Every Singaporean would have heard of Geylang’s shady past as a red-light district and contraband haven. Treated as the scapegoat to contain Singapore’s “necessary evils”, many have avoided the area simply for its ignominy.
However, if you pop by the neighbourhood today, you might find your impression quite misguided. With the recent developments within Geylang and implications from the pandemic, you will instead discover a safer and rather attractive district.
In this article, we will explore the benefits of living in Geylang beyond its advantageous location and 2015 rezoning. Many may know Geylang as the district that sits at the fringe of the city and is easily accessible via public transport, but not many know Geylang as a safe space with a close-knitted community. This article will debunk Geylang’s nasty reputation in the present setting and reveal the alluring aspects of the vibrant neighbourhood that you should not ignore as a buyer or an investor. Here are 5 reasons you should give Geylang a chance.
1) Twilight Years for the Red Lights
Before the pandemic, a peek down the even-numbered Llorongs and you will be greeted with rows of red numbers, accompanied by hanging lanterns of a similar shade. Take a glimpse today and you will be received by nothing but a whisper of emptiness as the pandemic forced most of these businesses into closure or online operations.
The brothel industry took a huge hit from the tighter social management restrictions introduced in 2020, resulting in a quieter district, save for the chatters of supper goers in the area. In fact, to remedy their fall in sales, brothels that have the means have disguised themselves and moved to heartland areas to attract more customers. This leaves the even-numbered Lorongs resembling a ghost town, perfect for homeowners looking for a slice of silence so close to the city.
2) Gentrified by Eyes
If you don’t think the reduced number of brothels makes Geylang safer, perhaps the 400 public surveillance cameras will. Installed as part of a safety precaution after the Little India Riot, Geylang is home to many types of CCTV cameras, from those that automatically alert the authorities prior detecting noise disturbances to those that perform facial recognition. They can be found taking care of the community in every intersection and especially in back alleys.
Along with surveillance cameras, the back alleys of Geylang also benefit from the rior as there are now lined with many street lights. As such, instead of red lights, Geylang is lighted by the safety of watchfulness from the police and the community.
3) Reigniting the Kampung Spirit
Lights and cameras are not all the back alleys of Geylang has, it is also packed with action. Originally designed as a fire break between shophouses and condominiums, the back alleys have been spatially reappropriated to host community activities. From free haircuts to badminton, the back alleys have been revitalised as a space for people of all walks of life to come together.
4) Food Haven
Besides gathering in the back alleys, there are also plenty of eateries and restaurants in Geylang for people to bond over. As much as Geylang has gained a bad reputation as the ‘Centre of Sin’, it has also earned the title of the ‘Centre of Sinfully Good Food’.
You would have definitely heard of (or eaten) JB Ah Meng’s fried bee hoon or Lorong 9’s frog leg porridge or beef kway teow. And if local cuisine is not to your palette, Geylang also offers tastes from all over the world from Italian to Vietnamese. Best of all, most of these places are open past midnight. Imagine actually fulfilling your midnight cravings because they are always a stone’s throw away. Guess the only sin Geylang has to offer is gluttony.
5) Sanctified Geylang
Don’t worry though, as sinful as Geylang is, it is also the heart of salvation. With the highest concentration of religious institutions in Singapore, Geylang paradoxically runs on both ends of the spectrum. Perhaps to remedy the high numbers of brothels or perhaps to pay tribute to its past as a merchant district that supplied tiles to religious institutions, including those that continue to exist in Geylang today.
Beyond the physical buildings of religious institutions, Geylang was also built to harness auspiciousness. Geylang Road was meant to mimic a centipede’s body with the even and odd Llorongs attached on both sides of the road as legs of the insect. Because according to Chinese superstitions, the “centipede land” feng shui formation brings good luck and healing to homes and businesses that rest upon it. Believe it or not, Geylang was built with ‘huat’ in mind and perhaps some of it might rub off in your potential home.
Take a Chance on Geylang
Geylang is slowly straying away from its identity as a red-light district and returning to its historical image as a safe kampung that welcomes all. With the newly opened Wisma Geylang Serai community centre, Geylang is constantly finding new ways for residents to bond (beyond the back alleys) and foster a new identity for the neighbourhood.
If living within a close-knitted community with plenty of amenities is your ideal lifestyle, feel free to reach out to us, we will help you find your perfect place. Till our next trip down memory lane~
