Save Rochor Centre!! (Or perhaps, not...)

A highway is indeed more important than a pain that more than 500 families would have to bear as they lose their home.

My way or the highway, huh?

As expected long-time residents are sad to leave Rochor Centre. Retiree Wong Tong Hoe, 72 who has lived there with his wife and son since 1978 is quoted to say, 'Even if we feel sad, it can't be helped.'

Rochor Centre will soon be demolished, to make way for the new North-South Expressway (NSE) in the southern segment of the project.

Long time residents - some of whom have lived there for more than 30 years - are largely resigned to the news that they will have to vacate their homes in five years.

Retiree Wong Tong Hoe, 72, told The Straits Times that he had lived there with his family since 1978 and enjoyed the view outside his 17th-floor flat.

"Even if we feel sad, it can't be helped," said Mr Wong.

Rochor Centre is among more than 20 private properties which will have part of their plots acquired for the highway and several slip roads and ramps leading to and from the highway. It is the biggest land acquisition to date.

The blocks, which are painted in bright hues of green, red and yellow, comprise HDB flats, shops, eating houses and three communal facilities: a kindergarten, a Residents' Committee centre and a home for the aged.

Earlier this year, the government gave the green light for the 15.9 km North-South Expressway (NSE)between Admiralty Road West and Toa Payoh Rise, and announced properties in the northern segment which will be affected by the construction.

These include parts of Marymount, Sembawang and Yio Chu Kang.

Other acquisitions for the southern segment include the Lee Ah Mooi Nursing Home in Thomson, Nanyang Pho Leng Building near Kampong Java, and the Victoria Wholesale Centre.

Residents there will be compensated and have the option to move to new flats by the Kallang River, near the Kallang MRT station. These will be ready in mid-2016.

Prices of the flats will be frozen at today's rates, with an additional 20 per cent discount.

Tenants who relocate will also receive a 10 per cent discount on a successful bid for other HDB rental shops, among other relocation benefits.

Those who took over the premises before 1999 will receive payouts of S$60,000 each. An additional S$30,000 will be given to those who choose to continue business at an alternative premise.

Mrs Nargis Banu, 34, who has lived in Rochor Centre for seven years, told The Straits Times that she would miss the convenience of having facilities such as a supermarket and a bank right below her home. Her two children attend the kindergarten and school nearby.

"I'm quite sad. I'm not sure what to do, whether to take the new place at Kallang or go somewhere else," said Mrs Banu.

Ms Sumathi Thanmugham, 51, who has lived there for more than 30 years, likes how Rochor Centre is served by many buses and is near Bugis MRT station.

She told The Straits Times that her parents are old and her father is a stroke patient, so staying near her workplace at Stamford Primary School is ideal, as she can rush back home if anything happens.

"This place is like heaven. I'd rather stay. It's quite sad to need to count the days to the year we leave."

From Asiaone, "More than 500 families to make way for new highway".

With yesterday's announcement that the Government has given the green light for the 15.9 km North-South Expressway (NSE) between Admiralty Road West and Toa Payoh Rise, also came news that several properties along the area will be acquired by the Government.

The following properties will be affected by the construction of the expressway:

Marymount Convent
The living quarters of the Good Shepherd nuns and a nursing home will be acquired. Marymount Convent School beside it will not be affected.

Marymount Terrace
Residents have been served land acquisition notices, with letters from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) pasted outside every home.

Condominiums
The Seletaris in Sembawang, Nuovo, Bullion Park and Castle Green in Yio Chu Kang will have part of their fences, boundary walls and grass verge acquired.

Industrial estates
These are owned by JTC and HDB in places like Sin Ming and Woodlands and will be acquired by the government.

From Asiaone, "Properties to be affected by new Singapore expressway". (20/01/11)

New plans for the upcoming North-South Expressway (NSE) were revealed yesterday, which will result in almost 570 families and 190 retailers and eateries moving out of Rochor Centre.

To build the NSE's southern section, the Government will be acquiring two full plots of land.

