New SC Global building may have car showroom

August 13, 2008
New SC Global building may have car showroom
By SAMUEL EE

A high-end car showroom could very well open its doors in the
unlikely Newton area by year-end if SC Global Developments Ltd's
plans zoom off.

The upmarket property developer has been marketing the ground floor
of its soon-to-be-completed Newton 200 office building as being
suitable for showcasing an exclusive make of automobiles.

'Newton 200, with its vantage location and visibility to passing
vehicular traffic, would make a great site for a car showroom,'
explains an SC Global spokeswoman.

But she adds that while the mainboard-listed company is 'making the
necessary provisions to cater for a potential car showroom, there is
also extremely strong interest from other types of retail tenants
attracted by the prominent space and location.

'We will be evaluating all the potential options and proposals,' she
says. 'Therefore, it could end up being something else.'

Newton 200 is a nine-storey luxurious office building located at 200
Newton Road, beside the junction with Thomson Road. Directly linked
to the nearby MRT station, it has an 'avant-garde floating glass box
design' with an 'asymmetric prismatic facade' and 'faceted glass
blades'. TOP (Temporary Occupation Permit) is in the fourth quarter
of 2008.

As the plot size is relatively small, there will only be one 2,200 sq
ft unit on the ground floor, while each of the seven office floors
will be tenanted out on a floor by floor basis only. The rates are
generally around $12 to $13 psf, according to the spokeswoman, who
says they reflect the current market rates in that area.

SC Global decided that rental would be the most suitable option since
selling the units on a floor by floor basis 'may compromise the
overall concept of the building design'.

'We are also looking at the possibility of moving our offices into
the building, so at this juncture it makes sense not to sell the
units,' says the spokeswoman.

This is not the luxury property developer's first foray into the
automotive arena. In March, it announced that it would field a car in
this year's Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series and become the title
sponsor of the Singapore round of the race.

As a result, the September event will be officially named 'Porsche SC
Global Carrera Cup Asia - Singapore 2008' and run as an official
support race to the inaugural 2008 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand
Prix.

Newton 200 is SC Global's first commercial development. The developer
is best known for its prime residential properties such as The
Ladyhill, BLVD, The Tomlinson, Thr3e Thre3 Robin and The Lincoln
Modern. Other projects include The Marq on Paterson Hill and
Hilltops.

Most car showrooms in Singapore are located in the main Leng Kee Road
motor belt and the Ubi industrial area. Although unusual, it will not
be the first time that the Newton area will host a car showroom. Some
years ago, there was a Volkswagen dealer in the shops along Thomson
Road opposite Novena Church.

One high-end sports car distributor says the Newton 200 location
is 'very nice' and suitable for an exclusive brand like his, 'which
does not have to be in Leng Kee Road'.

'But with rental of about $30,000 a month, I have to think carefully
before I decide to open a branch there,' he adds.