Hock Kee House and The Red House

Wah look how much the LTA loves you, residents of Hock Kee House! At first, you thought your property is freehold with a 999 year lease. Then suddenly, they call you to a meeting without really telling you what the meeting is for, and break the news to you. You have to move out in one month because the Circle Line work around your residence and place of business may destabilise your building.

So much love and concern for your safety. Finally, after all this time putting up with the dust, the inconvenience and the loss of business, relief is in sight! Gahmen will give you compensation and all you have to do is just pack up and leave.

Since we are talking about Houses, The Red House at Katong, once home to a quaint bakery, is going to get a facelift to restore its former glory. The property is one of the wakaf — or endowment properties — in Singapore looked after by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore or Muis, and they hope to increase the rental income collected and use it to help the poor pay their medical bills.

I am all for conservation, and upgrading, and helping the poor with the rental income, these are noble goals. But really, must we have another food court?

Yes, The Red House will return as a food court, the icon of modern Singapore. Yum.

Not.