First BTO of 2016: Alkaff Oasis in Bidadari features slew of green initiatives

[reporter2]

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/first-bto-of-2016-alkaff-oasis-in-bidadari-features-slew-of-green-initiatives

First BTO of 2016: Alkaff Oasis in Bidadari features slew of green initiatives

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/styles/x_large/public/articles/2016/02/24/alkaff_oasis_0.jpg?itok=3sUl1BNc
An artist's impression of the new Alkaff Oasis in Bidadari. PHOTO: HDB

Lee Min Kok


SINGAPORE - Located next to Cedar Girls' Secondary School, new Build-to-Order (BTO) project Alkaff Oasis is the second housing development to be launched in Toa Payoh's Bidadari estate.

The first, launched in November last year and consisting of three projects - Alkaff CourtView, Alkaff LakeView and Alkaff Vista - received overwhelming demand.

Alkaff Oasis was one of three BTO projects launched by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) on Wednesday (Feb 24), which included Anchorvale Plains in Sengkang and West Plains @ Bukit Batok.

There will be 16 residential blocks consisting of 1,594 flats in Alkaff Oasis, with 800 four-room flats making up the bulk of the development.

Excluding grants, prices start at $154,000 for a two-room Flexi unit, while three-room and four-room units will cost upwards of $303,000 and $440,000 respectively.

The price of a five-room flat will range between $546,000 and $633,000.

Alkaff Oasis will be fitted with high-tech waste collection infrastructure - called a pneumatic waste conveyance system - that provides cleaner waste disposal.

The system, which uses vacuum-type underground pipes to automatically gather household garbage, was previously installed at Jurong's Yuhua estate.

The development will also incorporate other sustainability initiatives to "create a lush green environment for residents", HDB said in its press release.

Facilities include a Residents' Committee and a childcare centre, while within Alkaff Oasis, there will be accessible roof gardens located above the multi-storey car parks and at certain floors of some residential blocks.

Sky terraces open to the public will also be situated at the various levels of four residential blocks.

In line with the Government's vision of a car-lite future, the Bidadari estate will also boast of a pedestrian and cyclist friendly environment, HDB added.

Besides an extensive pedestrian and cycling network, the Land Transport Authority and HDB are exploring the possibility of car and bike sharing schemes to encourage future residents to adopt more environment-friendly modes of transport.

It is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2020.

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/alkaff1.jpg

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/alkaff3_0.jpg

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/alkaff2.jpg

[reporter2]

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/bidadari-flats-hot-property-in-hdbs-latest-sales-exercise

Bidadari flats hot property in HDB's latest sales exercise

Alkaff Oasis project draws applicants willing to pay a premium for central location

Yeo Sam Jo

Janice Heng


Within a day of their launch, five-room and multi-generation flats in Bidadari have become the hottest properties in the Housing Board's latest sales exercise.

There were already 408 applicants vying for just 236 such flats as of 5pm yesterday - an application rate of 1.7.

Four-room flats were also popular, with 601 applicants chasing 800 units. Applications close on Tuesday. Property experts named its central location in Toa Payoh as the main reason the project, Alkaff Oasis, will be the most coveted in this launch.

The launch, comprising a total of 4,170 flats, also offers units in the newer estates of Bukit Batok and Sengkang.

Alkaff Oasis - the second lot of public housing in the upcoming Bidadari estate - is also attractive because of its proximity to established schools such as Cedar Girls' Secondary School, said R'ST Research director Ong Kah Seng.

He said: "Flats in Bidadari are appreciated by aspiration-driven flat applicants who see it as akin to... upmarket flats in mature estates like Bishan and Queenstown."

ERA Realty key executive officer Eugene Lim, however, said some young couples might prefer flats in Sengkang and Bukit Batok as they are less pricey.

Prices before grants for five-room flats start from $546,000 in Bidadari, $367,000 in Bukit Batok and $324,000 in Sengkang.

With grants, a two-room flexi flat in Sengkang could go for as little as $4,000 - the cheapest in this sales exercise.

While two-room flats are open to all eligible applicants, they can also now come with a shorter lease for applicants aged 55 and up.

Among the two-room flexi flats on offer, those in Sengkang were the most sought after as of yesterday, with 345 applicants vying for 448 units.

The application rate for these flats was highest among singles, rather than older buyers eyeing a shorter lease.

Mr Ong said this group might take a while to warm up to the idea, though it is tailored to them.

"The two-room flexi scheme has yet to see massive, overwhelming applications by the elderly, as generally the elderly of today are still quite conservative. They resist uprooting to a new flat."

Bank analyst Jeremy Ho, 26, plans to apply for a four-room Bidadari flat with his 25-year-old girlfriend.

They were unsuccessful in their past four bids.

"Money is one consideration. A five-room flat there starts from over $500,000. I would rather pay less for a four-room and spend more on renovation," said Mr Ho.

He hopes this strategy would also raise his chances. There are 800 four-room units on offer in Bidadari in this launch, compared to just 165 five-room flats.

The price premium that comes with living in Bidadari does not bother Mr Ho, who works in Raffles Place. He said: "You are not paying more for nothing. You save time travelling. Location ultimately trumps everything."