Residents, businesses welcome plans to add buzz to Bayshore

SINGAPORE — With the Bayshore precinct being a fairly quiet area, some businesses and residents welcome the possibility that it might soon be redeveloped into a vibrant residential zone.

In a Request for Proposal (RFP) put up last month, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has called for master planning and urban design consultancy services for a new precinct, which will house about 12,500 families in a mix of 6,000 public and 6,500 private housing units in the prime area.

As part of the proposal, private consultants would have to submit a blueprint for a makeover to create a “vibrant and sustainable garden neighbourhood”.

Businesses that TODAY spoke to yesterday noted that the area in question — a 60ha plot bordered by Upper East Coast Road, East Coast Parkway, Bayshore Road and the Bedok military camp — is quiet and could do with revitalisation to bring in more business.

Along Upper East Coast Road, for instance, the area is mainly residential, with a pre-school, nursing home, and one restaurant forming some of the few establishments on the entire stretch of the zone that the URA is studying. Forested areas make up the other parts of the zone.

Mr Judah Tan, general manager of San Bistro, a restaurant at East Coast Road, said that people tend to flock to either Siglap or Simpang Bedok for the eateries there.

“This area is not exactly bustling, as people tend to go elsewhere, such as Siglap, for food. During lunchtime, we get more business, but it’s quiet during dinner,” he said.

Ms Lerelyn Tan, owner of a nail salon and pet grooming salon in the area, echoed similar sentiments.

“In the seven years since I set up my pet grooming salon here, I haven’t seen any major changes. So, I could do with more customers, as it’s quite stagnant now,”she said, adding that her shops largely depend on walk-in customers and referrals.

Residents also welcome the redevelopment if it provides them with more lifestyle options, but are wary of worsening traffic conditions.

Writer Ms Annette Tan, who lives in one of the condominiums along Upper East Coast Road, noted that the road gets congested during peak hours. “If they intend to build up this area, they need to look at the road situation because traffic can cause a huge bottleneck during peak hours,” said the 44-year-old.

Sales manager Cedric Lim, 30, said the upside is that there might be more dining options if the area is rejuvenated. “Right now, we don’t have many restaurants here, and have to drive out to Siglap if we want to dine out,” he added. Tan Weizhen