Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Food stalls may return to old railway station

My Paper, Monday, August 25, 2014, Page A4, Top Stories
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/emnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2014-08-25
Source Website: http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/food-stalls-may-return-old-railway-station-20140825
By Toh Yong Chuan, tohyc@sph.com.sg, mypaper, Published on Aug 25, 2014


GOING BACK?
PHOTO: GOING BACK? Mr Ali with his wife, Ahmed Nachia Mohammad Hussian, 60, at their current stall in Tanjong Pagar Plaza. Mr Ali said SLA staff approached him six months ago to discuss the possibility of returning to the former station.
PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeNHuNSU5owxqMmrK8ZH7dOsV0wV3tFwv-e2vIZv7WNhlJEzCvj8dTBUnG0byIpOhNky1EGqFPn3pjA7-lkJRIQ2Szo33xhDRD51t_f-BGcFRKn2gyBUf9kOofMh9TjVHH3Tv3hLWV8k/s1600/Food+stalls+may+return+to+old+railway+station.jpg
My Paper, Monday, August 25, 2014, Page A4, Top Stories


TRAVELLERS with backpacks and FairPrice plastic bags - that is a sight no longer seen at the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. But people in search of a bite may return, if the authorities go ahead with plans to reopen the iconic building as an eating place.

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) approached architects and consultants this month to study whether the food stalls in the Keppel Road building can be reopened.

Refurbishment works, such as sprucing up former food stalls in the station and adding new toilets, can be completed as early as 2016 at an estimated cost of $400,000.

The railway station was shuttered in 2011 after 79 years in operation.

In the plans that it has drawn up, the SLA noted that the railway station was once "a bustling and popular local food spot with numerous food stalls".

It was subsequently gazetted as a national monument, but it has remained mostly closed to the public except for ad hoc events such as heritage tours, fashion shows and product launches.

The SLA said the move was prompted by a "growing interest" in vacant properties it manages.

But it would not be drawn into saying more. "Since (the) plans are still preliminary, we will not be able to provide more details at this time," said a spokesman.

Experts welcomed the possible reopening of the former railway station to the public.

"The worst thing that can happen to old buildings is that when they are not used, they fall into disrepair," said

Yeo Kang Shua, assistant professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

But the honorary secretary of the Singapore Heritage Society added that the new food stalls in the station have to be as close as possible to how food stalls were when they were part of the railway station.

"It cannot become a giant foodcourt," said Dr Yeo.

Food blogger and entrepreneur Seth Lui suggested bringing back the hawkers who used to be at the railway station but are now scattered all over Singapore. "These are the foods associated with the place, and there is a sense of nostalgia about them," he said.

One stall formerly at the railway station is nasi briyani stall Ali Nachia Briyani Dam, which moved to a coffee shop in Tanjong Pagar Plaza after the railway station closed.

"I will not say no to any opportunity to return to the railway station because that was what our customers associated us with," said owner Ali Latif.

Mr Ali said SLA staff approached him six months ago to discuss the possibility of returning to the former station, but talks stalled because he was required to bear the renovation costs.

"I worked so hard to build a steady customer base at my current location, so I may open a branch at the railway station," said the 64-year-old.

"But it still depends on the rent and how long we get to stay there. We don't want to be asked to leave again after one or two years."

By Toh Yong Chuan, tohyc@sph.com.sg, mypaper, Published on Aug 25, 2014



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