Confusion among HarbourFront Centre businesses over possible revamp and cruise infrastructure consolidation

SINGAPORE: Some HarbourFront Centre tenants are uncertain about their future in the building, with proposals for an interim ferry terminal and possible changes in Singapore's cruise infrastructure.

An interim terminal would pave the way for a possible revamp of the 46-year-old HarbourFront Centre, which houses Singapore Cruise Centre, one of two cruise terminals in Singapore. The other is Marina Bay Cruise Centre.

This uncertainty worsened amid news of a longer-term consolidation of cruise infrastructure in Singapore, retail outlet owners and office workers told CNA. 

The Straits Times reported earlier this month that the two cruise centres would merge in the coming years, but the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) clarified that while it is studying a consolidation of cruise infrastructure, it has no plans to merge the two centres.

When CNA visited HarbourFront Centre last week, several tenants said their main concern was whether any plans for the building would affect their lease.

“The news is rather disappointing, as we do not like to keep shifting,” said one office worker, whose company is located on the upper floors of the centre.

At least one business has chosen not to renew its lease and will move to another location when its lease ends in the middle of this year.

“When we got the news (of a possible revamp), we began to look around,” said an employee of a financial services firm located at HarbourFront Centre, who asked that her firm and her name not be published.

“They didn’t want to give us anything official, so we decided to move.” 

Real estate developer Mapletree, which owns HarbourFront Centre, said on Monday (May 20) that the consolidation of cruise infrastructure is still being studied.

“The consolidation of cruise infrastructure would only take place in the future after the port moves out and infrastructure works such as reclamation are complete,” said a spokesperson. 

Mapletree did not respond directly to questions on plans for an interim terminal and a revamp of HarbourFront Centre, but its spokesperson told CNA it has "no confirmed plans" for the building.

The spokesperson added that the building's management has been communicating with its tenants, and will update them if there are "material developments".

UNCERTAINTY OVER LEASES

A director of a law firm which just renewed its three-year lease said the company wanted to remain at HarbourFront Centre, but fears its lease could be disrupted. 

“We would like an early clarification of what we can expect, whether their plans will entail our tenancies being disrupted or not renewed, so that we can plan accordingly,” she said. 

The financial services firm that is moving out said its lease agreement includes a clause that says HarbourFront Centre can cancel its lease with a six-month notice. This may not be enough time to relocate its business, the employee told CNA.

A separate firm in HarbourFront Centre confirmed this and showed CNA documents that the landlord just needs to give tenants a six-month notice to cancel their lease.

Another manufacturing company said it was unsure whether it wanted to renew its lease at HarbourFront Centre.  

“They (the building management) asked whether we want to renew the lease, but we are trying to buy more time,” she said.

FEAR OF LOSING REGULAR CUSTOMERS

Retail businesses were also concerned about a potential revamp of the building. 

An owner of an accessory shop said he set up shop in HarbourFront Centre's mall area in 2018, when plans for the Southern Waterfront were first floated. 

The idea at that time was that future developments would bring in more customers, but it could have the opposite effect if his business had to make way for Southern Waterfront developments. 

“There is nothing we can do. When it comes to such plans, we are at the mercy of the landlords,” he said. 

Another business owner, who operates a car grooming service ABS Car Grooming in HarbourFront Centre's car park, said he is concerned that he may lose his regular customers if he had to move.

Mr Gary Ng, who started his business in the 1990s, said most of his regular customers work in the offices at the centre, and would likely not visit him if he moved somewhere else. 

If he had to move, he would probably close his business and retire. 

“I’ve been doing this for so many years already, so there’s no point going to another place,” he said. “If I move, I may lose more customers than I gain.”