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The Straits Times (Singapore)

HDB to give shops $11m boost

It will upgrade four sites and fund promotions for 35 areas

EVERY time it rains heavily, shopkeepers at Tanjong Pagar Plaza have to remove their goods from the corridors to prevent them from getting soaked.

Yesterday, they got good news. The complex - where shop owners hope for a roof to be put up in an open area in the centre - is among four new sites selected for upgrading in a Housing Board Revitalisation of Shops scheme.

For the fourth instalment of the scheme, the HDB said it would set aside $11 million to upgrade the common areas of heartland shopping zones and fund promotional activities for up to six years.

The other three sites slated for upgrading are Block 32 People's Park, blocks 84 and 86-89 Bedok North Street 4, and blocks 492-498 Jurong West Street 41.

The four sites also join another 31 - announced yesterday - in getting funds to help shopkeepers rack up higher sales.

In the first three phases of the scheme which started in 2007, the HDB spent $24 million, benefiting some 4,000 shops in 45 town and neighbourhood centres.

The HDB and town council will bear 50 per cent, or up to $10,000, of upgrading costs for each shop owner.

They will pay 100 per cent, or up to $20,000, of upgrading costs for rental units.

For promotional activities, HDB will pay 50 per cent of the cost for the first three years, 40 per cent in the fourth, 30 per cent in the fifth and 20 per cent in the sixth year.

Previously, it helped out for only three years.

Already, more than 70 promotional events in the 35 sites have been lined up for this year's Chinese New Year, Great Singapore Sale and Mid-Autumn Festival.

Mr Yeo Hiang Meng, who chairs the Toa Payoh Central Merchants Association, said it tapped the funding to organise six major events in the last three years.

It paid off. 'Our area became more lively and overall sales among our members increased by about 10 to 15 per cent.'

Toa Payoh Central, which received funding when the scheme started, is getting help again this year - both times to boost customer traffic.

Over at Tanjong Pagar Plaza, Mr Thomas Tan, chairman of its traders' association, said upgrading will definitely involve some renovation of the facade 'but there are things like costs to work out'.

Other than putting up a new roof, Mr Ng Kai Suan, who runs a watch shop on the first floor of the complex, suggested doing away with a garden within it.

'There are many rats there and even though there are seats, no one sits there. It's a waste of space. Maybe, they can turn it into more shops,' he added.

Over at Bedok North Street 4, retailers said they wanted the area to be more elderly-friendly, so getting more benches and replacing the tiles with non-slip ones are on the upgrading cards.

Bras Basah Complex, which came under the scheme in 2010, will start upgrading works this year.

Mr Kwek Boon Watt, secretary of its merchants' association, said the 30-year-old facility will get a new facade, a roof to cover the open area in the middle of the complex, an additional lift and new lights.

He estimates that half the $8 million in upgrading costs will be covered by the Revitalisation of Shops scheme.

'We need to do all these things to rejuvenate the area. The complex is about 30 years old already. Hopefully, with the improvements and some promotions, we can increase sales by 20 per cent,' he added.

kailing@sph.com.sg

ametan@sph.com.sg

Revitalisation scheme

* 2007

$6 million, 1,500 shops benefited

* 2009

$12 million, 3,000 shops benefited

* 2010

$6 million, 3,400 shops benefited

Note: Some shops are on the scheme more than once

Ng Kai Ling & Amelia Tan Hui Fang