ReviewsAvenue South Residence Review: Close to Everything Except an MRT

District 3 has a newcomer. And not just any newcomer for that matter. With more than 90% of its initial 300 units snapped up on launch last Saturday by a sea of Singaporean investors and homelookers, it is safe to say that Avenue South Residence has piqued the curiosity of both the public and ours.

Massive twin (56-storeyed) towers rising from an ocean of green will look to boast an unparalleled panorama over the much talked-about Greater Southern Waterfront as well as the city’s beautiful skyline. Work on a quintuple set of reminiscent heritage blocks just a tad lower down has also begun – an initiative that has captured the interests of both locals and foreign investors alike.

By combining modern luxurious living with nostalgic memories of the past, it is an out-of-the-box (read: bold) idea led by developers UOL that has been touted by most as a brilliant step forward. Couple these highlights with a solid location, convenient amenities and bright future prospects, it’s easy to see why Avenue South Residence is such a crowd favourite. Will its show units live up to the hype however? Let’s find out.

Insider Tour

Clearly, you can see from this extensive list of facilities that the Avenue South Residence is jammed pack with facilities. Some notable ones that sound interesting are the outdoor ones, like the trails and rock climbing walls. I think it is great that there are 8 function rooms (with 4 on the 56th floor!) and multiple barbeque pits. From the looks of it as well, the amount of greenery and landscaping planned out looks to be quite stunning as well. Perhaps the only questionable one at this point is the tennis court. Just the one for the entire development of more than 1,000 units!

Pretty impressive first impressions.

The show flat is pretty massive, no doubt in anticipation of the huge crowds.

The two soaring 56-floor towers shown in its full glory here.

This view here shows off the size of the swimming pools available at the Avenue South Residence. I like that the infinity pool at the top deck stretches for such a long length, and the elevated height allows for views over the rest of the development. What is also brilliant here is the orientation of the pool. In most big developments, you would be surrounded by the other blocks or even neighbouring developments. But in this case, most of the facing of the pool is towards the AYE, so you don’t get any high rise building peering in. Also, the frontage is about 80 metres which is very generous.

One cool aspect of the Avenue South Residence is the conservation of the old blocks, which they have termed the Heritage blocks. No doubt it is very unique and it brings some character to the estate, unlike a lot of the newer developments that are just relegated to two densely packed blocks.

The developers have also dedicated a sizeable space to the arrival and entrance of the estate. Some people may feel that it is a waste of space, but I think it lends a grander air to visitors coming in and just gives off a better vibe in general.

Avenue South Residence 1 Bedroom

For a new development, the 1 bedroom unit at the Avenue South Residence is actually very decently sized. In fact, at 527 square feet it is considered to be above average. It’s also worth noting here that that AC ledge is huge!

The entranceway into the unit is sufficiently wide which does give a better feeling of space to the place.

For a one-bedroom unit, the kitchen top counter is long enough to have space for a medium-sized sink and cooking hob. Plus there is still space for food prep and some kitchen equipment. Like most small units, however, the kitchens are not built for heavy cooking as there isn’t proper ventilation unless you decide to open your main door.

The living room is on the smaller side, but still adequate for a 1 bedroom living situation. If you like the outdoor space, the balcony here is quite big and can extend your living room space. But if you rather have more usable indoor space, this unit will not be as suitable for you.

The dining area is very doable too, with room for a small table and chairs.

Just to show you a view from the living room and into the kitchen area.

The bedroom in the 1 bedroom unit is frankly quite small, and there is really only enough space for a queen or king size bed. If you are looking to fit in a traditional study table that is not an option unless you employ some really creative tactics.

Wardrobe space is just satisfactory, as per what you would expect from a 1 bedroom unit.

Avenue South Residence 2 bedroom

As compared to the 1 bedroom unit, the 2 bedroom unit at Avenue South Residence is of average size. On first glance, the master bath and common bathroom are large, but that leaves a smaller space for both rooms.

While I like that you can make the kitchen space here into an enclosed one, it is a small area for a kitchen. I suspect even for 2 people working in here to feel claustrophobic after a while.

The living room is of an okay size but it does feel a bit narrow. It is good, however, for a 3 seater sofa and a small coffee table.

The balcony is nicely sized for a 2 bedroom unit, and there is enough space for some comfy seating.

Where it falls apart a little here is in terms of the dining area. There isn’t much space at all, and the interior design just showcased a small seating area and couch to allow the unit to look more spacious. Unless you like to eat in the living room in front of the TV, this could be an issue. Of course, you could always proportion the living area to be smaller to compensate, but this is worth highlighting.

The second bedroom is small too.

As I said earlier, the bathrooms in the 2 bedroom units are spacious. I would very much rather have bigger rooms and a smaller bathroom, and I am guessing most people would agree with me.

