jq75
Honorary Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2000
- Messages
- 136,002
- Reaction score
- 2,453
Dec 12, 2005
Renewal of older estates even more crucial now
Recent riots in France a lesson for S'pore as Sers marks 10th year
By Lim Wei Chean
PREVENTING older housing estates from sliding into slums and becoming breeding grounds for unrest is high on the Government's agenda.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said that in the wake of the recent trouble in Paris, where residents of some run-down suburbs rioted every night for two weeks, giving older towns a new lease of life and maintaining strong local community ties have become even more important for Singapore.
He said that what happened in France was an example of what could go wrong if that community spirit breaks down here.
'The rioters are those who don't have strong ties to the community and the places that they live in have been allowed to become slums. They felt they were being discriminated against, became frustrated and took it out on everybody. We cannot allow that to happen here.'
Mr Mah was speaking yesterday at the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers) completion ceremony for Goodview Gardens at Bukit Batok West Avenue 5.
The event marked the successful move by residents of 1,369 Hillview Avenue households to nearby Goodview Gardens.
It was not only the largest single movement of residents under the Sers programme, but a milestone moment marking its 10th anniversary.
The scheme has covered 25,000 households in 58 sites islandwide since it was introduced in 1995.
Under Sers, which is part of the Government's renewal plans for older HDB estates, old blocks are torn down to intensify land use, and new replacement flats are offered to affected flat lessees.
More than new homes, Mr Mah emphasised that Sers works because it keeps existing communities together.
'Under Sers, the whole community moves en bloc to the new replacement site,' he said. 'Close ties painstakingly built over the years are kept intact. A strong local community contributes to a strong Singapore.'
Yesterday's upbeat ceremony was an about-turn for some of the residents, who had objected when their homes were first selected for the scheme in March 1999.
Some felt that compensation packages offered were inadequate and were unhappy with the smaller replacement flats. Some faced difficulties getting loans for the new flats.
However, Mr Ang Mong Seng, an MP for Hong Kah GRC, was able to arrange bigger loans for residents facing financial difficulties.
Today, the majority of Goodview Gardens are former Hillview Avenue residents, with 1,369 units out of 2,128 taken up by Sers lessees.
Retiree Peter Oh, 58, hated having to move out of his home of 20 years. But he has no complaints now.
'I'm very happy now because my flat looks very modern, the lift stops at every floor and it is convenient for me to get to everything.'
----------------------------------
Dec 12, 2005
Move means having old neighbours, new friends
MR RAHMAN Shah Abdullah was among those who were upset when the announcement came on March 21, 1999, that their flats were to come under the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers).
The 41-year-old, who is self-employed, said he did not want to move out of Hillview Avenue, where he had lived since getting married more than a decade ago.
He said: 'I liked my old place. It was green, quiet and peaceful.'
The father of three was also concerned about the financing of the new flat as well as the 20 per cent resale levy that he would have to cough up for the new replacement flat.
A year after moving into his new five-room flat at Goodview Gardens, along Bukit Batok West Avenue 5, he is convinced that the move was a right choice to make.
Although the monthly mortgage payment of $500 for the $229,000 flat is almost double what he used to pay for the previous three-room flat, he said his family is managing well and the facilities make up for the extra cost.
His 12-year-old son, who goes to St Anthony's Primary School, now walks to school instead of having to take two buses.
His daughters, aged eight and 11, are also happy as there is a park close by that they can play in.
It also helps that all his old neighbours have moved into the new estate together, so he gets to see lots of familiar faces while making new friends.
Of the 2,128 units at Goodview Gardens, 1,369 were taken up by families from Hillview Avenue.
Yesterday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan officiated at the Sers completion ceremony held at Goodview Gardens.
The event also marked the scheme's 10th anniversary.
Renewal of older estates even more crucial now
Recent riots in France a lesson for S'pore as Sers marks 10th year
By Lim Wei Chean
PREVENTING older housing estates from sliding into slums and becoming breeding grounds for unrest is high on the Government's agenda.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said that in the wake of the recent trouble in Paris, where residents of some run-down suburbs rioted every night for two weeks, giving older towns a new lease of life and maintaining strong local community ties have become even more important for Singapore.
He said that what happened in France was an example of what could go wrong if that community spirit breaks down here.
'The rioters are those who don't have strong ties to the community and the places that they live in have been allowed to become slums. They felt they were being discriminated against, became frustrated and took it out on everybody. We cannot allow that to happen here.'
Mr Mah was speaking yesterday at the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers) completion ceremony for Goodview Gardens at Bukit Batok West Avenue 5.
The event marked the successful move by residents of 1,369 Hillview Avenue households to nearby Goodview Gardens.
It was not only the largest single movement of residents under the Sers programme, but a milestone moment marking its 10th anniversary.
The scheme has covered 25,000 households in 58 sites islandwide since it was introduced in 1995.
Under Sers, which is part of the Government's renewal plans for older HDB estates, old blocks are torn down to intensify land use, and new replacement flats are offered to affected flat lessees.
More than new homes, Mr Mah emphasised that Sers works because it keeps existing communities together.
'Under Sers, the whole community moves en bloc to the new replacement site,' he said. 'Close ties painstakingly built over the years are kept intact. A strong local community contributes to a strong Singapore.'
Yesterday's upbeat ceremony was an about-turn for some of the residents, who had objected when their homes were first selected for the scheme in March 1999.
Some felt that compensation packages offered were inadequate and were unhappy with the smaller replacement flats. Some faced difficulties getting loans for the new flats.
However, Mr Ang Mong Seng, an MP for Hong Kah GRC, was able to arrange bigger loans for residents facing financial difficulties.
Today, the majority of Goodview Gardens are former Hillview Avenue residents, with 1,369 units out of 2,128 taken up by Sers lessees.
Retiree Peter Oh, 58, hated having to move out of his home of 20 years. But he has no complaints now.
'I'm very happy now because my flat looks very modern, the lift stops at every floor and it is convenient for me to get to everything.'
----------------------------------
Dec 12, 2005
Move means having old neighbours, new friends
MR RAHMAN Shah Abdullah was among those who were upset when the announcement came on March 21, 1999, that their flats were to come under the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers).
The 41-year-old, who is self-employed, said he did not want to move out of Hillview Avenue, where he had lived since getting married more than a decade ago.
He said: 'I liked my old place. It was green, quiet and peaceful.'
The father of three was also concerned about the financing of the new flat as well as the 20 per cent resale levy that he would have to cough up for the new replacement flat.
A year after moving into his new five-room flat at Goodview Gardens, along Bukit Batok West Avenue 5, he is convinced that the move was a right choice to make.
Although the monthly mortgage payment of $500 for the $229,000 flat is almost double what he used to pay for the previous three-room flat, he said his family is managing well and the facilities make up for the extra cost.
His 12-year-old son, who goes to St Anthony's Primary School, now walks to school instead of having to take two buses.
His daughters, aged eight and 11, are also happy as there is a park close by that they can play in.
It also helps that all his old neighbours have moved into the new estate together, so he gets to see lots of familiar faces while making new friends.
Of the 2,128 units at Goodview Gardens, 1,369 were taken up by families from Hillview Avenue.
Yesterday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan officiated at the Sers completion ceremony held at Goodview Gardens.
The event also marked the scheme's 10th anniversary.