Tag Archives: Pinnacle @ Duxton

I REFER to the report, ‘Pinnacle in name, and in pricing too?’ (Sept 6).

I read with mixed feelings when HDB launched the Pinnacle@Duxton flats for the third time. As a first-timer, I have balloted for the flats, not once but twice. In the first balloting exercise, my queue number was over 4,300 and I was not given a chance to select a flat at all. This is despite the fact that HDB had more than 1,000 surplus flats in last year’s balloting exercise.

I decided to ballot again and I was given a queue number of over 900. We were overjoyed when we received the HDB letter inviting us to select a flat. But the joy was short-lived as HDB sent us a last-minute SMS to say the selection exercise was cancelled because the ethnic quota had been reached.

Now HDB is relaunching the sale for the third time.

With each ballot, I have to pay an administration fee, only to have my hopes dashed.

HDB said that people who were invited to the exercise eventually did not book a flat and thus there was surplus. But in our case, we were not even given a chance to select a flat.

HDB should review its internal procedure to ensure that all applicants in the queue are given a chance to choose a flat if there is a surplus, instead of starting another round of exercise and another round of administrative fee collecion.

Anna Lee (Ms)

See Also : HDB skybridge will make money, so why ask residents to pay?

Source : Straits Times – 8 Oct 2009

VISITORS will be allowed to use the skybridge on the 50th storey of Pinnacle @ Duxton, while the one on the 26th storey will be reserved for residents who will be issued access cards.

The Housing Board will charge a yet-to-be-decided fee for its use by non-resident visitors. It will be the first such facility in Singapore to levy a charge, with probably the integrated resort at Marina following suit on completion.

The Duxton skybridge will surely be a national and international attraction, and so generate income for the town council. I am surprised that the HDB has informed future residents at Pinnacle that monthly maintenance charges will be higher than those for other HDB blocks, to cover the higher cost of facilities, apparently to ensure proper use of the skybridges.

Should the HDB not wait and monitor the level of use before deciding on higher monthly charges? What if it turns out to be a constant, healthy revenue stream?

Richard Ho

See Also :  Don’t make applicants pay again and again in futile bidding for Duxton flats

Source : Straits Times – 8 Oct 2009