Illegal parking, traffic congestion among residents’ concerns over plan to gazette 38 Oxley Road
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The site of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s home at 38 Oxley Road has been earmarked to become a national monument.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Follow topic:
- Oxley Road residents are concerned about increased traffic and noise if 38 Oxley Road becomes a public space, despite supporting its potential gazetting.
- Illegal parking is a concern, with residents suggesting solutions like using Dublin Road as an entry point, but acknowledge limitations due to narrow roads.
- Property analysts say redevelopment depends on planning controls; high-quality green space may boost property values, but government plans remain unclear.
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SINGAPORE – Mr Jasper Tan, a long-time Oxley Road resident, has seen more heavy vehicles, including buses and lorries, passing through Oxley Road in recent years.
There is also the longstanding issue of illegal parking at Oxley Mansion, a freehold walk-up apartment at the corner of Eber Road and Oxley Road where he has lived for more than 50 years, he said.
While traffic congestion on the two-lane Oxley Road is not a major issue for now, Mr Tan, 58, told The Straits Times on Nov 4 he is concerned these issues could worsen if 38 Oxley Road – the site of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s family home – is gazetted as a national monument.
The authorities on Nov 3 announced its intention to do so
While Mr Tan supports the potential gazetting of the site as a national monument, the retiree also said he was concerned about the traffic congestion, crowds and noise that such a space may attract to the quiet, sleepy estate.
“That site is an odd area for a public space... the area isn’t built for that purpose,” he said.
The resident also raised questions about how the masses will be able to access the site, if it is to be converted into a public park, via the existing two-lane road.
He said: “Many people already use our carpark as a public carpark because there is no security, guards or gates at its entrance.”
Residents even had to lock up a water pump at Oxley Mansion’s carpark, as trespassers would try to use it to wash their cars.
There is a long-standing issue of illegal parking at Oxley Mansion.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
“If the site becomes a public park, and people want to drive here, where would they park?” Mr Tan asked.
Turning this area into a no-car zone may not work because Oxley Road is a vital artery between Orchard Road and River Valley Road, he said.
He suggested the possibility of making the nearby Dublin Road the entry point for the proposed park.
“But Dublin Road is also a narrow road,” he added.
If the public park becomes a reality, Mr Karamjit Singh, chief executive of property consultancy Delasa, said planners will need to deal with traffic concerns from tours and excursions by facilitating adequate car and coach parking, as well as drop-off zones.
Another resident at the nearby Lloyd Mansion also raised concerns about the potential for more illegal parking at its carpark, as there are also no guards or gantries at the freehold walk-up apartment.
“There are not many cars or car owners here. That’s why people are very tempted to come and try to park or make U-turns via our parking lot,” said a retiree in her 70s, who wanted to be known only as Madam Tan.
A resident at Lloyd Mansion raised concerns about the potential for more illegal parking at its carpark, as there are also no guards or gantries at the freehold walk-up apartment.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
ST observed that four traffic cones have been placed at one of the property’s two entrances, which Madam Tan said are meant to deter non-residents from entering their carpark.
While the Oxley Road area may draw larger crowds if 38 Oxley Road is converted into a public space, Ms Nicoleen Tan, 22, who lives in a landed home on the same road, said this may result in some home-based businesses popping up in the private estate.
“It’s quite trendy among young people. I’ve heard of many home-based businesses starting in people’s private homes... Some may take advantage of the influx of tourists and visitors coming to this area.
“It’s a good business opportunity,” the student added.
Redevelopment prospects
On whether plans for the gazetting of 38 Oxley Road may prompt developers to relook the Oxley Road area’s potential, some property analysts said this would be subject to what the planning controls are, and the final decision on how the site is to be developed or preserved.
Mr Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property portal Mogul.sg, noted: “If the Government doesn’t raise the plot ratio of the land around 38 Oxley Road, there will be few projects redeveloped there.”
To maintain the ambience around 38 Oxley Road, the Government may also restrict high-rise redevelopment in the area, he added.
The site is within a designated two-storey landed housing area, where guidelines are in place to retain the character of the existing estate.
Mr Mark Yip, chief executive of property firm Huttons Asia, believes developers’ interest may not be triggered until the area, which is currently zoned for two-storey mixed landed use, is changed to non-landed zoning and the height restrictions are lifted. Mixed landed homes refer to terraced, semi-detached and detached houses.
Another unknown at this point is whether the Government will also acquire parcels adjacent to 38 Oxley Road, Mr Mak said.
“Otherwise, residents in neighbouring properties may have to live beside a heritage site,” he added.
Another resident of a landed property next to 38 Oxley Road, who wanted to be known only as Madam Yee, said that if the site becomes a public park, there may be the possibility of some neighbouring properties being acquired to make the park bigger.
When asked how she felt if that became a reality, she said in Mandarin: “If the country requires it, as a Singaporean, we should support.”
She has lived in her property for 20 years.
The authorities have said it is premature to discuss the prospect of properties surrounding 38 Oxley Road being acquired, as the options are still preliminary.
Notices of the Government’s intention to gazette 38 Oxley Road as a national monument on the property’s gate on Nov 4.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Real estate consultancy Cistri’s regional director Jack Backen said high-quality green space has been shown to boost property values, especially in higher-density residential areas.
That said, there is no clarity on what the Government is proposing for the site, so the impact is unclear, he added.
On the potential redevelopment that could take place, Mr Backen said he believes “residential zoning will most likely remain in place” for the sites surrounding 38 Oxley Road.
“I am not sure the Urban Redevelopment Authority would support a change of use to office in the surrounding area, given that they are trying to promote decentralisation,” he said.
“A hotel might be a possibility, but it would likely need to be on a site fronting Killiney Road to limit traffic impact,” he added.
Mr Yip said that among the non-landed private properties in the area that are more than 20 years old are Orchard Court, Oxley Garden, Oxley Mansion, Valley Mansion and Ville Royale.
Oxley Garden’s collective sale tender at $200 million
