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Liv@Changi mall has been struggling to attract tenants since December 2019 and is on sale for $38 million. Source: Google Maps
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) may review the tenant restrictions imposed on Liv@Changi mall if they see “changes to the circumstances” of the surrounding area, reported Channel News Asia (CNA).
Located along Upper Changi Road North, the three-storey commercial building was reportedly put up for sale after its developer struggled to attract tenants due to the COVID-19 pandemic and planning restrictions.
In an announcement on 16 March, CBRE revealed that the mall is on sale for $38 million.
Liv@Changi mall was granted a Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) in December 2019. The request of its developer to turn some shops on the first and second levels into restaurants was rejected by URA in February 2020.
“We are prepared to consider reviewing the planning conditions for the site if there are changes to the circumstances for the area,” said URA on Wednesday (14 April) in response to queries from CNA.
It did not, however, provide details on what the changes are.
URA previously explained that its decision to reject the developer’s request was aimed at safeguarding the amenities of the surrounding residents.
It later told CNA that the developer’s request was not granted due to feedback from residents regarding traffic and parking problems.
A resident living next to the empty mall recently told CNA that she hopes URA would relax the limitations on the kind of tenants that the developer could bring in, noting that the mall is located within a “thriving residential zone”.
In its latest statement, URA reiterated that it had assessed the availability of amenities within the area, as well as the ground conditions like parking and traffic, before it decided on the uses, including the additional conditions, for the site.
“While retail facilities such as a supermarket are allowed, the developer was informed in 2015 that restaurants, bars, health centres or nightclubs cannot be allowed in the development,” said a URA spokesperson.
“This was to protect the residential character of the area, and took into account local grassroots’ feedback that F&B uses within this small-scale development would exacerbate the traffic and parking problems in the neighbourhood.”
URA shared that it had cited the same requirements in February 2020 and April 2021 when the mall’s developer sought to turn certain shops into restaurants, after “fresh assessments” on the amenities within the area and checks with stakeholders.
The allowable uses for a site are generally determined by several factors, such as the site’s land use zoning and development control guidelines, amenities in the area, as well as the potential impact on the surrounding area and community, said URA.
“Additional conditions may thus be imposed to mitigate the impact of the proposed uses,” added the spokesperson.
“Feedback from nearby stakeholders such as residents, schools and businesses, as well as grassroots organisations, may be taken into account in the assessment.”
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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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