One of the least desired amenities, despite its free food and vocational training centres, is actual jail. That’s why not many people see the upsides of living or renting commercial spaces near Changi Prison, despite it being a pretty good deal. That being said, put your biases aside for a moment and hear us out:
Expectations vs. Reality of living near Changi Prison
The two nearest neighbourhoods to Changi Prison are Flora Drive and Loyang East. Between these two low-rise private residential areas, there are more than 16,000 residents going about their lives in the vicinity of Changi Prison, with some living right across the road from the prison grounds.
The better-known condos near Changi Prison include Ballota Park, Edelweiss Park and The Gale. Nothing ominous sounding, unlike Prison Residences or The Sentinel (an actual condo in Newton/Novena).
Truth is, you’ll find that residents in the quiet neighbourhoods of Flora Drive and Loyang East are an easygoing, contented bunch of folks who relish living in an area with natural greenery and proximity to amenities in Pasir Ris, Changi Village, as well as the airport itself.
However, ask non-residents what they think about living in this area, and their general response is often as cold as asking them to live inside the prison. Perhaps the popularity of condos in this area can be illustrated by the price appreciation of Ballota Park and Edelweiss Park over the years:
As you can see from the above chart, although property prices for the freehold Ballota Park and Edelweiss Park Condominium increased by more than 28% over a 20-year period, the average price for condos of the same age in Singapore’s Outside Central Region (OCR) has increased by double that number, by 56%.
It’s not just the prison effect, however. Ballota Park and Edelweiss Condominium happen to be one of the most far flung freehold homes in Singapore. As more and more new projects sprung up between these condos and the city, increased competition and supply means that capital appreciation for the furthest condos is dampened somewhat.
Still, there are 3 smart reasons to seriously consider living in condos near to Changi Prison:
- Tenant pool from nearby industries, Aviation Hub and Changi Business Park
- Some of the cheapest freehold condos you can find in SG
- Ideal location for un-Singapore-like space and quiet
Reason #1:Â Tenant pool from nearby industries, Aviation Hub and Changi Business Park
Seldom is a residential district surrounded with this much employment opportunities as Flora Drive and Loyang East. There’s Loyang Industrial Estate to the Northwest, Aviation Hub to the North, Changi Airport to the East, a Logistics Hub to the Southeast, as well as Singapore Expo and the flourishing Changi Business Park to the South. All are within a 10-minute drive by car, with the Changi North Logistics Hub reachable on foot.
Simply put, this is a goldmine for property investors. For their low price and high rental demand, units here allow landlords earn a healthy rental yield with very few vacant periods. Tenants also won’t mind living near the prison, since (1) they are not putting down roots and setting up a permanent family home here, and (2) they know how safe and secure Singapore is, and living next to a prison is a perfectly acceptable option.
Not only that, the neighbourhoods are a super-affordable private housing option for those permanently working in the area, who wish to purchase a home nearby.
Now about Changi Business Park. It has expanded a lot since it was built in the late 1990s. For starters, SUTD and Changi City Point shopping centre are now in its vicinity. There are now retail and restaurant options, as well as a Fairprice Xtra. This is a great amenities hub for residents of Flora Drive and Loyang East.
[Check out Parc Komo, a new launch condo in the Flora Drive neighbourhood.]
Reason #2. Some of the cheapest freehold condos you can find in SG
Although we already hinted it’s cheap to live here, we have to reiterate this point. You can get a huge 1,300 square feet condo unit at around $1 million, and it’s freehold.
At this price point, resale condos here are even cheaper than Executive Condominiums (ECs). These are also full-facility condos that are within 10-minutes drive of Changi Airport, Singapore Expo and Changi City Point.
And if you buy now, you might benefit from the bout of value appreciation this area might get when the Loyang MRT station on the Cross-Island Line (CRL) gets up and running in the next decade. When we all put Covid-19 behind us, Changi Airport will also continue its growth as a global aviation hub with the construction of Terminal 5.
Even without the MRT station, homes here are cheap enough for owners to own a car as well. The bonus for motorists is how near this area is to THREE major expressways: TPE, PIE and ECP.
Reason #3: Ideal location for un-Singapore-like space and quiet
Again, this is a low-rise, low-density residential area that’s more like an Australian suburb than Singapore. If you’re the sort who wants a residential enclave and can live without going to Orchard or the town area for months, this is the ideal place to live.
There is an abundance of natural greenery with towering trees and lush vegetation that extends northwards to Changi Beach. More importantly, the nature here is highly unlikely to be removed or bulldozed because of the area’s historical significance and the presence of multiple military installations.
This really is one of the few very open and quiet neighbourhoods left in Singapore.
If you want a freehold private property without breaking the bank, put aside the bias and take a look at the area.
Apart from a lack of public transport and a mall within walking distance, the benefits of living in this location do not seem to be reflected in the area’s lower home prices.
And while you might be thinking that a prison in your backyard could be a permanent eyesore, you might view Changi Prison differently once you see it in the flesh. Not only are the cell blocks well tucked away from public sight, the areas facing the main road are also buffer zones and many such areas look nothing like a prison at all.
Would you live near Changi Prison? Let us know in the comments below!
If you like this article, 99.co recommends Heng Swee Keat, here’s your East Coast Plan ok? and 5 crazy things that would happen if condo managements ruled Singapore
Looking for a property? Find the home of your dreams today on Singapore’s largest property portal 99.co! You can also access a wide range of tools to calculate your down payments and loan repayments, to make an informed purchase.
About Kyle Leung
Content Marketing Manager @ 99.co
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