Rivervale Plaza renovation halted
by Cheryl Tay
A number of tenants at Rivervale Plaza (pictured) in Sengkang have lost customers due to the inconvenience caused by the mall's unfinished renovation, reported The Straits Times."(The) HDB recently informed me the upgrading works at Rivervale Plaza will only be completed in mid-2013. The main contractor is believed to have run into some cash-flow problems and therefore abandoned the project," said Michael Palmer, MP for Punggol East.
Technobuilt Construction & Engineering, the project's contractor, stopped works at the mall over a month ago due to cash-flow issues. As a result, many tenants have complained about falling profits, as customers started patronising the nearby Compass Point and Rivervale Mall more often, instead of Rivervale Plaza.
The HDB said the renovation was supposed to expand the mall's existing space and add more shops, kiosks, toilets and an escalator.
Mr Palmer has already asked the HDB to give tenants a 30 percent rental rebate until the end of 2012 and increase the rebate to 40 percent from January next year. The housing board will also introduce a gift redemption programme during weekends to attract shoppers back to the mall and will also install additional fans along the walkway.
Mr Palmer said "about three-quarters of the work is done" and it will take three months for "calling and awarding a re-tender to finish the project". Related Stories:
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