Blog

Sales of high-end HDB resale flats have soared to 90% of 2020 levels in the first four months of 2021.
Million-dollar HDB resale flat transactions reached 74 in the first four months of 2021, more than 90% of the 82 units sold for the whole of last year, according to data released by SRX.
Senior vice president of research and analytics Christine Sun said with the trajectory of million-dollar HDB resale transactions, a new record may be inked in May.
The resale of million-dollar HDB flats have steadily risen after a slight dip in 2019 to 64 from 71 in 2018.
A five-room 120 sqm DBSS at Bishan Street 24 was sold for $1.25m in April, the second-highest priced resale flat on record just slightly below the priciest flat sold at $1.258m for a five-room HDB flat at Pinnacle at Duxton in September last year.
Meanwhile, Sun said construction delay of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats will continue due to manpower shortages and supply chain disruptions and is likely to drive up demand for HDB flat sales.
“The situation may be further aggravated if there are more construction delays stemming from the recent resurgence of cases in the community and dormitories. Couples who do not wish to defer their wedding or family planning may buy a completed home. There are also buyers who are turning to the secondary market as they may wish to avoid the uncertainty of not knowing when their flats can be constructed or if there may be further delays since the pandemic is still evolving,” Sun said.
PropNex’s head of research and content Wong Siew Ying agreed with Sun saying that HDB resale prices continued to rise amidst persistent strong demand and tight availability of resale flats.
“The improved economic outlook, projected delays in the completion of new BTO flats, as well as firm private home prices are some key factors that have spurred demand for resale HDB flats. The recent announcement of restrictions on arrivals from countries in the Indian sub-continent could further exacerbate the manpower crunch in the construction sector, leading to a much longer waiting time for new BTO flats,” Wong added. 

The tender is for the well-known $276.8m property in Maxwell Road.
SingHaiyi Group has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary SingHaiyi Investments Pte. Ltd. (SHIPL) has entered in a three-way joint tender with CEL Development Pte. Ltd. and Chuan Investments Pte Ltd (CIPL) for the collective purchase of the property known as Maxwell House for $276.8m.
CEL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd, an entity in which Mr. Gordon Tang and Mrs. Celine Tang are the joint controlling shareholders whilst CIPL is a newly incorporated company owned by Longlands Holding Limited, Mr. Tng Kay Lim and Mr. Yang Tse Pin, each holding approximately 33.33% in CIPL.
The property is a 13-storey commercial development comprising 145 strata units, located at Maxwell Road. It has a leasehold term of 99 years from 2 June 1969, with a land area of approximately 3,883 square metres and a plot ratio of 4.3.
The property is currently zoned as “commercial”, but the joint tenderers intend to seek approval from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to redevelop the Property into a commercial and residential” mixed-use development with a gross plot ratio of at least 5.6 and gross floor area (GFA) of at least 21,746 square metres, of which up to 20% of the total GFA will be zoned for commercial use. The joint tenderers will also seek in-principle approval from the Singapore Land Authority to issue a fresh 99 years lease.
SingHaiyi Group said that the joint tender will allow the company to better manage its financial and execution risks and tap on one another expertise and experience whilst expanding its development portfolio in Singapore.
The companies will enter in a joint venture with CEL owning a majority 40% interest, SHIPL 30% and CIPL 30%. 

Singapore Press Holdings’ media business bled red in the last financial year.
Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH) announced that it will transfer its media business to a not-for-profit entity.
In a bourse disclosure, the company announced that its relevant subsidiaries, employees, News Centre, Print Centre, their respective leaseholders, and allrelated intellectual property and information technology assets would be incorporated to SPH Media Holdings Pte Ltd (SPH Media), a wholly-owned subsidiary.
SPH Media, which SPH will provide with $80m in cash funds and $30m worth of SPH shares and SPH REIT units, will then be transferred to a not-for-profit entity.
The move is due to SPH’s media business falling into the red in the past five years, due to a decline in print advertising and print subscription revenue.
It was hit hardest in the last financial year ending in August 2020, recording a first-ever loss of $11.4m. SPH added that if it wasn’t for the government’s Job Support Scheme, it would have fallen further to $39.5m.
Despite digital circulation surpassing print circulation, revenue from digital subscription and advertising have not been able to offset the losses from print advertising and circulation.
SPH has already approached the Ministry of Communications on their restructuring proposal to put the media business on a long-term sustainable financial footing.
“With the resources that SPH is providing upfront and the prospects for public-private partnership funding going forward, we anticipate that SPH Media will have a more sustainable financial future. It will have the resources to focus on transformation efforts and quality journalism, as well as to invest in talent and new technology to strengthen its digital capabilities,” said SPH Chairman Lee Boon Yang.

