Goodbye Guillemard Camp. The next steps of the transformation continues.
The current ongoing demolition of Guillemard Camp signals the full swing of development and transformation that is taking place in the mature neighbourhood of Dakota. Once flanked by the old SIT flats and pioneer generation of HDBs built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Dakota of today is witnessing its full swing of changes. In Feb 2022, HDB launched its newest BTO project "Dakota Crest" which will see the construction of 3 blocks of 22 storey flats to be completed by Q4 of 2027. Taking over the nostalgic Dakota Crescent SIT flats (with some still being conserved to continue the heritage of this estate), it signalled the government's long term vision of renewing this ageing estate as part of the larger Kallang Riverside Master Plan transformation.
What is interesting also is that the few blocks of conserved SIT flats that were not demolished are currently subjected to detailed planning. Being alongside the Geylang River, this site holds great promise and potential to become a lifestyle/F&B space similar to the old estate of Tiong Bahru which similarly saw a major transformation. To add on to the recent development of this estate, URA had also recently launched an open tender in March 2022 for a site along Dunman Road under the Government Land Sales (GLS), located right beside the Geylang River and Dakota Crescent.
This site is slated for residential development and can build up to 1,305 units. This means that housing developers will be vying for a private residential site (most likely to be a condominium) that is city fringe, right beside Dakota MRT and flanked by a river as well as the landed enclave on each side. This site holds great promise and we are excitedly waiting for further news on the winning bid some time later in Q3 or Q4 2022. But more notably is the fact that with Guillemard Camp being demolished, the residential development plans of Dakota continues.
The site of the former Guillemard Camp is huge and is flanked by Dunman Road as well as Guillemard Road. It is bigger in terms of land size as compared to the Dunman Road plot. At this moment, no details on the plans of this site is available, but what we do know is that it is zoned as Residential Plot with a Gross Plot Ratio of 3.5 (able to build more than 36 storeys subjected to height control restrictions). With Paya Lebar Airbase relocating from 2030 onwards, there is a chance this plot of land may go as high as 36 storeys as aircraft height restrictions are lifted.
In addition to the BTO flats of Pine Vista (TOP in early 2021), Dakota Breeze (TOP in early 2022) and Dakota One (estimated TOP in 2025), it is safe to say that the estate of Dakota will be witnessing a new change in the upcoming years, both in terms of resident profiles and also lifestyles. I am currently staying in one of the 4 oldest blocks still surviving in Dakota - the 1969 built Block 99 Old Airport Road, where the view of the city, the friendly neighbours and ease of convenience still fuel me to hold on to this flat and grow my family in.
Should you require any assistance on your property matters, do contact me, your resident realtor, Benjamin at 88812701. I am available within touching distance from the Dakota estate and will be happy to show you around!
Comments