According to visitors at the Jadescape sales gallery, they were enticed by the development’s high-tech features. These include the usage of facial recognition technology in elevator lobbies, an energy-efficient AC, a water heater system that recycles waste heat for warm showers and an integrated dishwasher with ultrasonic food washer. As Singapore’s first fully-smart project, it is also the first residential development here to adopt a Smart Estate Management System.
Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to suspend construction of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project until May 31, 2020, with service on the advanced train line expected to begin by the start of 2031, instead of the original end-2026 commencement date. Singapore's Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan and Malaysia's Minister of Economic Affairs Mohamed Azmin Ali exchanged legal documents in Putrajaya to vary the HSR bilateral agreement based on the new understanding. Under the new agreement, Malaysia will reimburse Singapore S$15 million by end-January 2019 for suspending the HSR project.
If Malaysia does not proceed with the HSR project by May 31, 2020, it will also bear the agreed costs incurred by Singapore in fulfilling the HSR bilateral agreement. If a decision is not reached within two years, the project will be terminated, and Singapore's financial interests will be safeguarded. With the new signing, HSR services between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are expected to commence by Jan 1, 2031, instead of the original start date of Dec 31, 2026.
Developers pay the DC, which is based on an assessment of land values, for the right to enhance the use of some sites or to build bigger projects. The MND revises rates on March 1 and Sept 1 each year, in consultation with the taxman's chief valuer, for land across 118 sectors island-wide. The biggest rise in rates, to the tune of 33.3 per cent was in sector 43, spanning Tanglin Road, Cuscaden Road, Orchard Boulevard and Grange Road. The development charge rate for these areas is S$18,200 per sq m (psm) of gross floor area; in sector 67, which includes Orange Grove Road, the rate is S$16,800 psm. This indicates that projects, e.g. 120 Grange, One Draycott and 8 Hullet will see an appreciation in their property prices in the near future.
The neighbourhood hosted record-smashing deals this year, with a government land sale (GLS) in Cuscaden Road in April and the collective sale of Park House in June. Other areas faced with above-average residential rate increases include parts of Bukit Merah and Telok Blangah, where the rate went up by 27.9 per cent to S$7,700 psm. Huttons Asia research head Lee Sze Teck said that the latest rate revision is likely to be the last increase of more than 5 per cent for non-landed residential sites. He has forecast future changes of zero to 2 per cent.