Keep reading this https://www.propwise.sg/non-landed-residential-resale-property-transactions-for-the-week-of-march-16-march-23/ on Propwise.

We list down new and revamped places around the island that cater to the whole family. Here are some new or revamped places to go in Singapore in 2021.
Note: We will update this list as and when we receive the latest news.
New & Revamped Places in 2021
1. IKEA @ JEM

IKEA will open the doors to its first small-store concept in South East Asia on 29 April 2021. At around 6,500 square metres, the 3rd IKEA store in Singapore will be spread across three floors inside the popular Jem shopping centre. The store will be organised in a new way, combining the inspiration and products that IKEA has to offer for each core area of the home into one department, making it easy for customers to shop. This new store will not have a playground or built-in warehouse, but customers can look forward to buying the full IKEA range. Besides the IKEA Swedish Food Market, their popular IKEA Restaurant will be part of the offer, with Swedish meatballs, sustainable seafood and the local favourite, fried chicken wings.
Shop for free!
On 29 April, 10am, the first customer at our store entrance at Level 2 & 3 will get a FRAKTA bag to shop for free on us! Participant will get 120 minutes to fill the FRAKTA bag with cash and carry items only. Self-serve or pre-order items are not included. T&C apply.
Official Opening Date: 29 April 2021Address: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, Singapore 608549
For more information, visit here.

********************
2. Changi Chapel and Museum

The Changi Chapel and Museum will be reopening its doors to the public on 19 May. The revamped commemorative site features new content and artefacts presented in an intimate and engaging format, highlighting the personal stories, courage and resilience of the prisoners of war and civilians who were interned in Changi prison camp during the Japanese Occupation.
Official Opening Date: 19 May 2021Address: 1000 Upper Changi Road North Singapore 507707
For more information, visit Changi Chapel and Museum Reopening.
********************
3. Gallop Extension @ Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Gallop Extension is an eight-hectare addition to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, bringing the total area of the Gardens to 82 hectares. It comprises two conserved buildings that have been refurbished into the Botanical Art Gallery and Forest Discovery Centre @ OCBC Arboretum, the COMO Adventure Grove, and additional trails, scenic lawn and landscaped areas and naturalised habitats.
Official Opening Date: 13 March 2021Address: Opposite 1, Tyersall Ave Singapore 257700
For more information, visit Gallop Extension @ Singapore Botanic Gardens.
********************
4. Coastal PlayGrove (Former Big Splash)

Take on the Play Tower, which is Singapore.s tallest outdoor play feature, featuring 4-storey vertical net play area and slides on the third and fourth floor. The latter being the tallest outdoor slide in Singapore. The water play area guarantees fun for children as they run through the numerous water jets and splash around the wading pool and streams. Children can also reconnect with nature and engage each other in spontaneous play at the nature playgarden flushed with greenery.
Official Opening Date: 28 March 2021Venue: Coastal PlayGrove (Former Big Splash)
For more information, visit Coastal PlayGrove.
********************
5. SuperPark Singapore