The master bedroom is just okay too. After fitting in a king-sized bed and two side tables, there really isn’t much space for anything else.

The master bathroom is again, spacious and rivals the space of some luxury apartments.

Avenue South Residence Heritage 3 bedroom

Now onto what I think is the most unique aspect of the Avenue South Residence, the Heritage units. For a 3 bedroom unit at just over 1,000 square feet, it is not the biggest but I think it is quite well laid out with lots of usable space. The AC ledge spaces here are kept to the absolute minimum as compared to the 1 and 2 bedders, and I do like the big kitchen space.

Additional branding to set the Heritage units apart. Another thing to note is that block 1, 3, and 5 contain the 8 commercial units and childcare centre, so these will be less private than the blocks at the back.

Once you step into the unit, you are greeted by the kitchen. It is a big space, and if you enjoy cooking or cook a lot you will definitely be very pleased with the amount of space. The long counters are especially useful and will be good for storing more kitchen equipment.

This is one of the two balconies in the 3 bedroom Heritage unit. If you do not require that much outside space, you could use it to double up as a space for just hanging your laundry.

The living room space here is not big on paper, but it does seem spacious as the couch used here is small so this might be a little deceiving. Also, because they replaced one of the bedrooms to be a dining room instead, it does open the space up.

The balcony here is the second outdoor space that you have in this 3 bedroom unit. The AC ledge takes up some space here and might be slightly noisy when the compressor is running.

Actually, where this cabinet sits is where the dining area is supposed to be. So yes, the dining area is not fantastic. I must say though, I really like how the ID has designed the unit with the theme of its heritage in mind. It looks slightly retro yet is still very modern and in keeping with trends of today.

So the dining room has been moved to replace one of the bedrooms in the show flat unit.

And the other bedroom was turned into a study room. Based on the floor plan, the size of both common bedrooms are quite big and is good for a king or queen size bed and perhaps even a small dressing table.

The master bedroom is average in size, and you can fit in a study table if you so wished.

It is wider than it is long, so you have more space especially between the cupboard and the bed.

I don’t like the layout of the bathroom. It isn’t small in size, but the elongated shape makes it seem more cramped than it actually is. All in all, if you like the nostalgic design of the outer shell of the building, I think the layout of the 3 bedroom Heritage collection is rather well laid out.

Avenue South Residence 3 bedroom

This is the floorplan of the 3 bedroom unit in the tower blocks. It is bigger than the 3 bedroom Heritage collection and has the addition of the wet kitchen. For those who utilise the kitchen a lot, having a wet and dry kitchen is extremely ideal and would be a big reason to choose this layout.

However, on first glance, it does seem that space is not as well planned here, with lots of unusable space near the entrance and the long corridor. The storeroom is unnecessarily big although you can convert it into a mini study room.

The entrance to the 3 bedroom unit allows you to do something funky to welcome you home, but I find that in most cases it is quite wasted space.

I like that there is a dry and wet kitchen for this 3 bedroom layout, and the kitchen island looks gorgeous here.

The wet kitchen at the side is totally usable and I like the big windows here to air the place if necessary.

There is a small toilet at the back too.

I do find the dining and living room to be a bit on the small side for this layout.

You can fit a small dining table for 4 here, but for a 3 bedroom, I would expect to be able to accommodate something bigger.

Like all the other layouts we have seen so far, the balcony is of a good size for it to be functional.

The common bedroom is shown here in a very attractive shade of pink but is really only big enough for a single bed.

The common bathrooms here are well sized.

The storeroom can be used as a study room too, or even a helper’s room.

It is the same story for the other common room, it’s best to fit just a single bed here.

The master bedroom is okay sized as well. I do like the small balcony that comes along with it.

The master bathroom is spacious and above-average size.

Avenue South Residence 4 bedroom

The 4 bedroom unit in the Horizon collection is fairly spacious in size but there are a couple of spaces that are what you would consider unusable space. The corridor to the master bedroom, the corridor to the wet kitchen and the space in between bedroom 3 and bathroom 3 are a bit of a waste.

The living and dining areas in the 4 bedroom unit are average-sized, especially when you compare to the allowances given to the kitchen here. The long counter is supposed to be the dry kitchen, and I think the layout is actually quite awkward as it is some distance away from the wet kitchen.

You can see from this angle the width of the living room space is not that great, so you won’t be able to fit a big lounger here.

The master bedroom in the 4 bedroom layout is big and has ample space to move around.

There is even space for a “walk-in wardrobe”. I would say that it is more of an extended space to have a bigger wardrobe than a true walk-in wardrobe. Nevertheless, the extra storage space will be very much welcome by the shopaholics among you.

