IT sounds too good to true - at least for those directly involved.
Tenants of Golden Mile Complex and Golden Mile Tower were surprised to receive a flyer in their mailbox on 15 Jul. It was a redevelopment proposal to build the tallest building in Asia.
Both the buildings, which have commercial and residential units, would be torn down, and in their place would be the Golden 118.
What made it even more surprising was that the proposed building would house a cosmetic and plastic surgery hub, sex-related disease and fertility research hospital and legal professional topless bars.
Ms Jessie Ong, 48, whose handphone number was included in the proposal, also proposed to build the 'biggest mega-cineplex in the world' with 20 or more screens and three live theatres.
The proposal hopes 'professional adult striptease shows like those in Bangkok' can be staged in one of the theatres.
Said Mr Michael Tan, a tenant of a unit at Golden Mile Complex: 'I thought it was a scam and didn't bother to call. We have a long-term contract with our landlord and there is still a long time to its expiry.'
Five other tenants of Golden Mile Complex confirmed that they had received the flyer.
The proposal also mentions that it hopes Golden 118 can be a 'world-class in-bound and out-bound tour coaches hub' and a 'Western & Eastern orthopaedic and sport related injury clinical centre'.
When The New Paper contacted Ms Ong, she said it was an effort to arrange a successful en-bloc sale.
Said Ms Ong: 'I think many of the unit owners here want to let go of the place. Everyone knows what state the place is in, despite the nice architecture.
'I'm trying to gather the unit owners to agree to tear down Golden Mile Complex and Golden Mile Tower and propose to a developer the building of Golden 118.'
The flyer called for owners to join hands to 'develop this dream'.
She claimed to be an owner of several units in the two buildings, but declined to specify how many.
Ms Ong also claimed that almost 80 per cent of the owners had contacted her with intention to join the proposal, but declined to name any of them.
Still, efforts to attract developers have failed. 'I have approached two big, local developers with this project, but they have turned me down,' she claimed.
'With this, I will have to go to foreign developers.'
After the place was called a 'vertical slum', a 'terrible eye sore' and a 'national disgrace' by Nominated Member of Parliament Ivan Png in March 2006, plans were made for a collective sale.
However, the en-bloc plans fell through in the end.
Said Ms Ong: 'Many people began buying units because they heard of the en-bloc plans and increased the price demanded to absurd levels.
'I'm sure many owners of units now are supportive of an en-bloc sale to get their units off their hands.
'If we want to have a historic monument, we should make it the best and this proposal does just that.'
Ms Ong said her proposal was developed in consultation with architects but declined to elaborate further.
URA says
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) confirmed it had received the proposal from Ms Ong.
URA advised her to seek planning approval through an Outline Application on the type of development that can be permitted before making plans for redevelopment of the site.
A URA spokesman said: 'An Outline Application is a broad proposal to test the allowable planning and urban design parameters for the site.
'We had advised Ms Jessie Ong that she would have to obtain the requisite owners' consent should she wish to submit an Outline Application for our consideration.'
The URA spokesperson also stated that restrictions on building heights depends on the location.
'The Outline Application will help us assess the situation. Currently, there are no height restrictions on buildings in the area Golden Mile is in.'
Asked whether she was ready to submit the Outline Application, Ms Ong said she is still in the planning and discussion stage.
Possible?
When The New Paper contacted Mr Eugene Lim, 42, vice-president of ERA Asia Pacific, he said that such a plan was not feasible.
Said Mr Lim: 'The height of building often depends on the size of the plot of land it is to be built on.
'The Taipei 101 building has a footprint the size of the entire Suntec City (about 5 million sq ft).
'This 400,000 square feet of land is too small for 118 storeys.'
He added that the proposed building would be like a 'pencil'.
And though there is no height restriction on the site now, there is no guarantee that a building of such a height will be permitted.
Said Prof Gary Ong, Deputy Head of Civil Engineering at National University of Singapore: 'The URA has a height restriction on certain buildings in Singapore (depending on zone)...'
He added: 'Issues such as emergency evacuation and transportation access will have to be considered.'
Also, a building like Taipei 101 would require very deep foundations.
Said Prof Ong: 'Explosives had to be used to drive the piles into the ground.
'In this case, even deeper foundation will have to be constructed.
'Considering Golden Mile is just next to the Nicoll Highway collapse site, further studies on design are needed to balance the height and potential problems.'
