A block of 7 adjoining 3-storey conservation shophouses in Chinatown and a prime freehold site near Orchard Road have been put on the market for S$110 million and S$76 million respectively.

If sold at S$110 million, the Chinatown asset will break the record for the largest shophouse transaction in Singapore – currently held by Porcelain Hotel at S$90 million, said exclusive marketing agent CBRE on Monday (Apr 25).

The block of shophouses are located along 20 Trengganu Street and will be sold via expression of interest. They sit on an island plot spanning 10,444 square feet (sq ft) and have a total floor area of about 31,364 sq ft.

There are also 7 shopfront units spanning a total floor area of 1,300 sq ft located in front of the property which may be leased separately from the Chinatown Business Association, CBRE said.

The ground floor of the asset is currently tenanted to multiple retail outlets including a supermarket, while a restaurant is located on the second floor. The third floor is occupied by a boutique hotel operator understood to be Hotel 1888 Collection.

Furthermore, the pedestrian walkway along 20 Trengganu Street can be leased to third-party vendors, contributing to the total rental income collected from the property yearly, said CBRE.

Clemence Lee, CBRE Singapore executive director of capital markets, said: “The incoming owner is well-positioned to capitalise on the rebound of the tourism industry and enjoy mid to long-term positive rental reversion and capital appreciation.”

Meanwhile, the freehold site at 118 Killiney Road, which is for sale via tender, spans 7,688 sq ft. It is zoned for residential with commercial use at first storey use under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Master Plan 2019.

There will be no development charge payable to convert the site into either hotel or serviced apartment use, sole marketing agent Edmund Tie said in a separate statement on Monday (Apr 25).

A 6-storey building, completed in 2013, sits on the land plot. It has a total existing gross floor area of around 30,327 sq ft, reflecting a plot ratio of 3.94. The development has a restaurant on the first storey, 30 apartment units on upper floors, and a basement car park.

118 Killiney Road is located near Orchard Road, with Somerset MRT located about 500 metres away. Orchard, Dhobi Ghaut and Fort Canning MRT stations are within a 1-kilometre radius.

Edmund Tie head of investment advisory Swee Shou Fern said the site will make a good investment opportunity when acquired and transformed into a hospitality asset, given the easing of travel restrictions.

The tender exercise for 118 Killiney Road and the expression of interest exercise for 20 Trengganu Street will both close on Jun 1 at 3 pm.

Credit: Business Times