The 3 common rooms in this 4 bedroom layout are all exactly the same size.

For the second bedroom in this ID unit, they have showcased it as an open concept.

Like what we’ve seen from the other units, the size of the kitchens at the Avenue South Residence are impressive and this one is no exception.

The helpers/storeroom is of a good size too. The fold-out bed certainly makes a lot of sense in a space like this.

Avenue South Residence 4 bedroom Peak Collection

The Peak collection at the Avenue South Residence is reserved for the uppermost floors. In recognition of its more exclusive status, there are certain upgrades that come with it. For one, the balcony floor is flushed to be the same level as the living and dining area. Also, the units come with more expensive fittings and furnishings from higher-end brands.

Avenue South Residence Maintenance

From here you can instantly see one of the biggest plus points of the Avenue South Residence is the monthly maintenance fee. For the 1 bedroom, $190 is already pretty good. But at only $260 even for the biggest 4 bedroom units, that is a really fantastic price.

Avenue South Residence Location Review

Cue the lack of any nearby MRT stations within a 15-minute walking radius.

Admittedly, it’s a tad rough to start a location review with that – however, it is something that both investors and home-lookers should look into.

The closest MRT station to the condo is Outram Park MRT, situated a ‘staggering’ 17-minute walk away. Despite this rather alarming fact, residents can take delight in a silver lining.

Just a minute’s walk from the residency is the ‘Opp Melaki Blk 2’ bus stop that services buses 61, 124, 143 and 166 (as does the other bus stop across the road). From here, it is simply a 5-minute ride via buses 124 and 143 to Outram Park MRT. It is also a 6-minute bus ride via 61, 143 and 166 (across the road) to VivoCity (Harbourfront MRT).

What’s more, the Cantonment MRT Station is being projected for completion in 2025 – its entrance within an 8-minute walk from the condo (if you cut through the various HDB blocks in between). Situated two stops from the Harbourfront and Marina Bay stations, it could prove useful in reducing commuting time for residents.

All things considered, accessibility to public transport here doesn’t seem too daunting, if just a slight bit more tedious (for the MRTs).

Another thing to note is that although the condo is located a stone’s throw from the Ayer Rajah Expressway (expect a tad of noise/sound pollution), accessing AYE going towards ECP would require a detour through a stretch of 4 different roads – not the best news for car owners in the residence.

On to the bright side, however, the condo’s location is just a 10-minute drive from the CBD and Orchard Road – Cantonment and Eu Tong Sen Road both prove solid alternatives should the other be clogged with traffic en route to the CBD.

Perhaps the main thing that would compensate for the lack of an MRT station here is really the proximity to Singapore General Hospital. Other than the obvious convenience of living so close by to medical help, the planned future updates to SGH is something well worth highlighting. The SGH campus masterplan looks to be an ambitious one, with 43 hectares of land being catered to this mammoth. As part of the planned updates, there is going to be a Discovery Mall and History Walk being incorporated. This huge project would no doubt create many more jobs and Avenue South Residence looks to be one of the developments that stands to benefit from this.

Another fact further worth highlighting is the property’s proximity to the ‘heartlands’. With an abundance of HDB flats and roads in the condo’s immediate vicinity, concerns over noise and privacy could surface. Most residents are however banking on the promise of planned greenery (that will surround to condo) to mitigate this.

Yet the presence of this well-developed estate will go a long way in helping residents ease straight into life into when they first move in. What’s more, the Tanjong Pagar Neighbourhood Police Station is situated just behind the condo, which will bolster safety for residents in Avenue South alongside the condo’s security.

District 3 is well-known for its easy access to a host of eateries, shopping spots and entertainment venues. Combine that with Avenue South’s 10,000 sqft area of planned commercial facilities (including the likes of F&B etc), and residents have little to worry about amenities-wise.

Gastronomes will take further delight in the various food joints scattered in the vicinity.

Just a minutes’ walk from the condo, residents and visitors alike will discover the Block 148 coffeeshop (you will find the famous Teck Heng Pig Organ Soup stall here) – making for both economical and convenient options.

Walk down a little more to a string of shops lining Jalan Bukit Merah and you will discover a vegetarian option in the Swee Hunt Vegetarian restaurant as well as the Good Chance Popiah Eating House – a 3rd generation (Hokkien) food joint that allows you to D.I.Y your very own popiahs! Frequented by strings of celebrities, it has also been proven a delicious ‘zhi-char’ option.

Groceries-wise, residents with frequent late-night endeavours will take comfort in knowing that there is a 24hr Hao grocery located along the same stretch. Lim Lam Hong Confectionery can also be found next door.

