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Eye on Farrer Park: Perks of the Park life
Located in the immediate vicinity of Little India, colourful shophouses are a common sight in Farrer Park as well.Part of Farrer Park’s appeal is its close proximity to Little India, but it is a thriving estate in its own right, something residents and even property developers recognise.by Cheryl Marie Tay A historic estate located in central Singapore, Farrer Park is part of the Rochor planning area and is juxtaposed against the colourful landscape of Little India.
Throughout most of Singapore’s history, Farrer Park was known for being the site of the country’s first ever racecourse, the Singapore Sporting Club’s Serangoon Road Race Course, which was set up in December 1842.
The venue’s weekend horse races drew mostly European crowds, while the neighbourhood itself was home to a growing Indian community, who worked mainly on the area’s cattle farms, pineapple factories and rattan processing houses. Flying into the 20th century Another thing Farrer Park is known for is its historical association with aviation in Singapore. In fact, the first plane to fly over Singapore did so above Farrer Park in 1911. The Serangoon Road Race Course grounds also doubled as an airstrip during Singapore’s centenary celebration nearly eight years later in February 1919.
The racecourse was renamed the Singapore Turf Club in 1924, and in 1933, after about 90 years at Farrer Park, it moved to its current location at the Bukit Timah Race Course. Farrer Park then became a sporting venue, first for playing fields and a Sports House where the grandstand once stood, then with the National Sports Promotion Board setting up its headquarters in the Sports House from 1971 to 1973. Other sports associations also set up shop in the Sports House until 1985, when a fired destroyed it. War and peace But apart from horseracing, aviation and sports, Farrer Park’s place in Singapore’s history is also characterised by the political gatherings it hosted before and after the war.
Political rallies were a common occurrence there in Singapore’s post-war fight for independence from Malaya, and on 15 August 1955, the People’s Action Party (PAP) campaigned for self-government at Farrer Park. A vibrant neighbourhood Today, Farrer Park is a vibrant neighbourhood with plenty to see, eat, buy and do. It is easily accessible via Farrer Park MRT station on the North-East Line, and within its vicinity are the Kandang Kerbau Women and Children’s Hospital, Farrer Park Hospital, Farrer Park Aquatic Centre, Farrer Park Tennis Centre, East Asia School of Theology, City Square Mall and of course, Little India. It is also walking distance from the Jalan Besar neighbourhood.
Jagwinder Singh, 30, a restaurateur whose family owns Jaggi’s North Indian Cuisine (temporarily located on Chander Road while its Race Course Road outlet undergoes renovations) has lived in the area for the past 16 years.
“I lived in Hougang prior to our relocation to Farrer Park, a largely business-oriented move. There were quite a few changes I had to acclimatise myself to; I was not in the heartlands anymore but was now living in a commercialised area in the city.”
He considers life in Farrer Park a significant improvement over life in the heartlands: “A major plus has to be that there is so much to do, see and explore. I don’t have to trudge out of my flat and endure a gruelling hour-long bus journey to the city anymore; I’m right in it!”
In terms of food, attractions, nightlife and shopping in and around Farrer Park, Singh has a laundry list of recommendations. He says, “This area has it all. There are a few good bars to frequent, particularly those on Dunlop Road. For food, head down to the famous Race Course Road and get your fill of fish head curry.”
Of course, he doesn’t leave out his own restaurant, which he describes as a “legendary household name spanning two generations of loyal culinary addicts”. The North Indian eatery is best known for its tandoori fare and signature butter chicken.
For shopping, he recommends “the warehouse of department stores, Mustafa Centre, (which is) open 24/7 like a 7-11”.
Apart from the many eateries in Little India, however, Farrer Park has a good variety of other types of cuisine. The famous Ng Ah Sio Pork Rib on Rangoon Road, Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles on Cambridge Road, and the popular Cambridge Road Market and Food Centre (better known to regular patrons as Pek Kio) offer a wide range of local favourites guaranteed to leave your stomachs full and taste buds satisfied. A lucrative location Farrer Park sits on the edge of Rochor, just beside Kallang. Its proximity to the city centre gives it a competitive edge over developments that are further away. Residential projects located within Farrer Park can benefit from being approximately 10 minutes away from the CBD, as rental demand tends to move in tandem with proximity to employment centres.
Furthermore, Little India, which is just one MRT station away from Farrer Park on the North-East Line, is connected to the Downtown Line, allowing residents to travel to the CBD quickly. Connectivity aside, Farrer Park is also home to an integrated hotel and hospital complex, Connexion, which would be attractive to retirees or medical tourists.
Wong Xian Yang, Assistant Director of Research and Consultancy at OrangeTee.com, says: “For developments within and around Farrer Park, the main selling points are their locality, and perks of being a part of the central region, such as convenience and proximity to the CBD, as this increases their ‘rentability’. City Square Residences, a freehold project, enjoys rental yields of around 3.1 to 3.5 percent, depending on the unit size.”
Another prominent residential project near Farrer Park is Sturdee Residences, a 99-year leasehold development on Beatty Road by Sustained Land. The 305 units within its two 230-storey blocks include one- to four-bedroom apartments as well as penthouses, and among its facilities are a reflective pool, TRX exercise corner and private sky bar. Recognising opportunities Though the property market has been down, homebuyers can take this opportunity to search for value-for-money buys within the resale market. Those who prefer new launches can consider Sturdee Residences, which was 52 percent sold out as of May this year. Buyers who can afford to wait can consider the Perumal Road land site, which is expected to be launched later this year in November. The site is located just a stone’s throw away from the Farrer Park MRT station. However, buyers should bear in mind that the project will probably be available for sale only in 2018.
Wong advises investors to “consider commercial space, which has been relatively unaffected by the cooling measures”.
“Centrium Square, also located in the vicinity, offers a host of various freehold strata commercial space, such as office units, medical suites and retail shops.”
Ultimately, Farrer Park’s prospects are underpinned by its central location and MRT connectivity. The completions of commercial developments in the area, such as Farrer Square and Centrium Square, may allow Farrer Park to transition into a medical hub similar to Novena. In turn, this would likely bode well for residential prices and rents in the area.
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