Popular Finland based SuperPark, with its purposed built indoor sports-oriented activity center, has selected DreamUs to operate its 40,000 sq ft branded Singapore activity park under a new license agreement.
Be spoilt for choice with more than 20 sports-centric activities spread out over two massive levels to cater to guests of all ages, fitness, and skill levels! Everyone gets to Move with Joy with their friends and family at SuperPark! Look forward to a new play addition, Archery; various popular ball games like Street Basketball, SuperBall, Street Soccer and BaseBall; interactive games like SuperHoop, SuperPinBall, Valo Jump, Hot Stepper and adrenaline rushed games like Trampoline, Skate & Scoot, Flying Fox, SuperClimb and Tube Slide, amongst others.
Official Opening Date: 9 April 2021Venue: Suntec City
For more information, visit SuperPark Singapore Reopens.
********************
6. Green Corridor Central
Reopening of Rail Corridor (Central), the signature 4km stretch between Hillview and the conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station!
The area’s lush greenery and railway heritage were retained while making it a more accessible and safe space for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Exciting new enhancements you can now discover include:
🟩 Eight new or improved access points along Rail Corridor (Central)🟩 A new pedestrian underpass at Hindhede Drive🟩 Sensitive restoration and refurbishment of railway heritage landmarks, such as the two truss bridges and the Singapore Quarry Bridge
Green Corridor Underpass near Tanglin Halt
Also note that the barricades at Jelita Holland, Ghim Moh and Tanglin Halt have been removed since 28 March 2021. Therefore there is a continuous path from Kampong Bahru all the way to Hill View via the Green corridor with slight detour at Jalan Kilang Barat.
Official Opening Date: 22 March 2021Venue: Green Rail Corridor
********************
7. Museum of Ice Cream
Artist rendering of the Sprinkle Pool at the upcoming Museum of Ice Cream SingaporeImage Credit: Museum of Ice Cream Singapore
Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) is bringing its sold-out interactive museum experience to local shores, marking the first time the world-famous U.S. based attraction has set foot abroad. The experiential museum will be located in Dempsey, and will open its doors to visitors from August.
Housed within a lush 60,000 square foot property, MOIC will feature 14 never-before-seen installations dedicated to the celebration and experience of enjoying ice cream. Guests can expect to experience a fully functional, Singapore-inspired “Dragon Playground”, a pink and yellow jungle with 10,000 bananas, and the largest MOIC sprinkle pool ever created to bring their imaginations to life and create lasting memories over the magic of ice cream. Guests will also be able to enjoy five unique ice cream treats as they are guided through the 60 to 90-minute experience by talented #TeamMOIC performers.
Official Opening Date: August 2021Venue: Dempsey
For more information, visit Museum of Ice Cream.
********************
8. Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express

Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express offers visitors a chance to embark on a fascinating journey through the history of the Orient Express, reliving the experience of travellers who boarded the train more than 100 years ago. Spanning over 2,000sqm, the pop-up attraction will feature two original train carriages classified as National Treasures of France, and a 158-year-old locomotive shipped from France to Singapore, along with 300 heritage items such as uniforms, shields, a pullman car, affiches, Louis Vuitton original luggage, priceless porcelain and more. The attraction will also feature an exclusive Orient Express shop, Orient Express road cafe, Orient Express restaurant and lounge* and escape room experience*.
*Reservations must be made separately.
Official Opening Date: 27 March 2021Venue: Gardens by the Bay
For more information, visit Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express.

New & Revamped Places likely to be ready in 2021
9. Bukit Gombak Park
The 4.8-hectare park, which is located at Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 opposite the Bukit Batok Driving Centre, was originally scheduled to be opened in early 2020.
Visitors will be able to enjoy its greenery and recreational facilities that will include a hill trek and a nature playgarden, NParks said, adding that residents’ feedback on the features was gathered during the planning process.
Original Open Date: Early 2020Admission: Free
********************
10. Pasir Panjang Park

The new Pasir Panjang Park, stretching from West Coast Park to Labrador Nature Reserve, is part of the Greater Southern Waterfront (GSW), and will be completed in phases, with the first section following the engagement targeted for completion in 2021. The GSW extends from Pasir Panjang Terminal to Marina East, and covers 30 km of Singapore’s southern coastline.
Original Open Date: 2021Admission: Free
For more information, visit Pasir Panjang Park.
********************
11. Haw Par Villa

Haw Par Villa is a unique garden that is rich in educational value and grand in architecture. It is an undisputed wonderland of beautiful landscape and over a thousand sculptures that artistically portray stories and events based on famous Chinese historical personalities, mythology and legends.
Haw Par Villa is closed for upgrading works from 1 October 2020 to 1 July 2021
Projected Reopen Date: 1 July 2021Opening Hours: 9am to 10pmAdmission: Free
For more information, visit Haw Par Villa.
********************
12. Reflections At Bukit Chandu Museum

Reflections at Bukit Chandu is a World War II interpretative centre housed in a restored black and white colonial bungalow close to the former battle site – the Battle of Pasir Panjang. The centre is a place for visitors to reflect upon Singapore’s heritage of heroism. The presentation, through artefacts, exhibits and multi-media, invites visitors to contemplate about our nation’s war experience and to discover how far Singapore has come as a nation.
Reflections at Bukit Chandu is closed from 1 October 2018 for a major redevelopment.
Projected Reopen Date: Second half of 2021
For more information, visit Reflections At Bukit Chandu Museum.
********************
13. Chinese Garden In Singapore

