Just over 40 years ago, it would have been rather hard to imagine Marine Parade’s mere existence. Muneerah Bee unearths Singapore’s first residential estate on what used to be the sea.
Built entirely on reclaimed land in the 1970s, Marine Parade was developed covering 50 hectares to house over 7,000 units of flats.
Till this day, residents in said flats, especially those on the higher storeys, enjoy an unblocked view of the sea and the calming breeze. Besides overlooking East Coast Park, it is said that the view stretches out as far out to Indonesia’s Batam island.
Today, there are about 7,864 HDB flats in Marine Parade, with an estimated HDB resident population of around 23,300. The main wards of Marine Parade housing estate can be easily identified by the roads surrounding them; Marine Terrace, Marine Crescent, Marine Drive, and Marine Parade Central.
In March this year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) introduced the Silver Zone programme. It aims to improve road safety for seniors in residential areas with a high elderly population.
The series of road safety enhancements include signs to demarcate the zone, speed humps to slow vehicles down, centre dividers with railings to deter jaywalking, and special markings on footpaths to guide the elderly to the nearest pedestrian crossings.
Marine Terrace and Marine Crescent have been identified as Silver Zone locations, and they are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2016. This will improve the liveability of seniors there and ease their family members’ worries.
Housing accessibility
Besides public housing, several new private residential developments have flourished in Marine Parade, and some private homes there include One Amber, Costa Del Sol, Mandarin Gardens, and Cote D’Azur.
Some new developments are also in the works, such as 70 Saint Patrick’s by UOL Group. The low-rise freehold condominium project offers 186 units, and is expected to be ready in 2017. It recently won in the Residential Developments, Singapore category at the recent International Property Awards (Asia Pacific) 2014.
Due to its proximity to the city and East Coast Park (pictured), Marine Parade proves to be a popular housing location. It is currently a well-developed and highly accessible district with a good range of amenities, but residents will have more choices in future as the town gets rejuvenated in the coming years. According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Master Plan 2014, Marine Parade residents can expect new and enhanced facilities, better transport connectivity and more opportunities to work near home.
Although it is located at the city fringe, Marine Parade currently lacks MRT services within the area. However, that is set to change when the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) opens in a few years. The 43 km TEL is a joint line between the Thomson Line and the Eastern Region Line with 31 new stations, including Amber, Marine Parade and Marine Terrace stations which will run through the area.
These new stations will boost Marine Parade’s public transport connectivity and slash residents’ travel time to the city and Changi. The Eastern Region Line, on the whole, is expected to be completed by 2020, and will ensure residents in Marine Parade can expect smoother and faster journeys to other parts of the country.
Other enhancements to the roads and public transport network indicated in the URA Master Plan 2014, include ongoing road widening works along Mountbatten Road and Fort Road, which will support the upcoming development in the area.
Within reach of recreation
It goes without saying that Marine Parade residents are a stone’s throw away from the outdoors, with access to East Coast Park via underpasses linking the estate. They also have access to a number of smaller parks and an extensive network of park connectors.
For daily necessities and retail needs, residents can visit Parkway Parade. Managed by Lend Lease, it consists of a 17-floor office tower and a seven-storey shopping mall with a plethora of retailers and dining outlets.
Some distance away, the Marine Parade Community Building continues to meet the needs of the community. With its interesting design and façade, the three-story building is home to the Marine Parade Community Centre (CC) and Marine Parade Public Library.
The 3,534 sq m library was relocated to its current building in 2000 after being in existence since 1978. It serves the literary needs of residents of the South East areas of Singapore such as Bedok, Joo Chiat, Marine Parade, Mountbatten, and Siglap.
Besides allowing residents to enjoy the new facilities, locating the CC and library in the same building helps to maximise land use in the area.
Additionally, local theatre company The Necessary Stage is also housed there where is has its very own Black Box to hold performances. With theatre veteran and Cultural Medallion recipient Alvin Tan as its Artistic Director, The Necessary Stage is known to produce critically acclaimed original plays.
The building also has a sheltered rooftop basketball court for the residents’ recreation needs.
Hotels also make up some of the commercial buildings in Marine Parade such as Le Peranakan Hotel, Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel, Village Hotel Katong, and Santa Grand Hotel East Coast.
Over the next few years, Marine Parade will see new commercial developments which will offer more opportunities for new businesses and bringing jobs closer to residents.
Rising from the sea, Marine Parade has taken a unique identity of its own over the decades, and it doesn’t take much to see why local band Seranaide describes it as “magical Marine Parade” in one of their songs.
