Chinatown Business Association wins tender to manage iconic Smith Street in Chinatown
The tender to select a sole master lessee to oversee the historical row of shophouses at 11 to 37 Smith Street was collectively launched by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) back in November in 2023.
The Chinatown Business Association (CBA) has actually won the tender for a row of legendary shophouses around Smith Road in Chinatown. CBA consists of stakeholders running in Chinatown, including business leaders, grassroots leaders, Chinese clan associations, hoteliers, hawkers and retailers.
The master occupant will embark on the combined management of the shophouses and an adjacent State land plot, which have a total land area of 34,066 sq ft and an estimated gross floor location of 33,065 sq ft.
She includes that CBA will introduce “uniquely Singaporean F&B offerings and worldwide food offerings for both citizens and vacationers to enjoy at Smith Street”.
“This experience is one-of-a-kind to CBA, and we want to utilize on our connections in the area and understanding of Chinatown Singapore’s heritage and culture to infuse more dynamics to Smith Street and Chinatown Singapore,” claims Lim.
The tender was assessed based on price and the quality of each provided concept. It drew in five several bidders when the tender came March, involving CBA which sent the winning proposal of $123,000. As the master occupant, CBA will handle the properties for 5 years plus a second term of four years.
“Visitors to Chinatown Singapore can expect even more curated offerings and experiences for both residents and visitors upon the completion of the Smith Street rejuvenation venture. We are looking to bring in extra engaging and experiential community programmes, along with more different offerings such as imaginative way of life, retail industry and co-living/co-working concepts, whilst protecting and celebrating the location’s cultural and architectural ancestry,” says Lim Yick Suan, managing director, Chinatown Business Association.
Lim says that the tender movement was “extremely tough” yet CBA gained from its active visibility in the district for over 20 years. “Over the 2 decades, we have built and sustained relationships, and this has bought us a deep-rooted link to the ground,” she says. The organisation has organised past occasion such as wide-scale event parties such as 5 Footway Celebration and Dumpling Festival, to themed markets, street tasks, occasions and workshops.
According to SLA, the revitalised Smith Street will view a new line-up of way of life practices and dining experiences. It says that CBA’s proposal of “separated way of living principles, corresponding programs and enhancements to the general public scope aims to further promote local Chinese heritage and reinforce the identity of the location”.
Noontalk Media submitted the highest possible bid of $180,000, followed by runner-up CBA. Other bids stretched from $108,174 from Benlo Ventures to $68,177 from ABR Holdings and a $53,000 bid from IGYM Fitness.
