Chinatown Business Association wins tender to manage iconic Smith Street in Chinatown
According to SLA, the revitalised Smith Street are going to view a brand-new line-up of way of living practices and dining experiences. It states that CBA’s bid of “differentiated way of living principles, complementary programs and enhancements to the general public scope intends to further promote regional Chinese heritage and reinforce the identity of the location”.
“Visitors to Chinatown Singapore can expect even more curated offerings and backgrounds for both locals and visitors upon the completion of the Smith Street restoration project. We are looking to bring in extra engaging and experiential community programs, in addition to more various offerings for example, creative lifestyle, retail industry and co-living/co-working strategies, whilst preserving and enjoying the location’s ethnic and building culture,” claims Lim Yick Suan, executive director, Chinatown Business Association.
Noontalk Media sent the highest bid of $180,000, followed by runner-up CBA. Other proposals stretched from $108,174 from Benlo Ventures to $68,177 from ABR Holdings and a $53,000 quote from IGYM Fitness.
The master occupant will undertake the combined management of the shophouses and an adjacent State land plot, which have a complete acreage of 34,066 sq ft and an approximated gross flooring location of 33,065 sq ft.
The Chinatown Business Association (CBA) has won the tender for a row of iconic shophouses along Smith Street in Chinatown. CBA consists of stakeholders operating in Chinatown, such as business leaders, grassroots leaders, Chinese clan organizations, hoteliers, hawkers and stores.
Lim claims that the tender movement was “very challenging” yet CBA benefitted from its active existence in the district for over 20 years. “Over the two decades, we have developed and nourished partnerships, and this has bought us a deep-rooted link to the ground,” she says. The organisation has organised past occasion such as wide-scale celebration celebrations such as Five Footway Festival and Dumpling Event, to themed markets, street tasks, events and workshops.
The tender was evaluated based upon rate and the high quality of each sent principle. It drew in 5 several prospective buyers the minute the tender came March, involving CBA which submitted the winning quote of $123,000. As the master occupant, CBA will take care of the buildings for 5 years plus a 2nd term of four years.
The tender to appoint a single master lessee to supervise the historical row of shophouses at 11 to 37 Smith Street was mutually released by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) back in November in 2023.
“This experience is distinct to CBA, and we want to leverage on our relationships in the area and knowledge of Chinatown Singapore’s heritage and society to infuse more vibrancy to Smith Road and Chinatown Singapore,” says Lim.
She includes that CBA will present “uniquely Singaporean F&B offerings and worldwide food products for both residents and tourists to experience at Smith Street”.
