Hock Kee House near CCL construction to be demolished
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SINGAPORE : The Hock Kee House which is located just seven metres away from the tunnels of the future Paya Lebar MRT interchange station will be demolished.
Tenants and residents will have to vacate the building by September 12.
Although the building is deemed safe for occupation, it will become unsafe once deep excavation at the Paya Lebar portion of the Circle Line construction resumes.
The five-storey Hock Kee House was built nearly 40 years ago, on top of thick layers of soft marine clay.
In 2003, the Land Transport Authority discovered the building was resting on inadequate foundations to support the building.
Additional supports were even installed in the 1990s to give extra support, but that too would not be enough once deep excavation starts nearby.
The LTA had considered realigning the tunnel and adding more building supports to Hock Kee House, but those options were not feasible.
Measuring instruments installed also showed the building would not withstand further ground movement.
A total of seven shophouses and 28 residential units will be affected.
There are also 45 separate owners at Hock Kee House, owning 35 units. There will be an upfront compensation of $10,000 per unit."
Some owners may even get up to $100,000 from the LTA.
The LTA has also provided a list of alternate units in other areas to help those affected by the move.
It said the acquisition and demolition of Hock Kee House would go ahead even if the Nicoll Highway accident had not happened.
Paul Fok, Civil Engineer of the LTA, said: "The decision to demolish Hock Kee House was made about a week ago, and the tenants and residents were informed of this on Thursday evening."
They will also have to move in a month's time before the LTA takes over the building. - CNA/de -
That's so bad. But LTA had no choice but to demolished to pave way for the CCL. Nevertheless, the Hock Kee House is over 40 years, so it is best to demolish.
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That bldg?
If they had knew of this, they should have done this long ago and not chiong chiong like that -
maybe is due to just found out recently about the building is built in this such a way that is dangerous for having an underground tunnel.....
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They Sholud reroute the MRT.
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maybe no way to reroute? or reroute liao cost more?
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think the MP is involved liao...
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SLA works out $17m compensation for Hock Kee House owners
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE : The Singapore Land Authority has worked out a compensation package of about $17 million to owners of the 35 units at Hock Kee House in Paya Lebar.
On Thursday, the owners were informed of the compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, which SLA says is pegged to the current market value.
But some owners say the amount offered to them is up to 40 percent less than the valuation by their private valuers.
Since the government informed owners of Hock Kee House of the need to move a month ago, eight have already done so.
Another 24 units have indicated that they will move out before October 3 deadline.
The SLA said it had taken into account reports by the state valuer, as well as submissions by owners in working out the compensation package.
The statutory compensation is over and above the $3.2 million Special Assistance Financial Package by the Land Transport Authority.
There is also an ex-gratia payment for those who may suffer some hardship because of the acquisition at short-notice.
Simon Ong, Director of Land Resource Business at SLA, said: "The principle of payment for this ex-gratia is hardship. By hardship, we looked at individuals' special conditions. Such as their medical conditions, their mortgage status and so on."
The ex-gratia payment is on a case-by-case basis, so not every owner will get it.
But that is not the only reason owners of Hock Kee House are upset.
Of the 35 owners, 26 say they are not satisfied with the compensation amount they have been offered.
Tan Oon Fei, house owner at Hock Kee House, said: "The compensation given by SLA today is $300K. But according to my valuer, the report was $522,000. The difference is so wide! With this $300K given by SLA, I cannot even buy a same unit as mine!
"If you want to be fair, you need to compensate me with market value. Compensate with an amount which I can buy on the market value. But this is not the case!"
Ng Chee Lye, Coffeeshop owner at Hock Kee House, said: "They pay me only $1 million. My valuer valued at $1.56 million. So I am in the loss, so even in the open market, I cannot buy a coffeeshop which has around 3,000 square feet!
"Also, we claim for the ex-gratia - it is not given to me. They just give me the valuation of one million dollars."
The owners have up to September 29 to lodge an appeal (with the Appeals Board). - CNA/de -
CannotOriginally posted by SBS9889U:They Sholud reroute the MRT.
Because even you move, the soil may still move -
Finally, all moved out.
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Because you dun move, I wun compensate you...Originally posted by SBS9889U:Finally, all moved out.
That's how the govt works -
yeah finally all shifted out... now can start pulling down the building...
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use explosives or not?
