Heritage and architectural experts say it will be a great loss if landmark is demolished
Golden Mile Complex, a familiar landmark with its eye-catching stepped terraced design, is going en bloc.
As 724 owners of 550 units have signed the collective sale agreement – representing 80.83 per cent of the total share value of the development – the required approval of 80 per cent has been met. The notice of the proposed collective sale was dated Aug 3.
The mixed-use development located between Nicoll Highway and Beach Road has 718 units comprising mostly shops and offices, and nearly 70 apartments.
Unit owner Alan Lim, 72, a corporate consultant, told The Sunday Times that he is on the fence about the potential sale but will miss the complex if it is torn down.
He also wondered if there would be potential buyers following the recent round of cooling measures.
“The location is good but the market isn’t that great right now. Older owners here want to retire and young speculators want the cash from the en bloc sale,” he said.
Other owners The Straits Times spoke to previously said they did not find the building’s design particularly special and said they were looking forward to selling their units.
Owners of ageing properties generally try to sell their units before the leases are further shortened. Some said they fear having to pay additional maintenance, renovation or restoration costs.
Edmund Tie & Company is the appointed marketing agent.
Heritage and architectural experts were dismayed at the collective sale news. They told The Sunday Times it would be a great pity for the complex to be demolished.
Completed in 1973, the 16-storey property is 49 years into its lease. It was designed by Mr Gan Eng Oon, Mr William Lim and Mr Tay Kheng Soon of Design Partnership or DP Architects, which also designed People’s Park Complex. Its previous collective sale attempt was in 2010.
Heritage conservation expert Ho Weng Hin said: “It will be a tragedy and a great loss to Singapore if the en bloc sale results in the demolition and redevelopment of such an important urban landmark with such high architectural and social significance.”
The architectural and heritage community urged the authorities to work with stakeholders to conserve the complex. Their suggestions included rehabilitation and adaptation for reuse. Mr Ho said this is a more sustainable model that can be employed for urban redevelopment.
“All we need is the will, courage and creativity to make this happen, in the same groundbreaking, innovative spirit in which these buildings were realised by Singaporean pioneers,” he added.
In March, The Straits Times reported that the complex was among four post-independence landmarks at risk of disappearing from Singapore’s landscape as they were mostly halfway into their 99-year leases. The others are People’s Park Complex and People’s Park Centre in Chinatown, and Golden Mile Tower in Beach Road.
People’s Park Complex, Golden Mile Complex and Golden Mile Tower are widely recognised by experts as architecturally and historically significant. They were inspired by the Brutalist architectural movement, which usually features monumental structures made of off-form concrete without being plastered over, for an appearance of “strength and solidity”.
Experts believe they represent a chapter in Singapore’s post-independence architectural history.
The three were completed as part of the Government’s first Land Sales Programme beginning in 1967, which offered land parcels with 99-year leases.
ZACD Group executive director Nicholas Mak said Golden Mile’s marketing agent and lawyer will likely hold a meeting with the owners, if not already held, to brief them on the next steps.
Then, a collective sale will be launched to see if they can get a buyer at their asking price. How long this takes depends on their own timeline, said Mr Mak, adding that it could be a month or two before the tender is launched.
“If it is sold , it will be the end of a landmark,” he added.
The complex became known as “Little Thailand” in the 1980s because of the crowds of Thai nationals working in construction who gathered there.
Singaporeans still patronise food outlets at the complex as well as use the transport services to Malaysia offered by bus companies there.
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