Gem Residences @ Toa Payoh

Gem Residences @Toa Payoh

From Gem Residences, how connected is Toa Payoh, really? Besides being a 20-minute drive away from CBD, a mere three train stops from the Orchard shopping belt and close to recreational areas like MacRitchie Reservoir, the town also boasts well-established public transport nodes. Just minutes away is a library, a 3900-seat stadium, swimming complex, gymnasium, and a vibrant mix of modern and traditional stores.

And of course, the relatively small size of the town means that it is almost too easy to get to the many famous hawker and cafe joints dotted along the Lorongs. And the town is still spotlighted for upgrading under the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) Remaking Our Heartland programme, which will see a revamped town centre and town park, along with improved pedestrian access to the town centre.

It will also benefit from the new Thomson East Coast Line (TEL), which adds 31 stations in stages from 2019 onwards.Thomson East Coast Line (TEL), which adds 31 stations in stages from 2019 onwards.lorongs. And the town is still spotlighted for upgrading under the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) Remaking Our Heartland programme, which will see a revamped town centre and town park, along with improved pedestrian access to the town centre. It will also benefit from the new Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), which adds 31 stations in stages from 2019 onwards.

SMART CONNECTIONS

Singapore is small. It is also a densely populated city, making proximity to amenities all the more essential. Time is a commodity too valuable to be wasted on travelling an hour just for groceries.

Also key is a location to prime areas, both for work and play — not only does a short commute preserve sanity, there’s just so many things more worth the time stuck in transit. Located in prime areas, both for work and play — not only does a short commute preserve sanity, there’s just so many things more worth the time stuck in transit.

Also key is the location to prime areas, both for work and play — not only does a short commute preserve sanity, there’s just so many things more worth the time stuck in transit. Toa Payoh ticks all the right boxes: besides being a 14-minute drive away from CBD, a mere four train stops from the Orchard shopping belt and located near various recreational parks and educational institutes, the town is also a well-established public transport node that connects residents to other parts of Singapore with ease.

Still, there’s little reason to get out of town with its myriad of amenities and facilities. Just minutes away from the interchange is a library, a 3900-seat stadium, swimming complex, gymnasium, and a vibrant mix of both modern and traditional stores. The size of the town is also thankfully not relative to the considerable number of infamous hawker and cafe joints dotted along the Lorongs, making it possible to walk to good food.

After all, while the “heartware” is what differentiates a town, it has to be partnered with the right “hardware” — transport, facilities, and well-planned infrastructure just to name a few. One can hardly ignore the essential role of smart technology and the recognition that while the forecast for future mobility is green, the outlook isn’t — the importance of sustainable transportation is certainly not to be ignored, especially for cities.

Travelling green may not seem as viable right now with the great need for convenience and speed, but with initiatives such as the building of the 36-km Central Urban Loop, which brings Singapore’s Park Connector Network (PCN) to a total distance of 300km, it may soon be. Meanwhile, consider this: living with electric car charging pods, car-sharing initiatives and concierge services can be quick steps forward in saving the future without a lifestyle overhaul.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Proximity to schools is as important as access to food, transport nodes and other everyday amenities. Plan for the future by knowing the options around you, just at Gem Residences.

THE INGREDIENTS OF LIFE

How so many good eats can be found in a small town like Toa Payoh is anyone’s guess. A good number of Singapore’s top hawkers are well within walking distance — some only a few metres apart. This is where you can try two famed versions of Hokkien mee before walking to beloved handcrafted ice-cream parlour Creamier for dessert.

HIGH-END HEARTLAND

Cafes are no novelty in Singapore. Demand and supply have never been higher, with cafe-hopping a favourite weekend activity. The quest to trawl through the list of new cafes is fuelled by large numbers of entrants — with more than 200 in 2015 alone.