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Located at 845 Geylang Road, the revamped Tanjong Katong Complex will see an increase in its floor area, an update to its façade and a new rooftop F&B space. Source: Google Maps
Tanjong Katong Complex will undergo major renovation works from the second half of 2023, with plans to increase its floor area, construct a roof-top food and beverage (F&B) space and refresh its façade.
In a release issued on Wednesday (8 December), the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) also revealed plans to create more spaces “for placemaking activities and community programmes to attract footfall to Tanjong Katong Complex, while preserving its tradition as a place for trade with Malay cultural heritage value”.
The renovation plan is in line with the move to transform Geylang Serai into a distinctive cultural precinct, as announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his 2018 National Day Rally speech.
The first air-conditioned shopping complex to be developed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), Tanjong Katong Complex was built in 1984, with SLA managing the building since 1998.
Since its construction, the complex has not seen any major upgrading works. As such, its current electrical and mechanical systems “are old and in urgent need of replacement”.
“It is timely for the 37-year-old building to be rejuvenated and given a new lease of life, to complement the new developments in the surrounding area,” said SLA.
To keep the identity of the building, iconic features such as the façade’s slanted columns facing Tanjong Katong Road will be retained.
SLA shared that it also incorporated community feedback received between October 2019 and January 2020 in planning for the upgrade works.
“The feedback included suggestions to retain the building given the community’s affinity to Tanjong Katong Complex and its heritage value,” it said.
“Their suggestions included refreshing Tanjong Katong Complex’s façade to complement newer developments in the vicinity and introducing new uses that would add buzz to the mall and enliven the place.”
The upgraded building will feature a thoroughfare linking a new entrance at the north façade to the existing entrance at the south façade, said SLA.
The updated façade will also soften the current look and feel of Tanjong Katong Complex, letting in more daylight while increasing the interior’s visibility.
“Additional space will be created within the building, and together with a redesign of the internal layout, there will be more open spaces for community and placemaking activities.”
SLA Chief Executive Colin Low said the authority recognises that Tanjong Katong Complex holds a “special and unique place in Singapore”.
“The rejuvenated TKC will add vibrancy to the area and make the Geylang Serai precinct a distinctive cultural belt for the community and for all Singaporeans. Residents and the community can look forward to a rejuvenated development with more retail, F&B choices and improved facilities and services,” he said.
Meanwhile, the rejuvenation plans have been shared by SLA with the 106 existing tenants of the complex, whose tenancies will end by 31 December 2022.
“SLA understands the difficulties faced by tenants in the past two years due to COVID-19,” it said.
“In view of this, SLA will grant a 6-month extension of the tenancy until 30 June 2023, to allow businesses to benefit from sales during the Hari Raya period in April 2023.”
The authority noted that the advance notice of 1.5 years will provide exiting tenants time to make relocation plans.
“As the upgrading works are slated to commence in the second half of 2023, there will be no further extension of the tenancy beyond 30 June 2023,” it added.
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Cheryl Chiew, Digital Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this story, email: cheryl@propertyguru.com.sg.
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