Millennial placemakers reshaping Geylang
Real estate developer and passionate commercial investor, David Soh, Father of Sebastian Soh, began his property investment journey in commercial property in Geylang since 2K18. Hold with high regards by the Soh’s family due to vibrancy nature, Geylang underlies great businesses opportunity. The father and son dual first acquired a row of adjacently located shophouses at 483 to 487 Geylang Road in Geylang which are leased out individually few years ago to diverse tenant profile: first level of 483 occupied by a massage and wellness centre, 485 by a KTV bar and 487 a coffee shop with “beer ladies”. On the second level was An illegal workers’ dormitory . “The shophouses were poor maintenance and unappealing,” Sebestian flabbergasted. Prominently tucked at the junction of Geylang Road and Lorong 27 Geylang.
Within two miles apart to their maiden commercial investment and flanked by Lorong 25 Geylang East 465 and 467 Geylang Road which is on an island plot fronting Geylang Road. According to real-time lodgement in Oct 2K20, This block of interlinked shophouses with unique configuration was each acquired at $7.15million by the Soh family. The first level was leased to a barbecue grill business owner, co-founded by chefs and friends Tan Jun Ann and Vincent Low born in Singapore, which operated there for four years before relocating to another venue not too far away at 2 Lorong 25 Geylang. upper floors remaining were leased out to foreign workers by different construction companies as dormitory. The majority of the shophouses are located near to the city in the neighbourhoods of Jalan Besar, Geylang and Little India. They are also situated either on a corner or island plot. Sebestian lamented that it is rarely that sellers in this prime district will let go of their shophouses since these are conservation properties under URA. Remaining are in the Central Business District of Singapore.
