SINGAPORE: Some HarbourFront Centre tenants are uncertain about their future in the building, with proposals for an interim ferry terminal and possible changes in Singapore’s cruise infrastructure.
An interim terminal would pave the way for a possible revamp of the 46-year-old HarbourFront Centre, which houses Singapore Cruise Centre, one of two cruise terminals in Singapore. The other is Marina Bay Cruise Centre.
This uncertainty worsened amid news of a longer-term consolidation of cruise infrastructure in Singapore, retail outlet owners and office workers told CNA.
The Straits Times reported earlier this month that the two cruise centres would merge in the coming years, but the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) clarified that while it is studying a consolidation of cruise infrastructure, it has no plans to merge the two centres.
When CNA visited HarbourFront Centre last week, several tenants said their main concern was whether any plans for the building would affect their lease.
“The news is rather disappointing, as we do not like to keep shifting,” said one office worker, whose company is located on the upper floors of the centre.
At least one business has chosen not to renew its lease and will move to another location when its lease ends in the middle of this year.
“When we got the news (of a possible revamp), we began to look around,” said an employee of a financial services firm located at HarbourFront Centre, who asked that her firm and her name not be published.
“They didn’t want to give us anything official, so we decided to move.”
Real estate developer Mapletree, which owns HarbourFront Centre, said on Monday (May 20) that the consolidation of cruise infrastructure is still being studied.
“The consolidation of cruise infrastructure would only take place in the future after the port moves out and infrastructure works such as reclamation are complete,” said a spokesperson.
Mapletree did not respond directly to questions on plans for an interim terminal and a revamp of HarbourFront Centre, but its spokesperson told CNA it has “no confirmed plans” for the building.
The spokesperson added that the building’s management has been communicating with its tenants, and will update them if there are “material developments”.