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New Jurong West market design unveiled; scheduled for completion next year

SINGAPORE — The design for a new complex to replace the burnt market and eating house at Blk 493 Jurong West Street 41 was unveiled on Sunday (Dec 17), with the structure featuring a market, an eating house as well as an "active ageing hub" under one roof.

Residents look at artists' impressions of the Jurong Central's new market, which will be replacing the market at Blk 493, Jurong West  St 41 that was damaged by a fire. The design of the new complex was unveiled by Jurong GRC's MP Mr Ang Wei Neng on Sunday (Dec 17). Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY

Residents look at artists' impressions of the Jurong Central's new market, which will be replacing the market at Blk 493, Jurong West St 41 that was damaged by a fire. The design of the new complex was unveiled by Jurong GRC's MP Mr Ang Wei Neng on Sunday (Dec 17). Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — The design for a new complex to replace the burnt market and eating house at Blk 493 Jurong West Street 41 was unveiled on Sunday (Dec 17), with the structure featuring a market, an eating house as well as an "active ageing hub" under one roof.

To be named as Jurong Central Plaza, the complex has a customer and elderly-friendly centric design such as wider aisles for stalls, better ventilated environment and non-slip tiles.

Built by the Housing and Development Board, the new premises will cost an estimated S$6.2 million which will be fully funded by the government.

It will contain a market around 420 square metres and an eating house with a size of about 433 square metres on the first storey, similar to the old premises. Meanwhile, the second storey will incorporate a social communal facility, for active ageing and elderly care.

Construction is scheduled to be completed by December next year.

"The Jurong Central Plaza will be a place for residents to dine and shop. Jurong Central Plaza will be a place for residents to meet and enjoy," advisor to Jurong GRC Grassroots Organisations, MP for Jurong GRC, Mr Ang Wei Neng said on Sunday at the complex's unveiling ceremony.

Above: Artist impressions of the Jurong Central Plaza

"It will be a focal point for Jurong residents to show their passion. It will be an icon of Jurong West," he added.

On Oct 11 last year, a coffee shop and wet market in Jurong West that had been around for 30 years were gutted by a blaze that broke out early Tuesday morning, sparking an evacuation of some 300 residents from their homes.

The market stall owners were left with no shops for months, and were subsequently provided a temporary market to resume their business.

Businesses and residents interviewed by TODAY said they welcomed the design of the new complex. They noted that it would make the area more vibrant, while catering to the ageing demographics of the area.

Pork seller for over 20 years Mr Ong Ping Huat, 60, said the second floor in the new complex is likely to help bring in more foot traffic and business.

"This is an ageing area, and there are more elderly. If the hub (for elderly residents) is upstairs, more will come to the market and buy produce on the way home as the elderly prefer to cook at home."

He added that he was appreciative of efforts by the various stakeholders to help them relocate their operations to a temporary market, even though the location is slightly further than the original market and does not bring in new customers.

"We currently rely a lot on our old customers. The rental here (in the temporary market) is cheaper compared to the old market. I hope the new rental (in Jurong Central Plaza) will not be too expensive for us," Mr Ong said.

Ms Janice Leong, 63, a full-timer working in sales said she likes the idea of the senior citizens hub on level two. As she plans to retire in 2 years when she is 65, Ms Leong says the hub would help her "find things to do, and pass the time."

"I live just next to the new complex, at Block 499. Currently I walk slightly further to Giant supermarket to buy my groceries. When the new complex is ready I would go back to the wet market, as certainly fresh produce is better than preserved or frozen food," she said.

Other than the unveiling of the market on Sunday, Mr Ang also shared the completion of the 'remaking of heartland' programme which involves rejuvenation efforts for the neighbourhood Blk 492 to 498 of Jurong West Street 41. For instance, residents can look forward to more bicycle racks and yellow boxes for bicycles provided by bike sharing companies.

 

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