The largest fully integrated development in the north will add to the smorgasbord of shopping and dining options as well as outdoor activities in this exciting part of Singapore.
By SPH Content Studio
Apr 13, 2015
Northpoint City, a mall integrated with the 920-unit North Park Residences condominium as well as a bus interchange and community club – both air-conditioned – is adding plenty of buzz to the Yishun area.
With a gross floor area of over 850,000 sq ft, the development will also feature a 4,400 sqm town plaza, a roof-top community garden for recreational purposes, the Yishun Public Library and a childcare centre.
Shopping and dining
When Northpoint City opens in 2018, those living and working in Yishun will discover over 500 retail and dining outlets to choose from. They can expect a delectable array of local and international cuisines, from cafes for a hot cuppa, bistros for lunch, casual eateries for a quick snack to fine dining restaurants for a romantic dinner or to mark that special occasion.
The mall will also be a shopping haven, with different retail offerings for different shoppers – both high street brands and exclusive labels will be in the mix. Most of all, it will be a complete retail experience whether one is seeking a daily necessity, a fabulous dress or an interesting gift.
“Shopping-wise, since Northpoint Shopping Centre opened in 1992, there hasn’t been anything else much,” says Bernard Lee, director (business and research), Huttons Real Estate Group. Thus, the opening of Northpoint City will significantly expand the list of shopping and dining possibilities in Yishun.
To further whet one’s appetite, there are also famous eateries in Northpoint City’s neck of the woods. Chong Pang Nasi Lemak – which first started business in 1973 in the former Chong Pang Village Hawker Centre and is now located at 447 Sembawang Road – is just one example, while Sembawang White Beehoon at 22 Jalan Tampang is another.
Then there’s Ultimate Murtabak at The Prata Place, 1 Thong Soon Avenue; BBQ chicken wings at Block 925, Yishun Central 1; value sets at Heng Hua Restaurant, 748 Yishun Street 72; and 928 Yishun Laksa at Block 928 Yishun Central 1.
No meal is complete without something sweet, so Yishunites should save some stomach space for the best waffles – plus a terrific ambience – at Holy Cow Creamery at Block 292 Yishun Street 22, or pick up a treat from Gin Thye Cake Maker at 423 Sembawang Road – one of only a handful of local shops which sells traditional handmade Teochew pastries, including peanut and sesame candies.
Also in the works are a new hawker centre next to Yishun Park and new eating houses – more than enough to keep any foodie happy.
Be entertained or have fun in the great outdoors
After all that retail and gastronomic therapy, it’s time for some entertainment. Head to the movies at GV Yishun cineplex just next door to Northpoint City, or check out the many enjoyable activities and workshops at the community club, at which residents can pick up new skills while making friends in the process.
Alternatively, go outdoors and make the most of the long list of activities Yishun has to offer.
Within Northpoint City alone is a lush community garden and two children’s playgrounds at which the little ones are bound to be kept happy for hours on end. The development’s open town plaza the size of 10 basketball courts will also host activities ranging from tap and street dancing to family carnivals and outdoor concerts.
Meanwhile, nature-lovers will be drawn to the flora, fauna and tranquillity of Yishun Park and Yishun Pond, both of which are in the mall’s immediate neighbourhood. They can also bring home fresh produce from local vegetable farm Oh Farm, at Bah Soon Pah Road or even a bottle of what is said to be healing water from the only hot spring in Singapore, found at Gambas Avenue.
Sleepless in Yishun? Check out Orto, a newly-opened one-stop leisure destination where visitors can go fishing or prawning round the clock. The size of seven football fields, the park boasts a fishing pond, 10 ponds for prawning and four eateries. Apart from its collection of tropical flora and fauna, its planned addition of a trampoline park, futsal pitch and paintball field will make it a must-visit for fun-seekers in Yishun and beyond.
Adjacent to Orto is Kampung Kampus, a family-friendly and educational destination. When fully completed, the 26,000 sqm community learning campus will cultivate holistic solutions for a happier, more liveable and sustainable future through craftsmanship, urban farming, design thinking and heritage and the arts.
Folks who prefer something more idyllic and rural can head to Sungei Khatib Bongsu, a former village that is now uninhabited except by a fascinating wildlife community including birds such as herons and egrets. Located off Yishun Avenue 6, Khatib Bongsu is a treasure trove of exotic natural charms with its mudflats and mangrove forest.
Speaking of wildlife, the Singapore Tourism Board will partner with Temasek Holdings to create a large-scale integrated wildlife and nature heritage project in the neighbouring Mandai precinct costing some $1 billion. As part of the plan, Jurong Bird Park is expected to relocate to Mandai to join three other nature attractions, namely the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari to form a world-class cluster of wildlife attractions – all of which are merely a stone’s throw away from Yishun.
Sports and more
Singaporeans are discovering a newfound love of sports and golfers in particular, have the luxury of two golf courses to choose from in Yishun – Orchid Country Club and Sembawang Country Club. Those seeking an adrenaline rush can head to SAFRA Yishun, which offers plenty of adventure, ranging from rock-climbing and shooting ranges, to bowling lanes and swimming pools.
“Of course, there’s also Lower Seletar Reservoir, which is very popular with people who go there to canoe or fish,” adds Mr Lee.
In addition, mangrove kayaking can be had at Sungei Khatib Bongsu, or for those who prefer to use their feet, trekking at Simpang Grassland at the end of Yishun Avenue 7.
Of course, there’s also cycling, an increasingly popular sport which will be boosted by a 15.5 km dedicated cycling network in Yishun that will also connect neighbourhood parks and green spaces.
In short, when it comes to activities indoors or out, Yishunites can say they are truly spoilt for choice.
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