Adding buzz to Orchard Road: Grange Road car park to be closed, transformed into event space

SINGAPORE — The Grange Road car park behind 313@Somerset mall is to be transformed into a permanent event space as part of efforts to add buzz and vibrancy to the Orchard Road pedestrian experience and attract more visitors, three government bodies announced on Friday (Oct 4).

The car park — which has already held a series of one-off events such as a street market — will be closed from Feb 29, 2020 as the authorities' moves to pedestrianise Singapore’s premier shopping strip gather pace.

The authorities will launch a “price and quality” tender for proposals for the car park’s transformation later this month, the statement said. The 4,482 sq m carpark is about half the size of a football field with 118 car spaces and 66 motorcycle lots.

Under the planned transformation, the new-look site will host flea markets, pop-up attractions, local acts and food trucks. It will be open to the public even on non-event days.

As a centrepiece in the Somerset area, the car park has hosted six events to date, including the Flashbang street market in December 2017 and will be one of the venues for this year’s Christmas village.

In the media release issued on Friday, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the Singapore Land Authority and the Singapore Tourism Board said they will be appointing an operator to transform the car park into a “dedicated and dynamic event space with complementary commercial offerings”.

Pop-up stalls along Orchard Road that are part of the monthly Night at Orchard event - another example of efforts to add vibrancy to the shopping strip. Photo Raj Nadarajan/TODAY

The successful bidder will be awarded a tenure of three years to construct, manage and programme the site from March 1, 2020 onwards, and will be given the option to extend for another two terms.

Visiting pop-up stores that lined the strip in front of Ngee Ann City on Friday as part of the monthly Night at Orchard event, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat said he hopes the tender will attract good proposals as it will allow them to “evaluate and be able to maximise the value of the space”.

When evaluating the proposals that are submitted, Mr Chee said that the agencies will bear in mind not to replicate existing event spaces but instead see how they can add value to them.

Mr Chee referred to other rejuvenation plans announced earlier this year, such as segmenting Orchard Road into different themes and building elevated link bridges for pedestrians to cross the junction of Orchard Road and Paterson Road.

“The plan is to be able to create different precincts, each with its own character, but each will be attractive, interesting and exciting,’’ adding that there was no fixed timeline for the proposed changes as the authorities sought the response and support of stakeholders.

Mr Mark Shaw, chairman of the Orchard Road Business Association, which has been involved in a one-year trial since April this year to bring in activities to enliven event spaces along the pedestrian malls in Orchard Road, said the group has seen an increasing vibrancy in the area.

“I think Orchard Road really needs more community spaces. I think we need more street-level activity...we also need better pedestrian connectivity as well,” said Mr Shaw.

Other moves to enliven Singapore’s premier shopping strip announced earlier this year include future mixed-use developments at the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line Orchard Interchange MRT station and the recently-unveiled local design showcase and incubator Design Orchard.