Handlebar’s director Jan Pek says these new features will likely cost them at least S$80,000, but she is hopeful that these features would help current efforts to rejuvenate Gillman Barracks and attract more footfall.
However, this is not the authority’s first attempt to rejuvenate the area — the former colonial military compound was part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Identity Plan in 2002, where restaurants, cafes and arts-related activities were introduced to the site while keeping the area’s colonial charm.
SLA evaluated their proposals to win these tenders based on the rental offered and the concepts proposed to “drive green initiatives, inject vibrancy and facility around-the-clock engagement with the wider community”.Hopscotch, a bar that has been at Gillman Barracks since 2018, told TODAY that they will be offering more vegan and vegetarian options whilst also being more sustainable, which was part of their proposal to SLA.
He added that he estimates that the renovation works will cost between S$1.2 million and S$1.6 million. Mr Ong said they will be launching cycling campaigns to encourage people to cycle between their three outlets, which they used to do before the Covid-19 pandemic between their two outlets in Balestier and Seletar.