ST Forum: HDB Is Right To Build Smaller Flats

[Vulcann]

"...the size of new HDB flats today is still very comfortable"

 

This woman is either living in the woods or delusional...

 

So we are heading the way HK is presently doing now?

 

Whatever happen to the Swiss standard of living our beloved ESM promised during his term as PM?

 

Does Swiss folks live in small little pigeon holes?

 

If our dear govt continue to build smaller and smaller flats, I guess by the time my kids are applying flats with their spouses in the near future, it may cost them each S$1m to buy a new 4-room unit of 50sqm...

 

 

From ST Forum:

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_742417.html

 

HDB is right to build smaller flats

Published on Dec 8, 2011

 

I AM dismayed by the reactions criticising shrinking HDB flat sizes ('New flats' by Mr Yip Wai Hong on Nov 15; 'Little space' by Ms Karen Lee, 'S'pore can do better than Hong Kong' by Madam Tham Pui Ying and 'Why smaller isn't the way to go' by Ms Lim Wan Keng; all Nov 29).

 

The small size of current HDB flats is one reason cited by couples for refusing to have more children and for their poor quality of life.

 

Previous generations did not link the size of their flats with having the number of children they wanted.

 

Even living in a one-room HDB flat did not deter couples from having more than three children.

 

It is unfortunate if the size of a flat now determines the size of a family.

 

There is also a sad trend that fewer married couples want to live with their parents.

 

It does not make economic sense to build bigger flats when the family unit is shrinking.

 

Having said that, the size of new HDB flats today is still very comfortable.

 

As Housing Board figures have shown, the floor space per person is higher. HDB flats are also equipped with good sanitation, amenities and infrastructure.

 

When it comes to improving the quality of life, Singaporeans should look into bonding with their families and neighbours, and creating a better living environment.

 

Unless the trend of shrinking family units can be reversed, Singaporeans should not complain about shrinking flat sizes.

 

Koh Siok Hwee (Madam)

[Bystander50]

"...the size of new HDB flats today is still very comfortable"

 

This woman is either living in the woods or delusional...

 

So we are heading the way HK is presently doing now?

 

Whatever happen to the Swiss standard of living our beloved ESM promised during his term as PM?

 

Does Swiss folks live in small little pigeon holes?

 

If our dear govt continue to build smaller and smaller flats, I guess by the time my kids are applying flats with their spouses in the near future, it may cost them each S$1m to buy a new 4-room unit of 50sqm...

 

 

From ST Forum:

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_742417.html

 

HDB is right to build smaller flats

Published on Dec 8, 2011

 

I AM dismayed by the reactions criticising shrinking HDB flat sizes ('New flats' by Mr Yip Wai Hong on Nov 15; 'Little space' by Ms Karen Lee, 'S'pore can do better than Hong Kong' by Madam Tham Pui Ying and 'Why smaller isn't the way to go' by Ms Lim Wan Keng; all Nov 29).

 

The small size of current HDB flats is one reason cited by couples for refusing to have more children and for their poor quality of life.

 

Previous generations did not link the size of their flats with having the number of children they wanted.

 

Even living in a one-room HDB flat did not deter couples from having more than three children.

 

It is unfortunate if the size of a flat now determines the size of a family.

 

There is also a sad trend that fewer married couples want to live with their parents.

 

It does not make economic sense to build bigger flats when the family unit is shrinking.

 

Having said that, the size of new HDB flats today is still very comfortable.

 

As Housing Board figures have shown, the floor space per person is higher. HDB flats are also equipped with good sanitation, amenities and infrastructure.

 

When it comes to improving the quality of life, Singaporeans should look into bonding with their families and neighbours, and creating a better living environment.

 

Unless the trend of shrinking family units can be reversed, Singaporeans should not complain about shrinking flat sizes.

 

Koh Siok Hwee (Madam)

 

In a shrunken unit, quality of life is indeed lowered. The rooms in new flats are small and when a double bed and wardrobe is put in, the room is only left with walking space, a table can't even be put in. Kids also need a bigger area to move around and play in the house and their own privacy when they grow up. Smaller unit is only good from 2 points of views - easier to clean and more money for the gov.

 

HDB is trying to benefit from this. In the past, you can see mega carparks that take up a lot of land and some walking distance away from the blocks in mature estates. Now, the land allocated for carparks are smaller and MSCPs are built, almost beside the blocks. Blocks are also built higher, so why can't they remain the same size? Not forgetting, blocks are now spaced more closely than in the past.

 

 

[2009k]

The irony is that whilst the govt justify for smaller unit size in hdb, they come down on shoebox development. If the govt does it, it's worth paying high prices and cosy up in small spaces. If the private developers do it, it's unethical and price points do not represent the market condition... So hdb is right in that people have shrinking need for space due to lower birth but shoebox is not the way in private development? Or govt is saying everyone is to buy the smaller size hdb flat and leave the private property to the rich and elite few who needs lots more space even with the same headcount or less.

