AALTO Rental Info

[beppi]

My partner will be working in District 14

Amazing: The "district" system was already abolished when I first came to Singapore in 1993 - and yet they still creep up every now and then.
Does anybody other than property agents still think in terms of those districts???

[uscate]

Thank you for the correction - I'm always learning and certainly appreciate your feedback. Since the District system of labeling is apparently not used any more, what would the area around District 14 be called??

Again, many thanks for your correction, beppl.

[beppi]

It's not a correction, more like amazement about the backwardness of the property agent scene (where you must have this from).
I have no idea where distict 14 is an what it is called in real life.

[nutnut]

District 14 is around Eunos/Dakota/Geylang etc. I think.

There are other condos probably closer to the MRT or good public transport around that area! If you are a couple with no kids then a smaller condo would probably be ok right?

[zzm9980]

Assuming you're working in the vicinity of Paya Lebar MRT (D14-ish, where the only big offices are I'm aware of in the area), look for condos 1km+ east of the one you found. Say around Parkway Parade mall or east. (Parkway Parade is where the grocery store I highlighted on the map is.)

From Parkway or east, you can take 3-5 buses in the morning to that area. 43,76,135 are 7-8 minutes and drop you at the MRT stop. You also have the 13 and 197 which get pretty close. (City plaza, 300-400m away). A taxi ride will only be $5-7 in the morning, and $7-9 in the evening too. Plenty of condos to choose from. Probably cheaper than AALTO too.

[sundaymorningstaple]

The district system was phased out with the introduction of the 6 digit postal code. Previously there was only a 4 digit code and a lot less people and buildings. The district system is useful as it does encompass areas of desirability more easily than using postal codes or place/new town names could do because of overlapping boundaries that get gerrymandered every five years with each new GE.

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/housing- ... -guide.htm

It's still very useful.

[uscate]

Wow! Great info!! Thank you for the translation between District Numbers and the actual neighborhoods. I'm assuming these are grouped around MRT stops. I'm trying to ramp up so I don't sound like the ultimate poseur....I'm sure my partner's business associates must've been rolling their eyes at me when I was talking about "District 15 and 16," but were too polite to do so in front of me....ayyyyyy....(!)

And yes, we're also looking at the Parkway Parade area (Cote d'Azur in specific), but the units we saw there were either on the Silversea construction side, or were totally facing another tower with no view. That is still the prime location for us, although we really do love the feel of AALTO....given what you folks have shared about the location of AALTO, though, we may be leaning more toward the Cote d'Azur.

And one would think that with only 2 people we'd be able to get by with a 2 BR, but we really need the 3 - one for an office for my SO and one for a spare BR (and honestly, we need the extra room so we have our own space)....

Thank you all again for all of your great insights!!

[zzm9980]

One more pro-tip: Not sure if you're actively looking at the units, or just seeing them online, but the "Seaview" (also right there) won't have a Seaview for much longer.

Also, the view isn't *that* nice. I wouldn't pay significantly more for it again, that's for sure... Most days it looks like a parking lot for rusted out freighters.

It basically looks like this on a "nice" day. (25% of the time?)
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6009/6008 ... f6ae_b.jpg

Usually it's hazier, and a lot more ships. At night, they all have flood lights turned on. It can be brighter than expected. Reminds me of a used car sales lot in the US.

[uscate]

Funny ZZM - I was actually really stunned by the sea view....I lived on the coast of Maine and Massachusetts for many years, and my idea of a sea view is lobster boats and sail boats with an occasional larger vessel in the far distance.....Quite a change - I think I really experienced "cognitive dissonance" in the truest sense of the phrase when I had my first look out an East Coast window!!!

That being said, we're still keen for the view, as it gives us some idea of space, and because it is so different from what we're used to, is pretty interesting....

And I had read about the Seaview no longer being a Seaview....That's a good thing to keep in mind.....

You seem to know a lot about a lot....Do you have any thoughts on Cote d'Azur??

Thanks!!

[zzm9980]

You seem to know a lot about a lot....Do you have any thoughts on Cote d'Azur??

Thanks!!

Haha I wouldn't say that. I just happen to live right there (as you can see by my view). The only thing I can tell you about Cote de Azur is that it is directly next to the mall (so very convenient location), but that due to it's layout, I suspect the "sea views" in at least 3 of the 5 towers will be partially obstructed. (Any online ad that advertises the sea view will definitely not mention that)

You can kind of tell what I mean from Google:
http://g.co/maps/92t6r

Note that Cote de Azur is labelled Parkway Shopping Center on that map, and that the real shopping center is the large complex directly east.

The thing that gets me about the view is actually on the *really* clear days, when you can see indonesia and even make out buildings and such, you feel like you just live on a really big river...

[zzm9980]

Addendum to that map....

"Cold Storage Katong" is actually in the basement of Parkway shopping center. The buildings labelled Cold Storage Katong are the Seaview. They lost that distinction because the dirt lot west of Cote de Azur is now the Silversea.

[uscate]

Funny how standards in real estate advertising seem to bridge cultures and countries....only half believe what you see in a photo....Thank you for your great info ZZM!

[nutnut]

The official verdict of Aalto from a guy with a family is that it's lovely and great for the kids. Not sure how that fits in with you.

[uscate]

Hi NutNut -

Thanks for the official report from AALTO! It's always good to get a "real" person's point of view....

I really appreciate your help!! Can't wait to move!!!!

[nutnut]

Good luck with the move!