I’ve Lived At Northoaks EC In Woodlands For 20 Years: Here’s My Review Of What It’s Like To Live In An Old Executive Condominium
What comes to mind when you think about Woodlands?
Naturally, I’m sure many would associate it with the Causeway and the town they need to get through to get to Malaysia. But for those who haven’t considered Woodlands to be a viable place to live – there are big changes planned. Taking advantage of its huge verdant spaces and coastal views, URA has plans to transform the neighbourhood into a key commercial hub.
Over the next 15 years, Woodlands has been earmarked to include more housing projects and become a waterfront destination. Of course, the recently launched Thomson-East Coast Line is also key in making the neighbourhood more connected to the rest of the island.
Even with the ongoing upgrades, this tranquillity still lingers on in some parts of Woodlands, including this project that we’re featuring today called Northoaks.
As one of the few executive condominiums (EC) launched in the early 2000s, Northoaks is a family-style condo with a 99-year leasehold and offers 720 units. It offers a wide variety of condo facilities and is located within walking distance of Admiralty MRT Station, which is a reason for the project’s enduring popularity amongst families today.
In this resident review, we feature insights from Mr. T, who, along with his family of five, has called the project home since its completion in 2001. Having been part of the community for over two decades, Mr. T shares an in-depth look at their experiences, reflecting on the highs and lows of residential life at Northoaks.
Comparing Other Projects to Northoaks Condo
Like many families, Mr. T’s primary concern when searching for a home was proximity to his and his wife’s parents.
“As a young family, practicality was key in our home selection process. One of the considerations we had was being near my parents and in-laws since it was easier to visit them or for them to come over to our place to help out with looking after the children,” Mr T shared. This consideration significantly influenced their decision to focus on Woodlands, a location conveniently situated near both sets of parents.
Mr T emphasised the importance of accessibility as well.
“We also prioritised convenience for our day-to-day life, especially for our children. Living within walking distance to an MRT station was a must.”
This led them to consider three potential condominiums: Northoaks, Woodsvale, and Rosewood. Each offered a similar appeal, but the family was particularly drawn to Northoaks and Woodsvale for their proximity to Admiralty MRT Station, while Rosewood was selected for its closeness to Woodlands MRT Station.
What Made Northoaks Condo Stand Out From Other Choices
The family eventually settled on Northoaks after assessing their options.
“To be honest, it was initially quite hard to narrow down to one choice, especially when considering between Northoaks and Woodsvale. These two condos had very similar TOP dates, were located side by side and were both ECs”, shared Mr T.
What made Northoaks stand out to the family was in rather subtle ways.
“We were leaning more towards Northoaks because of its lifestyle component and building facade, it somehow feels more relaxing to walk around the site. I also like how it had family-friendly facilities, which were subtle but important considerations to us”.
As a family that leads an active lifestyle, being near key amenities like parks and outdoor spaces was a huge bonus point to them. “I remember taking a look at the map and liked the fact that Northoaks was near Woodlands Crescent Park, which I thought would be great for runs. Even today, I frequently jog in the open area”, explained Mr T.
Another lifestyle factor they considered was a private living environment.
“While it was important to be close to key amenities, we didn’t want to be constantly affected by the noise and crowd. Northoaks was a good balance since the project was within walking distance of anything important (like schools and transportation) but we still got to enjoy a quiet environment. It’s more peaceful to come home after a long day out”.
The decisive factor for Mr. T and his family was the range of facilities that Northoaks offered.
“I have quite a simple taste when it comes to things, so the white and minimalist facade at Northoaks appealed to me. Apart from that, I felt that the facilities offered were quite family-centric, which was exactly what we needed at that time”, recounted Mr T.
For an EC that was completed back in the early 2000s, Northoaks has a rather impressive array of condo facilities. There is a lap pool, a children’s pool with a slide, a huge playground, a sports hall, a function room and BBQ facilities.
To anyone reading this now, this might seem to be a regular offering homebuyers might expect for a private development. However, it’s crucial to appreciate that, at the time Mr T made his homebuying decision, such a list of facilities was not exactly typical.
A Typical Day at Northoaks Condo
“I like to keep up with an active lifestyle and do so by going to the condo gym every other day. There’s not necessarily a wide variety of gym equipment but it’s a comfortable space to work out in. Otherwise, you’ll find me jogging around the site or at the nearby park”, shared Mr T.
While the family don’t utilise the other facilities, Mr T did share that the badminton, squash and tennis courts are very popular amongst the other residents.
“You can see that the courts, BBQ pits, pools and playgrounds are busy, especially over the weekend. There, you can feel the camaraderie and friendliness of the residents at Northoaks, which adds to the experience of living here. We’re all very nice people,” Mr T shared.
A final point Mr T mentioned was a rather underrated point – the availability of vending machines within the development.
“While some might choose to head to the nearest supermarket to grab necessities, I appreciate that there are vending machines around the condo for us to buy bread, snacks or drinks. It saved me a few extra trips to the supermarket and I like that we get to enjoy these conveniences.”
A Look Behind Northoaks Condo’s Facade
Generally, Mr T had only good things to say about living at Northoaks but there were some downsides that he hopes can be improved.
“This is something you’ll only notice after living here for some time, but I hope that management can add more bins around the project and increase the cleaning frequency on-site. Over the weekends when there are more people around, I can see the rubbish getting piled up”, observed Mr T.
Although he provided limited background information with his statement, he expressed hope that the management team would adopt a more empathetic approach when dealing with such situations.
Finally, Mr. T touched upon the topic of noise within the estate.
“As much as I like my neighbours, I’ll admit it can get quite noisy especially if you’re staying on the low floors near the BBQ pits. If you’re sensitive to noise, you should take that into consideration,” Mr T advised.
Considerations Other Buyers Should Know
To further touch on the experience of living at Northoaks, Mr T mentioned that residents can always expect events throughout the year.
“If you’re big on community and forging good bonds with your neighbours, then maybe you’ll enjoy attending the several events held by the MCST throughout the year. I remember there were carnivals where residents could be vendors and set up their stalls, join the performance team or just show up and enjoy the fun. It was quite a nice way to get to know your neighbours”, added Mr T.
Regarding parking, Mr. T touched on recent enhancements and practical considerations for larger families.
“The addition of EV charging lots is a welcome upgrade. However, families planning on owning more than one vehicle should be aware that while Northoaks provides one complimentary parking spot per unit, any additional vehicles will incur charges and are subject to availability.”
Staying at Northoaks Condo
Having lived here for more than twenty years, Mr T admits that his family might be due for a change in environment.
“Although we have grown to love Northoaks over the past two decades, I feel that my family might be ready for a new environment. My children are no longer young and need their rooms and space, so my main considerations for the next shift would be to accommodate my family’s needs, especially in terms of size and number of rooms”, shared Mr T.
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