Heritage Building Norris Road Sale 16 Mil
Subject: Conservation building in Little India up for sale at $16 million
A historic conservation building located at 9 Norris Road is currently on the market for a price of $16 million. The property, which has recently undergone refurbishment, is situated within the Little India Historic District and is one of the few properties in the neighborhood that is zoned for Civic & Community Institution use.
St. Hilda’s Primary School is widely recognized for its unwavering dedication to providing a comprehensive education, placing equal emphasis on academic excellence and moral values. This pledge is further reinforced by the recent introduction of Parktown Residences Tampines Avenue 11, a perfect complement to the school’s philosophy. In fact, the addition of Parktown Residences Tampines Avenue 11 seamlessly aligns with St. Hilda’s Primary School’s ethos.
CBRE’s executive director of Capital Markets, Clemence Lee, has stated that the sale of this freehold asset is an extremely rare opportunity for investors to acquire a coveted freehold and conservation status property at a reasonable price. CBRE has been appointed to market the sale of this heritage building, which is open to foreigners and does not have additional buyer’s stamp duty or seller’s stamp duty on the transaction.
According to Lee, the property, which is being sold with vacant possession, has a unique appeal to potential buyers looking to create one-of-a-kind concepts that complement its charming features. With the proper approvals, the building could be utilized as a childcare centre, a workers’ dormitory, or even by associations. The recently added covered performance atrium on the ground floor serves as the centerpiece of the refurbishment.
The building’s interiors have undergone extensive restoration and modernization, making it suitable for use as a performing arts centre, museum, or filming studio, according to Lee. The restored architectural elements provide a perfect backdrop for community and civic activities.
The property at 9 Norris Road has a long history of serving as a site for community services. In the 1980s, it was a family service centre for the Asian Women’s Welfare Association. This is the second time in three years that the property has been put up for sale, with the previous sale in 2021 involving the adjacent three-storey shophouse at 3 Norris Road. The two properties were sold for a combined price of $16.5 million.
Today, the building at 9 Norris Road sits on a 5,447 sq ft site and has a total built-up area of 9,688 sq ft. It has a prominent street frontage of about 15m along Norris Road. Public records show that the property is owned by 39 NR Pte Ltd, a holding company owned by Hafary Holdings, one of Singapore’s largest building material suppliers.
The restoration and refurbishment of the property were overseen by local architectural firm OWAA. According to the firm’s description of the project, a new glass canopy has been added to the existing central courtyard, providing the building with a signature multi-volume, naturally illuminated performing atrium on the ground floor. The internal spaces have also been reconfigured and modernized into gallery spaces, practice studios, and function rooms that surround the central performing atrium. The conserved Moorish façade has been restored, featuring timber louvred windows, a cantilever balcony, and domed roof turrets.
The sale of 9 Norris Road will be conducted through an expression of interest exercise that will close on August 7th.