These comprise the land along Rochor Road on which Rochor Centre is sited, as well as the land in Keng Lee Road occupied by the Nanyang Pho Leng Building, an association building for Teochews.

Slivers of land on which 21 private properties sit will also need to be acquired by the Government, to facilitate the construction of the southern part of the NSE.

Some other properties that will make way for the NSE include the Victoria Street Wholesale Centre and Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said that residents of the four blocks of Housing Board flats at Rochor Centre, which are more than 30 years old, will be offered relocation benefits.

These will be similar to those offered under the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme.

The HDB will build about 810 new flats in Kallang - expected to be completed in mid-2016 - which the affected residents can move into.

However, this means that Rochor Centre could be gone in 2016.

Some benefits which Rochor Centre residents can expect include an additional 20 per cent discount of up to $30,000 when buying new flats, as well as compensation for their flats which will be pegged to prevailing market values.

Retailers and eatery owners at the centre will be offered relocation benefits, too.

For instance, they will be given a 10 per cent discount off their monthly rental rates should they successfully win a tender for other HDB rental commercial properties.

LTA and SLA said owners of other private land acquired by the Government will also get market-value compensation.

Help will be given by public agencies to owners, such as those in the Nanyang Pho Leng Building, to relocate as well.

Housewife Lo Chew Lan, 57, who has been living in Block 2 at Rochor Centre for about 30 years, said it was a pity that she has to move out.

"The neighbours all know each other, and (Rochor Centre is) really a convenient place," said Madam Lo.

"For decades, we have been hearing that the Government wanted us to move out, but we didn't think anything of it. We found out only yesterday when the HDB sent us the letter."

LTA and SLA said the new 21.5km NSE will benefit residents living in the north and north-eastern parts of Singapore, as it helps to meet an expected growth in traffic demand arising from new developments there.

It will also allow motorists travelling between the north and the city centre to save up to 30 per cent in travel time during peak periods.

Major construction works for the NSE will start in 2015.

From Asiaone, "Rochor residents have to move".

Residents of the Rochor Centre HDB flats have been cautioned against cashing out in the resale market.

Member of Parliament for Moulmein-Kallang GRC Denise Phua has urged them to consider taking up the relocation package to Kallang, following Tuesday's announcement on the North-South Expressway (NSE).

Four blocks at Rochor Centre will be making way for the NSE.

Affected residents have been assured of a new flat in Kallang, and in many cases, may even enjoy some net proceeds.

Following the initial shock of the news, residents have been trying to make sense of the compensation offered.

Some have raised concerns the money offered is insufficient.

RC chairman Eunice Phng said: "Three-room to three-room, they're getting about S$100,000, they think it's still not enough.

"Because they are actually making way for the highway, and this is a very prime area, you can't get a similar area like this.

"So they think the loss is there. But in terms of payment, if the authorities can look into more benefits, that will really make them happier."

Home owners have the option of selling the flat in the open market, where they are likely to fetch a premium above market value.

The relocation benefits can also be transferred to the new owner, who may have set their sights on the Kallang development.

But the area's MP has urged residents against selling their flats.

Ms Phua said: "If any of the residents were to sell too quickly without thinking through, and apply for another estate, they will not get the priority and they may find themselves stuck.

"The other thing is, if they choose to cash out and use the money and find that later on they have no where else to go, they will not be -- most of them -- ... entitled to a rental flat because of the surplus they would have profited."

Ms Phua also pointed out residents stand to gain from moving to Kallang.

She noted that not only will they be getting a brand new flat with a fresh 99-year lease, elderly residents who currently endure the inconvenience of a lack of lifts in Rochor, will be able to benefit from having lifts on every floor in Kallang.

HDB has frozen the sale of these flats for a month to ensure residents fully understand the relocation package before making a decision.

It will also be holding a week-long exhibition, starting this Friday, to explain the compensation details and also provide more information on the replacement flats in Kallang.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Don't cash out flats, Rochor residents urged".