As for proper grocery spots, residents looking for quick fixes could find themselves frequenting the Silat Avenue FairPrice – a minutes’ walk from the condo. For those looking for bigger options, the massive NTUC (Singapore’s biggest) at VivoCity as well as the Cold Storage in Harbourfront Centre (next door) are only a 4-minute drive away.

Outside of groceries, VivoCity is not the only shopping mall that residents will find themselves frequenting. Other nearby hotspots that are easily accessible by car include People’s Park Complex (4 min), 100 AM (7 min), Tiong Bahru Plaza (8 min) and the Anchorpoint Shopping Centre area (9 min).

What’s more, parents will be glad at the abundance of schools in the area.

Starting with preschools, you have a number of PCF preschools within a 5-minute drive radius as well as 2 PAP Community Foundations – one at Everton Road, and the other along Cantonment Road.

As for primary and secondary schools, CHIJ Kellock, Radin Mas, Cantonment and Zhangde Primary as well as Outram, Bukit Merah, Gan Eng Seng and Queenstown Secondary schools are all within a 10-minute drive from home.

The location also spells good news for future tertiary students from Singapore Polytechnic, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) – given their relative proximity to the condo.

Our final note revolves the condo’s TOP – which is currently scheduled for the end of 2023. While it is important to understand that amenities might change along the way, the biggest spotlight is on the upcoming Greater Southern Waterfront.

With plans already in motion to seamlessly combine Sentosa, Marina Bay and Labrador Park into a single incredible waterfront living experience that will span nearly twice the size of Punggol, residents can expect a couple more high-rise frontiers popping up (potentially blocking bay views) alongside increased access to various parks and nature trails linking the waterfront.

Avenue South Residence Development Site

Avenue South has an allocated space of 245,972 square feet – on which 1,074 units will reside, amongst other state-of-the-art facilities. With a plot ratio of 3.7 (courtesy of its twin 56-storey towers), it does seem that common spaces here might get a little crowded over non-peak hours.

That being said, you can tell from the site-map that a spread of greenery is one of UOL’s top priorities. While this is unlikely to reduce overcrowding, it might add much-needed variety to the residential area, potentially ‘opening-up’ spaces for its residents.

Furthermore, the sizable entrance to the condo could add an aura of the property looking bigger than it actually is.

The unit mix is as follows:

Most of the units here are of average sizes, though their individual concerns are worth a brief recap. While the 1-bedroom is above average in size, its larger balcony section does mean a smaller living room. Also worth noting is that the bedroom will scarcely fit anything else than a queen/king-sized bed.

The 2-bedroom unit (and this is the premium – 732 sqft) have very sizable toilets, which unfortunately reduce room sizes. The kitchen and dining area also seem a tad squeezy – meaning any more than 2 people here could prove claustrophobic.

As for the larger 3-bedroom (and 4-bedroom) units, there seems to be a tad of unusable space coupled with the occasional awkward positioning of counter-tops that might make unit space seem a tad below average when compared to other condos.

Are these worthy tradeoffs for solid views in a well-developed estate with a projected increase in valuation? We’ll decide in a bit.

Price Review

(Above table is based on prices as of 29th August 2019 – subject to changes and discounts)

Considering that developers UOL purchased the land area in April 2018 for $1.035 billion (that equates to $1,138 psf ppr), their current average psf charges of $1,780 for heritage units and $2,250 for peak units do seem very reasonable.

The first thing that pops to mind is the price comparison between units here and that of Sky Everton – a district 2 condo also expecting to TOP end of 2023.

Granted, Sky Everton does have a more prime location and that sought-after freehold status (not to mention its 3 swimming pools). It will also be a more sought-after rental option based on its walking proximity to both the CBD and the MRTs. However, if budget is a concern, Avenue South does offer itself as a more plausible alternative in the same district.

In addition, Avenue South does fall between the Artra, Stirling Residence and One Pearl bank (3 other upcoming high-rise condos in the vicinity) in terms of pricing. The reason for this is its proximity to the CBD/Downtown-core area – so once again the correlation between location and budget comes into play.

Our Take

In my opinion, I feel that the asking price of Avenue South Residence is extremely reasonable if not a tad on the cheaper end all things considered. If I had the choice, however, I would be inclined to fork out a little more for Sky Everton – think of this as a comparison of the crème de la crème.

Don’t get me wrong, Avenue South Residence does have incredible prospects (impending GWS) coupled with solid nearby amenities and a good location. Personally, however, I find 1,074 units in a 245,972 square feet area a tad squeezy. Couple that with the slight added inconvenience of accessing the MRT, and it does seem to fall short of Sky Everton in terms of investment (also consider its 99 year tenure) and convenience potential.

IF however, a unit at Sky Everton wasn’t an option and I had to pick from an upcoming unit in District 3, then Avenue South Residence would certainly have my unrivalled attention.