59 Units. The Hillshore! Former Gloria Mansion

INTROUDCTION

THE HILLSHORE, developed by Hillside View Development Pte. Ltd.(A subsidiary of FRX Capital Private Limited); is a Singapore-based company specialising in real estate investment and development management has a combined real estate experience of 60 years among the founders. Definitely got the eye for unique land and the ability to transform it creatively into a modern development.

Consisting of 2 blocks of 5-storey with a basement carpark, they have truly transformed this technically challenging site into a well designed, spacious development will full facilities for the residents.

LOCALE

The Hillshore, former Gloria Mansion built in 1995 is Located along 292 Pasir Panjang Road. Pasir Panjang was once a sought after area for the wealthy early settlers. I was told so much about Pasir Panjang that I had to do some research and this is what I found from archives:

From around the 1920s, wealthy Chinese businessmen began to build seaside houses and bungalows along the coastline at Pasir Panjang. By the 1930s, Pasir Panjang Road was so populated with such homes that the stretch came to be known as “millionaire’s row”.Among the wealthy Chinese businessmen with homes in Pasir Panjang were Lee Kong Chian and Aw Boon Haw.

The name Pasir Panjang literally means "long sand" in Malay, a reference to the long sandy beach that stretched along the coast in this area. Pasir Panjang Road, which once hugged the coastline, was laid down by the Government Surveyor of Singapore, John Turnbull Thomson, in 1841 and by 1850, it was extended as far as the Jurong River. This facilitated the development of a linear coastal settlement which stretches all the way to Clementi Road.

Providing a backdrop to the coastal settlement was a hilly ridge running parallel to the coastline. A low saddle along the ridge (known subsequently as ‘The Gap’) presented the opportunity to construct an inland road, which became today’s South Buona Vista Road.

In the 1920s, many of the wealthy Chinese built holiday and residential bungalows along the coast, some of which are still visible today. In 1930, some of the Malay families from the Kallang River Basin area were resettled here when Kallang Airport was constructed. In 1957, the Malay settlement here became known as the West Coast Malay Settlement. Right up to the early 1960s, this area contained many Malay fishing villages. The main economic activities were fishing and small scale agriculture.

Pasir Panjang was also a British defence position in the south and was a key battle site in World War II. Developments in the area took place mainly after the war was over. In the 1950s, the area began to take on a suburban character as bungalows were built along the coastline, fronting the sea.

Since the late 1960s, the coastal area at Pasir Panjang has been reclaimed for wharves and is almost entirely devoted to containerisation. The Pasir Panjang Terminal of the Port of Singapore is also located here.

Situated in District 5 (RCR) with only 2 other residential developments along this short stretch makes it even more exclusive. Topography is unlike any other developments and i am impressed with what the developer has done with it. Other key factor that adds privacy to this development is the Science Park II that is operating a huge span of land just behind it marked in blue on the URA map below.

FACILITIES

On visiting the show gallery before public launch, I was intrigued by the facilities catered which includes a 25m lap pool, a sizeable gym, function room and amazingly a badminton court; I asked myself when was the last development that offered a badminton court in recent years.

FINISHING

COMING UP...

LAYOUT

This development offers 2 bedroom to 4 bedroom and rare 4-bedroom Dual Key units, and very nice ceiling height of 3.2m and selected units with up to an astonishing 5.5m. One can really get creative with such space or simply enjoy the majestic feel as it is.

Unit layouts are very efficiently spaced where almost every corners are well utilised, which gave the impression of feeling larger than similar sized units in other developments. Definitely a space I would appreciate with the family.

Unless you didn't grew up in Singapore, layout and design follows strict regulations from fire safety to efficiency of space usage such as size of AC ledges, balcony etc. Architectural designs are also well governed by authorities such as material use, facade outlook whether it reflects too much light to neighbouring real estates. As such, interior layouts usually gives a sense familiarity between the different periods which the development was built in. Hence, do not expect too much and of cos, I will not settle for anything less.

Some units will get to enjoy breathtaking views like these; photographed from The Palisades.

copyright & photo credits: Terence Seah

PROS

• Well planned space throughout the development and units

• MRT (CC25) is a mere 600m

• Freehold development, ideal for legacy planning

• Minutes drive to VivoCity, Sentosa

• Good connectivity to major expressways

• Non PPVC construction method

CONS

• Some may find it too quiet at night

• The views might be replaced by vibrancy in 20 years with the redevelopment of Great Southern Waterfront

CONCLUSION

If I wanted somewhere peaceful but still convenient, The Hillshore is one of the considerations as likely it will be priced attractively in comparison with leasehold condo sites with the same proximity to the city or developments that offers similar sea views. I view this as a property-hack purchase if opportunity arises for me.

Investment will also yield comfortably where MRT is only 600m away, I can confirm with a unit I leased out at The Palisades built in the early 1990s just next door for over $7,500 for 3-bedroom unit which spans close to 3,000 sqft with plentiful outdoor space. I remembered having 7 viewings on a single day and unit taken up within the day with multiple offers; as such I can only conclude that the demand for this particular location is fairly strong.

Disclaimer:

• This is not a paid review, neither do I own a unit there.

• Images you see are artist impression and may differ from actual.