford them. And that’s not including the massive renovation for the old flats.”
Like many, Jessica is hoping to book a new Build-to-Order flat in Bukit Merah. Unfortunately, the project originally planned for launch in May 2016 is now undergoing further review to better integrate the project with the surrounding developments, according to the HDB. “My boyfriend and I are holding back on buying a flat because we want to find out more about the new project,” she says. Others also tried their luck balloting for the Sale of Balance Flats in May 2016, where about 250 flats ranging from two-room Flexi (short-lease units; from $102,000) to five-room flats (from $622,000) were up for grabs.
New Developments
Adding glitz to the landscape are several new developments. Among them is City Vue @ Henderson, which will be completed in mid-2018. Lucky buyers include former residents at Redhill Close and Henderson who got first dibs when their homes were chosen for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). Consisting 1,232 units of two-, three-, four- and five-room flats, it is located at the junction of Tiong Bahru Road and Henderson Road, conveniently close to Tiong Bahru MRT station and Tiong Bahru Plaza. Among its highlights are the three sky bridges connecting the five blocks, which range from 27, 40 and 48 storeys. According to the Sale of Balance Flats exercise in May 2015, four-room units ranged from $455,000 to $630,000; five-room flats from $660,000 to $750,000.
The freshly completed Telok Blangah Ridgeview comprises 492 units of three- (from $317,000) and four-room (from $458,000) flats. Crowned by a sleek ridge-like roof feature, the residential blocks are staggered in height not just for an interesting skyline, but also to maximise views of the Southern Ridges, from which it draws its name.
Less conveniently located (and thus a little cheaper) is Depot Heights, with one new 26-storey and two 21-storey residential blocks completing Q3 2016. Comprising 418 units from studio apartments (from $115,000) to three- (from $285,000) and four-room (from $430,000) flats, the podium carpark and multi-storey car park offer roof gardens. In particular, the studio apartments are built specifically with the needs of those above the age of 55 in mind. They come with built-in kitchen cabinet with cooker hood and stove, two height options for kitchen cabinet (wheelchair-bound residents can choose the lower option), as well as elderly-friendly fixtures like grab bars, ramp at the unit entrance, bigger switches and an alert alarm system. These popular flats come at a premium. In comparison, a five-room unit at Choa Chu Kang costs less than half the price, from $290,000.
More To Do
Among its amenities are Alexandra Hospital and shopping malls, such as Ikea and Anchorpoint. It even boasts a new hotel — Park Hotel Alexandra, which has a connecting mall. Young families also have the choice of several primary schools, including Alexandra Primary School.
Lush greenery is also not far away. Kent Ridge Park, Hort Park and Mount Faber encourages residents to enjoy a green and healthy lifestyle. The Alexandra Canal park connector even lets you walk all the way to the city alongside the Singapore River.
Another draw: its authentic heartland eats. Redhill Food Centre – where Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was once famously snapped queueing up for chicken wings at Yan Fried Bee Hoon stall – draws foodies from all over the island. And since the area is also near Tiong Bahru, which has gone from gangster to hipster in recent years, a bustling hive of cafes and quirky boutiques await.
Ever Popular
Bukit Merah may be an old estate, but it undoubtedly still draws strong interesting. While its location is unbeatable, it also comes with a stiffer price tag than most other estates. For those willing to dig deep into their pockets, a home in Bukit Merah offers much convenience, especially if they work in the city. “Bukit Merah is such a convenient location that I cannot imagine living in far-flung estates like Jurong West or Punggol, and travelling over an hour to work every day,” says Ong PL, 55, who works in town. The good news is that prices in such popular estates usually hold strong through the good and bad times.
