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SINGAPORE: Across the street from the Prison Link Center in Changi is a gleaming three-story building with a modern red and gray facade, with long, tinted windows that add to its sleek design.
But look over to Liv @ Changi Mall, located at the junction of Upper Changi Road North and Mariam Way, and you will see that there is nothing inside.
The road leading to the shopping center parking lot is lined with red cones. The entrance doors say “welcome” but are locked. A SafeEntry sign is attached, anticipating an opening that has not yet been made.
The entrance to the mall. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
The mall received a Temporary Occupancy Permit (TOP) in December last year, its developer Fortune Assets Changi said on Friday (September 11) in response to inquiries from CNA.
But the mall has struggled to attract tenants due to planning restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Retail sales in Singapore slumped 40.5 percent year-on-year in April as the coronavirus and “circuit breaker” measures shut down non-essential businesses.
“The leasing of commercial spaces was affected by the pandemic with the circuit breaker measures implemented in April,” said Keev Tan, director of Fortune Assets Changi.
“Additionally, planning guidelines restricted certain desirable businesses, such as cafes and restaurants, which are essential for the mall to attract traffic.”
The entrance to the shopping center parking lot has been blocked. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in February rejected the developer’s request to convert six stores on the first and second floors into restaurants.
“The proposed restaurants, as set out in planning condition (f) of the Written Permit, cannot be allowed to safeguard the amenities of surrounding residents,” the URA said in a document seen by CNA.
According to the latest planning conditions issued in March 2019, URA said that the shopping center was not allowed to have restaurants, bars, health centers or nightclubs.
PERPLEXED RESIDENTS
A resident who lives on nearby private property said she looked forward to the convenience of a shopping center for her business needs.
“I don’t know what happened,” said the 63-year-old who just wanted to be known as Ms. Esther. “Maybe COVID-19 affected him.”
Another resident, a 70-year-old man who gave his name as Mr. Lim, guessed that the mall had had planning problems.
“I need a supermarket,” he said, adding that the closest stores were in Loyang, about 2 km or a 15-minute walk away.
The floors of the mall are bare, except for this wooden table and a horse sculpture near the entrance. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
A resident who wrote to CNA said residents have not been updated on plans for the mall going forward. “It looks like a new commercial center for white elephants,” he said.
The leasing process for the commercial spaces is ongoing, the developer confirmed, although there is no indication when the mall could open.
“The goal of the mall has always been to provide quality amenities and services to the surrounding residents,” said Tan sad.
