SINGAPORE — In squeaky-clean Singapore, the district of Geylang has always stuck out like a sore thumb.
The Big Read in short: What has changed in Geylang since dubbed a crime hotspot and 'potential powder keg'?Most long-time residents and business owners said that Geylang todayis a scrubbed-up version of its former sleazy self, in large part due to several key law enforcement measures.Each week, TODAY’s long-running Big Read series delves into the trends and issues that matter.
Nonetheless, the “Geylang stigma” still exists in Singaporeans’ public consciousness, with implications for both businesses and residents in the areaIts name alone can evoke imagery of illegal gambling dens, shady drug peddlers and secret society members scattered across its many lorongs , coexisting alongside the bright neon lights illuminating from brothels.
Bright lights illuminate the previously pitch-dark back alleys. Police closed-circuit televisions are parked atop street lamps and cover every nook and cranny. Signboards prohibiting the public consumption of liquor past 10.30pm stare you down.
Since then, the police has declared parts of Geylang — a rectangle zone stretching from Lorong 4 to just beyond Lorong 41 bounded by Sims Avenue and Guillemard Road — a Liquor Control Zone. According to long-time Geylang resident Mr Cai, police surveillance, enforcement and the Covid-19 pandemic — with restrictions on travel and public gatherings — have contributed to the decline in crime in the area.Social entrepreneur Cai Yinzhou, 34, has lived in Geylang all his life. He runs Citizen Adventures, which does tours in communities like Geylang and Dakota Crescent.
“It raises too many questions,” said Ms Chua, 62, who has worked at a pawnshop at the intersection of Geylang Road and Lorong 22 for over 30 years. This long-standing impression of a seedy, shady Geylang can cause some problems for businesses there too. These investors often have no trouble renting out units in Geylang to either expatriates who do not mind the neighbourhood’s reputation, or to companies which need to house their migrant workers.
Ironically, Geylang’s seedy reputation does have an upside for those looking to rent an apartment — the area offers “value for money”. As for the latter, a mix of modern boutique cafes have made themselves home alongside conserved shophouses with heritage value — features not too dissimilar from what you would find along Geylang Road.
The Government's plans to relocate Paya Lebar Airbase in the 2030s will also enable a rejuvenation of developments — apart from Geylang’s conserved shophouses — given that some developments would no longer be bound by height restrictions.However, some property analysts believe that the gentrification of Geylang will not be a straightforward process, given its large size compared to Bugis Village and Keong Saik Road.
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