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 lifestyle practices and dining experiences. It states that CBA’s pitch of “separated way of life principles, corresponding programs and improvements to the general public realm aims to better promote local Chinese heritage and build up the identity of the area”.
The master lessee are going to carry out the integrated management of the shophouses and a surrounding State land story, which have a total land area of 34,066 sq ft and an estimated gross flooring area of 33,065 sq ft.
“Visitors to Chinatown Singapore can anticipate even more curated services and backgrounds for both locals and travellers upon the completion of the Smith Street rejuvenation venture. We are looking to bring in extra engaging and experiential neighborhood programmes, along with more different offerings for example, creative way of living, retail and co-living/co-working strategies, whilst preserving and commemorating the area’s ethnical and architectural culture,” says Lim Yick Suan, managing head, Chinatown Business Association.
The tender was examined based upon cost and the quality of each sent approach. It attracted 5 different bidders the minute the tender came March, involving CBA which sent the winning proposal of $123,000. As the master tenant, CBA will manage the buildings for five years plus a second term of four years.
Noontalk Media submitted the highest proposal 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 proposal from IGYM Fitness.
“This experience is distinct to CBA, and we hope to take advantage of on our partnerships in the neighborhood and knowledge of Chinatown Singapore’s heritage and society to inject even more dynamics to Smith Street and Chinatown Singapore,” says Lim.
She includes that CBA is going to introduce “uniquely Singaporean F&B offerings and worldwide food offers for both locals and visitors to enjoy at Smith Road”.
The tender to appoint an one master renter to look after the historic row of shophouses at 11 to 37 Smith Street was mutually launched by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) back in November in 2023.
The Chinatown Business Association (CBA) has actually won the tender for a row of legendary shophouses along Smith Road in Chinatown. CBA consists of stakeholders operating in Chinatown, including business leaders, grassroots leaders, Chinese clan organizations, hoteliers, hawkers and retailers.
Lim states that the tender activity was “really competitive” but CBA gained from its energetic presence in the district for over 20 years. “Over the two decades, we have constructed and nurtured connections, and this has actually afforded us an ingrained connection to the ground,” she claims. The organisation has indeed organised past event such as wide-scale event celebrations such as Five Footway Celebration and Dumpling Event, to themed markets, street tasks, events and workshops.
