OBSERVED: INCREASED BAD NEWS FLOW IN SINGAPORE MEDIA

There are a number of ways in which one can assess the health of the economy and observing the flow of business-related news is one such method.

The Singapore media have been pretty factual in its reporting of local business news. Which is to say nothing much's been censored or overtly glossed over. At least that's my assessment. But of course, Business Times' coverage do differ from Straits Times', especially in its nuancing by going for the throats.

In any case, these few weeks have seen financial reporters getting bylines in prominent the first five pages of the Straits Times. And most of the accompanying articles are reports of bad news in the local business realm. Retrenchment, dismal property sales figures, plunging exports. 

And that's not a good thing.

SHUNFU VILLE EN BLOC SALE?

The Business Times' Kalpana Rashiwala nicely hyped up the impending en bloc sale launch of Shunfu Ville, a sleepy HUDC enclave that was recently privatised. 

So...what are the upsides? Firstly, it's near Bishan and Thomson. So the perceived value of the centrally located plot is high. Second? It's slightly elevated.

Not sure if the developer would make use of this elevation to its advantage. But that's all the goodness to the place.

The nearest makan place is the FC a short walk away. Amenities like NTUC etc are either at Bishan Junction 8 or Thomson Plaza.

So what's not so good about the place? The NSE.

Yes, the dreaded North South Expressway will cut right in front of the plot. The last I heard, the underground entry/exit point could possibly be sited right outside Boon View and Tresalveo. 

That's one helluva noise hole people.

The only consolation is that the demolition/construction of the Shunfu Ville plot might coincide with the construction of the NSE. This way, would be residents are spared the noise, dust and traffic congestions from the construction of the NSE.

I also heard the NSE has 'eaten' into some parts of Boon View and Tresalveo's plots. Not sure if Shunfu Ville would also suffer from this partial makan.

The 2014 URA Masterplan shows that the place is not going to very densely built up. A good mix of private low-rise and high-rise. Near good schools like Raffles Institution and the incoming RGS in 2018, this would be a nice area for those who can afford the projected $1,400 psf and can endure traffic noise. Especially if you are road-facing.

One last look at the vicinity. By the way, a 3-room HDB at Shunfu Gardens is going for about 400k plus on a 60-odd year lease. 

Cheerios.

CLOSE FIGHT FOR RARE 'GEM' - CONDO SITE IN TOA PAYOH LORONG 4

I work near Toa Payoh. The place has changed little in the last 20 years except for more HDB blocks sprouting up or the older ones being spruced up.

Condo sites for sale are rare in Toa Payoh. I guess that's why the Lorong 4 site is hotly contested. However, it is not an ideal place. Especially with a temple sited so close to it. The noise and smoke is an issue during temple festivities. Do note that the temple is on elevated ground of more than 10 metres.

To get to the Braddell MRT station, you need to cross a road and cut through some blocks. 430 metres according to the Business Times. Not that bad. Unless it rains. There are no sheltered walkways.

For those who drive and intend to get to town for work via the Braddell entrance to CTE, good luck. The Braddell flyover feeds to Braddell Road which leads to CTE. Traffic is a crawl for that few hundred metres.

However, the more interesting plot of land is not the condo site. It is the blocks of HDB flats and carparks which you traverse across to get to Braddell MRT. With about less than 50 years' of lease left and a low built-up area, the site is plum for SERS.

Police Security Command occupies a plot which is slated for further detailed planning by URA. That may prove to be exciting if something commercial is planned for to support the speculated SERS development.

Still, I think it was wise to site the condo land next to the temple. Let the commercial players handle the downsides.

Cheerios.