Edited December 8, 2011 by 2009k

[Bystander50]

The irony is that whilst the govt justify for smaller unit size in hdb, they come down on shoebox development. If the govt does it, it's worth paying high prices and cosy up in small spaces. If the private developers do it, it's unethical and price points do not represent the market condition... So hdb is right in that people have shrinking need for space due to lower birth but shoebox is not the way in private development? Or govt is saying everyone is to buy the smaller size hdb flat and leave the private property to the rich and elite few who needs lots more space even with the same headcount or less.

 

Shoebox units exists because the developer bought the land that is too small to build normal sized units.

 

[Kangadrool]

Why this lady is still living in the past???

 

QUOTE

 

Previous generations did not link the size of their flats with having the number of children they wanted.

 

Even living in a one-room HDB flat did not deter couples from having more than three children.

 

UNQUOTE

 

Please.... we have progressed, and expectations can only be expected to be higher. Why keep harping the past when policemen wore shorts???

Edited December 8, 2011 by Kangadrool

[Scion]

suspect this reply is written by someone from HDB

[Tigerwoods]

I agree with her view points esp the 1-Room still can have 3 kids.

Don't blame the space, its a choice. If you blame everything else for not having babies, its not the environment, its the couple's prioriity and mindset.

The thing I don't agree is Age-De-Bee if reduce the size should reduce the PRICE.

[Mockngbrd]

ST pcc to pap policy

[West_end]

Am with you.

 

To compound the issue, a House Shelter(HS) is built in each flat, taking up considerable space.

 

The solution - build a common HS outside the flats ie. making use of the staircases...

[Darthrevan]

its their definition of 'Swiss standard of living'

[Scb11980]

time and perspective changes

 

can ask HDB authorities and Ministers

why they ask for million dollar salary when

last time

those authorities and ministers earn few thousand of dollars and can have more kids than now

 

 

last time, her parents pang sai in a hole, does she want the same quality of life,

[Cars08]

The thing I don't agree is Age-De-Bee if reduce the size should reduce the PRICE.

 

On the contrary, mkt works the other way round...the smaller the size the more expensive will be psf..so if can squeeze more money out of psf, why build big hse? This is the way those smart civil servants r thinking...their KPI esp those managing rev is to squeeze out more money to justify their presence n that they hv did their job well..if Smaller flats = smaller family..then HDB shld consider building bigger flats to encourage bigger family...

 

There is no correlation between the size of the flat n family size... it is rather a preference and affordability... want to talk last time...during kampong time...ppl have a big patio space...so if u want quality...then make sure u give sporean a big patio or a back yard... which is impossible......dream on....

[Rainman]

Smaller doesn't mean cheaper? Smaller simply means material cost is cheaper per unit, hence more profit margin.

 

So which part of HDB is right to build smaller flats?

 

 

[Speedsun]

I agree with her view points esp the 1-Room still can have 3 kids.

Don't blame the space, its a choice. If you blame everything else for not having babies, its not the environment, its the couple's prioriity and mindset.

The thing I don't agree is Age-De-Bee if reduce the size should reduce the PRICE.

 

Exactly! Now, reduce the size, increase the price with lousy workmanship!

[Csnewbie]

"...the size of new HDB flats today is still very comfortable"

 

 

 

From ST Forum:

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_742417.html

 

HDB is right to build smaller flats

Published on Dec 8, 2011

 

I AM dismayed by the reactions criticising shrinking HDB flat sizes ('New flats' by Mr Yip Wai Hong on Nov 15; 'Little space' by Ms Karen Lee, 'S'pore can do better than Hong Kong' by Madam Tham Pui Ying and 'Why smaller isn't the way to go' by Ms Lim Wan Keng; all Nov 29).

 

The small size of current HDB flats is one reason cited by couples for refusing to have more children and for their poor quality of life. (isnt it so?)

 

Previous generations did not link the size of their flats with having the number of children they wanted.(they were uneducated)

 

Even living in a one-room HDB flat did not deter couples from having more than three children.

 

It is unfortunate if the size of a flat now determines the size of a family.

 

There is also a sad trend that fewer married couples want to live with their parents. (generation gap cos we progressed too fast)

It does not make economic sense to build bigger flats when the family unit is shrinking.

 

Having said that, the size of new HDB flats today is still very comfortable. (price comfortable??)

 

As Housing Board figures have shown, the floor space per person is higher. HDB flats are also equipped with good sanitation, amenities and infrastructure. (wrong method of assessing dwellers' well-being,common activity area remains unchanged if to live healthily)

 

When it comes to improving the quality of life, Singaporeans should look into bonding with their families and neighbours, and creating a better living environment.( with our quotas system everyone is self-centered,what you expect?)

Unless the trend of shrinking family units can be reversed, Singaporeans should not complain about shrinking flat sizes. (are you sure?)

 

Koh Siok Hwee (Madam)

Edited December 8, 2011 by Csnewbie

[Tom_kkh]

must be written by pap with a fake name

[Maroon5]

she is jus missing the point. the complaints are price-size driven. anyw like previous cases this mdm could jolly well b a civil servant, i read and forget such letters.

[I-LOVE-CARS]

But to be honest, SG land is getting smaller and smaller as more space are being used up, how are we going to accommodate the 5Mil population and another 900,000K FT in such a small country with limited land if the size of ur hole is as big as in the past..