Chinatown Business Association wins tender to manage iconic Smith Street in Chinatown
The Chinatown Business Association (CBA) has actually won the tender for a row of renowned shophouses around Smith Street in Chinatown. CBA contains stakeholders operating in Chinatown, such as business leaders, grassroots leaders, Chinese clan associations, hoteliers, hawkers and stores.
“Visitors to Chinatown Singapore can expect more curated services and backgrounds for both citizens and visitors upon the completion of the Smith Street rejuvenation venture. We are looking to bring in extra engaging and experiential community programs, in addition to even more diverse offerings for example, creative way of life, retail and co-living/co-working practices, while maintaining and commemorating the area’s ethnical and architectural culture,” says Lim Yick Suan, managing head, Chinatown Business Association.
“This experience is unique to CBA, and we wish to take advantage of on our relationships in the neighborhood and understanding of Chinatown Singapore’s heritage and way of life to infuse even more dynamics to Smith Road and Chinatown Singapore,” claims Lim.
She adds that CBA is going to introduce “distinctly Singaporean F&B offerings and worldwide food offerings for either residents and tourists to enjoy at Smith Road”.
Noontalk Media sent the highest proposal of $180,000, followed by runner-up CBA. Other proposals ranged from $108,174 from Benlo Ventures to $68,177 from ABR Holdings and a $53,000 bid from IGYM Fitness.
The tender to appoint an one master renter to look after the historic row of shophouses at 11 to 37 Smith Street was collectively released by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) back in November in 2023.
Lim states that the tender activity was “extremely competitive” but CBA took advantage of its energetic visibility in the district for over two decades. “Over the two decades, we have built and fostered connections, and this has afforded us a deep-rooted link to the ground,” she states. The organisation has arranged past event such as wide-scale celebration celebrations such as Five Footway Celebration and Dumpling Event, to themed markets, street tasks, events and workshops.
According to SLA, the revitalised Smith Street are going to see a brand-new line-up of way of living concepts and eating experiences. It states that CBA’s bid of “differentiated lifestyle concepts, complementary programmes and improvements to the public field intends to further promote local Chinese heritage and build up the identity of the area”.
The master lessee will take on the combined management of the shophouses and a surrounding State land plot, which have an overall acreage of 34,066 sq ft and an estimated gross flooring area of 33,065 sq ft.
The tender was examined based on rate and the high quality of each provided approach. It brought in five various bidders the minute the tender came March, involving CBA which submitted the winning quote of $123,000. As the master tenant, CBA will handle the properties for 5 years plus a 2nd term of 4 years.
