If you’re born earlier than the 2000s, nostalgia has probably hit home many times this year.
Why? 2018 has truly been the year of the En-Bloc — with at least 14 iconic landmarks in Singapore being put up for collective sale.
Here’s a list of those we’ll miss the most.
The collective sale of Beauty World Food Centre was proposed this Feb.
Home to gourmet burger stall Hambaobao, Top 1 Ban Mian and authentic Thai food, the deal unfortunately fell through.
At $17.5m, the valuation was deemed too little by the government.
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They’re currently still looking for a buyer, but we will definitely miss this view.
Much ado was made about the horseshoe-shaped Pearl Bank Apartments going down.
We know for a fact that apartment owners were made at least $1.2-6.9 million richer, after it was sold for $728 million.
Architects in Singapore appealed for the building’s structure and integrity to be preserved for its cultural value — it was considered an architectural wonder back in the day.
Unfortunately, the building will most likely be demolished.
https://mustsharenews.com/pearl-bank-apartments/
Check out our list of go-to spots to capture Pearl Bank Apartments in its full glory before its demise.
For those who are not familiar with Chancery Court, you may recognise it as the High SES apartment complex across Balmoral Plaza.
Comprising of a distinct circular 16-storey tower and 7 blocks of 4-storey maisonettes, owners of these units stand to cash out $1.8-4.7 million respectively.
Only a 5-min walk from Newton MRT, they’re nestled within the prime central district of Singapore — dream homes for would-be parents of St Joseph’s Institution or Singapore Chinese Girls’ School students.
Less than half of 12 original HUDC estates remain — Ivory Heights, Pine Grove, Laguna Park, Braddell View and Lakeview. But time is ticking for them too, as they’re all up for sale as well.
Spanish Village may be the lesser-known sister to Holland Village as it’s mainly a residential area, but it’s not too far away.
The cluster of quaint apartments boasting retro 80s designs is located along Farrer Road.
Built in the 1980s, and near the Bukit Timah ‘elite schools’ belt, Spanish Village hopes to garner $882 million with their en-bloc attempt.
Chinatown Plaza is that blue & white striped building you pass otw to Maxwell Road Food Centre.
But it comes as no surprise to us if you haven’t spotted it on your Tian Tian Chicken Rice pilgrimages.
In recent years, the ailing office complex saw many small offices and businesses vacating the premises.
Announced in May this year, Chinatown Plaza was sold for a hefty $260 million — with owners enjoying $1.64-10.62 million each.
People’s Park Centre has everything you’d expect a typical building in Chinatown to have.
Shady tour agencies, moneychangers and cheap pasar malam-worthy clothing for children.
People’s Park Complex is also famous for incredibly cheap ‘mala’ and Koo Kee Yong Tau Foo.
But en-bloc initiatives were raised for them as early as March, to the dismay of its long-time fans.
Once the highest residential building in Singapore, the post-independence landmark had become an insta-hotspot for hipster millennials posing for the ‘gram.
https://mustsharenews.com/peoples-park-complex/
The building is also recognised as “architecturally and historically significant” by experts across the globe.
Golden Mile Complex is infamous for its sleazy nightlife, authentic Thai Mookata restaurants and supermarkets.
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But the iconic complex, once called a “vertical slum” by an MP, has collected 80% votes to commence an en-bloc sale.
The adjacent Golden Mile Tower, will not be spared as owners have voted similarly.
The tower is currently home to a secret theatre The Projector which screens indie films that mainstream theatres don’t carry.
Shattered your phone screen? Wrecked your laptop & are looking for a replacement?
Sim Lim Square used to be synonymous with budget deals for electronics and gadgets, until a spate of scam cases soured its good name.
Sim Lim Square owners have since put themselves on the en-bloc waiting list.
With majority of its stakeholders agreeing to the possibility of a sale, they are but one step away from acquiring a buyer.
https://mustsharenews.com/sim-lim-square-en-bloc/
Their asking price is a massive $1.1 billion, which will make the owners very rich indeed.
We’re sad to bid the tech giant – and our go-to Thai boat noodles place – farewell.
Selegie Centre, which houses 33 shops and 25 apartments, announced an open tender in Jun this year.
This is the third en-bloc attempt to sell the 10-storey building at $120 million for redevelopment.
After 90% of the owners backed the deal, it’s no wonder that they’re anxious to seal it.
Over at Peace Centre along Sophia Road, stakeholders are eyeing a similar deal for the complex at $650 million.
As both buildings are located along the fringes of the Orchard Road district, shoppers can expect the landscape to be drastically different in the near future.
As we bid farewell to these 80s icons, let’s take heart in the fact that they’ve lasted this long against the odds.
We’ll always treasure our fond memories of visiting them or seeing them around Singapore.
Hopefully, the new developments will find a worthy place in Singapore’s history as well.
Which en-bloc property will you miss the most? Let us know in the comments below.
Featured image from Google, Google, People’s Park Complex & Kopi Folks.
Residents queued to collect water from taps in the void deck or PUB water wagons.
The misprinted boxes are now coveted items on eBay.
And she named her new purple ride after a popular Thai rum.
They managed to run back onto the train in time.
During the treatment, her tumour substantially shrank and was later removed easily.
The barber played with the autistic boy until he was ready for haircut.