Blossoms by the Park - Exciting new project at Slim Barracks Rise, One-North
Introduction
Seamless connectivity, constant rejuvenation, intricate design and planning are some key strategies that have succeeded in making One-North a hub for creative talents pursuing their dreams.
With slightly over 400 new homes launching 2023, One-North continues to be a vibrant work-live-play district and major innovative cluster expected to grow further in the years ahead. But how does living feel amidst the learn, work and play environment? First, let’s have a look at these two plots!
Slim Barracks Parcels A and B
Both the plots at Slim Barracks Rise were offered for sale under the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme in June 2021. Parcel A, i.e. Blossoms by the Park, the larger of the two plots, will offer 265 new homes of 27 storeys when completed. The site received its top bid of $320.1 million from EL Development Pte Ltd, reflecting a land rate of $1,246 psf per plot ratio (psf ppr).
Meanwhile, Parcel B, the smaller plot, i.e. The Hill, which will offer up to 140 new homes, had a top bid of $162.4 million, translating to a land rate of $1,210 psf ppr. The top bidder was Gao Xiuhua, one of the owners of Kingsford Development. Both sites are designated Residential with Commercial at the 1st storey.
Aerial view of two plots at Slim Barracks Rise, One-North
MRT Map of stations close to Blossoms by the Park circled in red. Source: LTA
Accessibility and Educational Roadmap
Both Blossoms by the Park and The Hill will be easily accessible by foot to public transportation. Located between Buona Vista and One-north MRT stations, residents enjoy a direct connection via the East-West Line and Circle line to the city and other employment centres such as Orchard Road, City Hall, and Raffles Place. In addition, for residents who drive, the area is served by major roads linking up to the Ayer-Rajar Expressway (AYE) that will connect them to the Central Business District and Marina Bay area.
The Dover Knowledge District, first introduced in the 2019 Master Plan, fosters synergies between nearby business parks, academic and research institutions. Apart from integrated spaces for better cohesion of education, entrepreneurial activities will also help boost learning and job opportunities. The education roadmap can be planned right from Primary School, with reputable Primary Schools such as Fairfield Methodist Primary within 1KM and Henry Park Primary School within 2KM. From ACSI, ACJC, Singapore Polytechnic, NUS, INSEAD and ESSEC Business School, families living at Blossoms by the Park and The Hill would be spoilt for choice, making these projects not just suitable for short-term, but also an option for the long term.
The Star Vista, located next to Buona Vista MRT Station. Source: Shutterstock.com
Neighbouring Amenities and Lifestyle options
Both Blossoms by the Park and The Hill are within walking distance to malls such as The Star Vista and Rochester Mall, which offer a wide variety of dining, shopping, medical amenities as well as supermarkets for your daily necessities.
Next door, Rochester Commons offers not just Hotels, serviced apartments, and Grade A offices, but also dining in a rustic, old world charm environment greeted by heritage bungalows. We are also a short walk to Holland Village, popular for their bustling nightlife with numerous pubs, bars, and restaurants as well as artisanal cafes for those looking to catch up with friends over brunch or coffee.
For a greater variety of shopping options, residents are just minutes away from a number of retail clusters. Those who prefer the heartland, can take a train or bus to Clementi or Queenstown town centres, or even a 15-minute walk down to Ghim Moh Market and Hawker Centre for your wet market needs and great local food!
Nature and Recreation
Apart from being just 3 stops from the world-renowned Botanic Gardens, residents needing a short respite from work have plenty of recreational and greenery options within their proximity such as the well-connected nature nodes at Pasir Panjang liner park and Southern Ridges Walk.
The Southern Ridges Walk is a ten-kilometre hiking trail connecting three major parks: Kent Ridge Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Mount Faber Park. One of the most iconic landmarks along the trail is the enigmatic Henderson Waves bridge. Being the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore, it is frequently visited for its artistic, distinctive wave-like structure consisting of a series of undulating curved 'ribs'. Aside from being able to observe a rich variety of tropical flora and fauna, the trail also affords hikers one of the best bird’s eye views of the city, harbour and the Southern Islands.
The Southern ridges, Source: Shutterstock.com
Masterplan of One-North including white sites and business parks yet to be developed. Source: URA
Work-live-play-learn environment
One-north is a vibrant congregation of cutting-edge research houses and business parks serving as a fertile ground for research, innovation, and test-bedding. Conceptualised in 2001 and led by JTC for development, the massive 200-hectare district is an icon of Singapore’s knowledge economy, with world-class research facilities supporting the growth of sectors such as biomedical sciences, info-communication technology, media and engineering. The tech boom over the last decade has also attracted many tech companies to set foot here.
With reputable names such as A*Star, Razer and Grab, One-North accounts for 5% of Singapore’s employment with over 120,000 jobs, presenting strong rental demand. In fact, there are still many plots of valuable white sites and business parks yet to be developed, revealing the massive ongoing transformation in the area. This innovation district was not planned in isolation but to be connected within the wider Queenstown district, fostering relationships with NUH, NUS, Science Park, Dover, Queensway and the surrounding mature housing estates.
This unique work-live-play-learn environment fosters the integration of industry-centric developments with residential communities, lifestyle options and educational institutes to provide a stimulating environment for innovative minds to collaborate and create.
Transacted prices of neighbouring residential projects in One-North and Dover
Supply & Demand, Pricing and Rentability
Other than One-North Eden, a 165-unit development launched last year, previous launches in One-North were in 2007, namely Rochester Residences and One-North Residences, both 99-year leasehold projects. There are just two other 99-year leasehold projects within the vicinity – Dover Parkview and Heritage View. Together with One-North Eden, these five condominiums yield just 2,240 units.
It is no wonder these two plots were so hotly contested with 10 bidders each last year. Compared to the growing demand, even with the additional 405 units from Blossoms by the Park and The Hill, supply is still considered low, strengthening support for prices in future.
Compared to other Rest of Central Region plots such as Dunman Rd which was purchased at $1350psf, or the nearby Pine Grove at $1318psf, Blossoms by the Park and The Hill seem reasonable considering their proximity to transport, amenities, good education, and transformation in the area.