The Straits Times, Feb 4, 1993
By Cephah Tan
WORK to upgrade six old neighbourhoods in the demonstration phase of the upgrading programme will start from next week, after the end of the Lunar New Year festivities on Saturday.
The six precincts are Marine Parade, Kim Keat, Ang Mo Kio, Lorong Lew Lian, Clementi and Telok Blangah.
Marine Parade and Kim Keat are expected to begin their retrofitting next week, said a spokesman for the Housing Board. Ang Mo Kio, Lorong Lew Lian and Telok Blangah will follow suit, while work in Clementi will start in March.
When the upgrading is completed, flat-owners will have more space in their flats. They will have utility rooms, balconies and new windows.
Other improvements include lift lobbies, a new facade for the blocks, more landscaped areas, multi-storey carparks, barbecue pits, an exercise area and covered walkways.
The residents in the precincts gave a resounding "yes" to the programme when they went to the polls last year to indicate whether they wanted the upgrading.
The idea behind the exercise is to upgrade old estates to the same standard as private apartments and to help keep communities intact.
When completed, the six areas will be showpieces and will enable residents elsewhere to understand how the retrofitting is done and how living standards can be improved dramatically without their having to move to new flats.
Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
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