As its tenants have heard before, the Copthorne Orchid Hotel will be converted into a condominium.
In 2005, property developer City Developments Ltd (CDL) expressed its plan to turn the hotel into a condominium, but it did not happen.
CDL owns Millennium & Copthorne (M&C), which operates the Copthorne Orchid Hotel.
However, the company’s latest announcement seems to be real. A CDL spokesperson said that the company wants to launch the condominium project as early as July 2010.
The exact released date of the 150-unit project has yet to be determined, as it “had just obtained provisional permission to redevelop”.
The hotel may be torn down only next year, depending on how well the condominium sells as well as existing tenancy obligations.
M&C cancelled its plans in 2005 “as there was a projected shortage of hotel rooms”, said a M&C spokesman.
But the recent announcement is not good news for the tenants, one of which has been renting a space for over 35 years.
Madam Anne Lee, who owns Anne Salon, was upset with the news as she just renewed her lease three months ago.
“They must tell us so we can start looking for another landlord,” she said.
The Nice Express, a Singapore-Kuala Lumpur express bus service that operates from the hotel, was also not informed of the plan.
Mr. Charles Lawrence, the operations and sales supervisor of Nice Express in the Singapore office, said, “I do not know whether to move or stay.”
This is bad timing for Nice Express, as the company just spent $100,000 in 2009 for the renovation of its office at the hotel.
When asked why tenants were not informed about the plans, the spokesman said, “We have not sent out any notices as there is no firm date yet.”
“The terms of the tenancy agreement contain a three-month notice clause. We have sufficient time on hand to serve proper and timely notice to all our tenants.”