The Chinese Garden is a 13.5hectares garden in Jurong Lake. The garden features numerous Chinese-style pavilions, a seven-storey pagoda, Chinese bonsai etc.
Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden are closed from 31 May 2019 for redevelopment works till end 2021.
Projected Reopen Date: End 2021
For more information, visit Chinese Garden In Singapore.
********************
14. TreeTop Walk

The TreeTop Walk (TTW) is the highlight of several long hiking routes in MacRitchie that brings you through different stages of mature secondary forest. The first of its kind in Singapore and in the region, this free-standing suspension bridge connects the two highest points (Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang) in MacRitchie and offers a bird’s eye view of the community of plants and animals that live in the forest canopy. The total length of the walkway is about 250m and its height from the forest floor varies, with the highest point at 25m.
TreeTop Walk is closed for maintenance works from 11 August 2020. Works are expected to complete by May 2021.
Projected Reopen Date: May 2021 (Delayed)
For more information, visit TreeTop Walk.
********************
15. Chinatown Heritage Centre Singapore

Located within three beautifully restored shophouses on Pagoda Street, the Chinatown Heritage Centre is the only place in Singapore that has recreated the original interiors of its shophouse tenants in the 1950s, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of Chinatown’s early residents.
Chinatown Heritage Centre will undergo enhancement works till April 2021.
Projected Reopen Date: April 2021 (Delayed)
For more information, visit Chinatown Heritage Centre Singapore.
********************
Revamped places projected to reopen in 2022
Singapore Philatelic Museum

The Singapore Philatelic Museum will reopen its doors to the public in 2022 as a dedicated children’s museum: a welcoming, imaginative and nurturing space that fosters learning. The new children’s museum will explore a wide range of themes, including heritage, culture and contemporary issues. As a permanent venue, the children’s museum will be a ‘starter museum’ to introduce young visitors and their families to the museum-going experience. It will present them with the opportunity to learn about themselves, their nation, and their place in the world, and develop common values and a shared national identity from a young age.
Targeted at children aged 12 and below, the museum will encourage them to explore and learn through hands-on and immersive displays, artefacts, personal stories, and role-playing. Its permanent galleries introduce Singapore’s history and heritage, and allow them to discover hidden treasures based on the nearby Fort Canning archaeological finds, travel in time to meet early pioneers, and run a neighbourhood Post Office.
During the development works, the museum will continue to engage the young through travelling exhibitions and education programmes at preschools, primary and secondary schools. These include Seeing Is Believing – Every Stamp Tells A Story at libraries, Stamps That Tickle Our Senses for preschools, and the National Stamp Collecting Competition and Draw My Stamp Story Art Competition for primary and secondary school students.
Projected Reopen Date: 2022For more information, visit Singapore Philatelic Museum.
********************
It’s the weekend and are you looking for things / activities to do? Check out our weekly roundup of Things To Do This Weekend In Singapore.

* * * * *
Want to be heard 👂 and seen 👀 by over 100,000 parents in Singapore? We can help! Leave your contact here and we’ll be in touch.
Stay in touch! Subscribe to our Telegram here for our latest updates.

Lost for ideas on what to do with your kids this weekend? There’s always something for the whole family. Make full use of the weekend and take your kids out to these family-friendly events!
For other upcoming events, visit Events in Singapore.

1. Little Footprints Preschool Open House

Head down to Little Footprints Preschool Open House to find out how more about their curriculum! Register your child during the open house for enrolment in 2021 to enjoy up to $3,000** savings on school fees and 50% off registration fees.
Book your appointment slots here.
Date: 8 and 15 May 2021Time: 9am – 1pmVenue: Refer to post on the 12 participating centresFor more information, visit Little Footprints Preschool Open House.
** Applicable to Non-POP centres only.
*******************************

*******************************
2. NAC-ExxonMobil Concert in the Park 2021

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra String Quartet will be performing works by Mozart, Borodin, Haydn, Monti, Delibes, and familiar songs like “The Moon Represents My Heart” by Weng Ching-His at the iconic Bandstand in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Official Opening Date: 9 May 2021Time: 6pm – 7pmVenue: NParksBuzz Facebook
For more information, visit NAC-ExxonMobil Concert in the Park 2021.
*******************************
3. Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom

Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom marks the artist’s inaugural major garden exhibition in Asia, and is the first exhibition of its scale to be hosted at Gardens by the Bay. Featuring 25 of the artist’s large-scale installations, as well as over 80 pedestal sculptures and two-dimensional works such as Glass-on-Glass paintings, the works are curated and set within the verdant tropical setting of Singapore’s iconic horticultural attraction.
Official Opening Date: 1 May 2021Venue: Gardens by the Bay
For more information, visit Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom.
*******************************
4. Singapore Heritage Festival 2021

Something new, refreshing and hybrid is coming your way – the Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) returns for its 18th edition in May! This year, discover the lesser-known stories of Singapore’s healthcare history and food heritage through a mix of on-site and online experiences, as we commemorate our healthcare milestones and continue to celebrate our rich food culture.
Official Opening Date: 3 to 30 May 2021
For more information, visit Singapore Heritage Festival 2021.
*******************************
5. Explore Singapore’s Chinese Opera at Stamford Arts Centre

Get acquainted with Chinese opera and its history through an exciting Virtual Reality (VR) 360-degree stage tour, and take a peek at what goes on behind-the-scenes during a performance. This is an immersive and educational experience for everyone!
Date: 3 April to 31 August 2021Time: 9am – 10pmVenue: Stamford Arts Centre
For more information, visit Singapore’s Chinese Opera at Stamford Arts Centre.
*******************************
6. Art by Quek Hong Shin

Take a journey through time, and discover the cultural icons that defined Singapore before it became the bustling metropolis of today. Through the Eyes of a Child: Art by Quek Hong Shin captures the vanishing collective memories from a time when coconut trees towered over attap houses, and children played in the busy back-alleys of old Chinatown.
Date: 2 April to 31 August 2021Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
For more information, visit Art by Quek Hong Shin.
*************************************
7. Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold Exhibition

Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold is IHC’s second community co-created exhibition, and features more than 450 artefacts – the highest number for any special exhibition at IHC to date – from over 50 local and international private collections, institutional collections of 17 Sikh organisations in Singapore, as well as Singapore’s National Collection.
Date: 27 March to 30 September 2021Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
For more information, visit Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold Exhibition.
*************************************

8. STAR WARS Identities: The Exhibition

The Force will be strong in Singapore as ArtScience Museum and Pico Pro combine their powers to host STAR WARS Identities. This marks the final stop of the exhibition’s global tour.
Date: 30 January to 13 June 2021Venue: ArtScience Museum
For more information, visit STAR WARS Identities: The Exhibition.
*************************************

*************************************
9. Paw-verbs on the Lawn @MHC

Paw-verbs on the Lawn pays tribute to the cat, its place in Malay literary culture and in the hearts of Singaporeans, and also welcomes visitors to the Malay Heritage Centre to learn the meaning and significance behind these common Malay proverbs, and have the opportunity to snap Instagram-worthy photos that these illustrations are already known for.
Date: 10 March to 30 May 2021
For more information, visit Paw-verbs on the Lawn @MHC.
*************************************
10. Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express

Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express offers visitors a chance to embark on a fascinating journey through the history of the Orient Express, reliving the experience of travellers who boarded the train more than 100 years ago. Spanning over 2,000sqm, the pop-up attraction will feature two original train carriages classified as National Treasures of France, and a 158-year-old locomotive shipped from France to Singapore, along with 300 heritage items such as uniforms, shields, a pullman car, affiches, Louis Vuitton original luggage, priceless porcelain and more.
Date: Till September 2021Venue: Gardens by the Bay
For more information, visit Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express.
*************************************
Note: All details are correct as at the time of publishing. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, no guarantee is given nor responsibility is taken for errors or omissions in the compilation. Readers are advised to check with the respective event organisers for the most updated schedules, venues and details.
For other upcoming events, visit Events in Singapore.

Come across an enrichment class and keen to find out your child’s response before committing to a full term? We have trial classes offered at discounted rates, find out more via Enrichment Trial Classes in Singapore!

➡️ Related Read: Best Enrichment Classes Singapore 2021
* * * * *
Want to be heard and seen by over 100,000 parents in Singapore? We can help! Leave your contact here and we’ll be in touch.
Stay in touch! Subscribe to our Telegram here for our latest updates.