Living in Geylang

[Asian_Geekette]

I currently live in the CBD area but I am looking to move out of town - mainly to save $$$. I am thinking of moving to a condo around Lorong 25 Geylang which will cut my rent by half.

I've heard a lot of bad things about Geylang but Lorong 25 seems ok. Has anyone lived in that area and is it that bad? is it safe? I did see some ladies of the night during the day but that's about it. I don't mind it that much.

We currently live a kilometer or so away from the Geylang red light district. I've had some munchies in the middle of the night and I've walked to the 24-hour soy bean curd places and I made it back safely to the flat.

There was also one time when I was waiting for my husband so we can have late dinner in a Taiwanese place along Geylang Road. I was standing in the corner because I didn't know which direction he'll be coming from. Then I realized there were some older Chinese guys seated around and who were drinking beer and they were looking at me. I was just wearing simple shorts and shirt and carrying a bag with a big label of "National Museum of Singapore". I just looked back at them and gave them my nerd blank stare. I guess they're trying to guess if I'm a mama-san (mother pimp) or what...

Our place is in the quieter side of Geylang and if we're feeling up to walking and eating in some of the places in the red light district, then we go. Sometimes we see some police cars parked around. People don't bother us, we don't bother them.

[intermediate_expat]

Hi everyone - apologies if this post is a little late to the discussion.

My wife & I are due to move in June and I am possibly looking at this area. We love the conservation housing and thus from a few searches we came across the conservation properties on Geylang 41 & 39.

Having read through the posts the advice seems to be:

- Anything in the upper numbers (>25) is ok .. the nearer the MRT station the better
- Go & view the area at night (Post 10pm) and on Sundays

We are looking to start a family this year so this next move will be the last for a while ... also I want to get a bigger space if possible but wouldn't want to move here if it was not safe / uncomfortable if you are a lady.

Looking for all opinions / comments / knowledge ... in particular looking forward to hearing from women who have experience of living in the area and how they found it!

Thanks!

[Hidy Ho]

You definitely want to look .. it looks like there are a lot of construction work in progress on 41 right now. I think they are building more fancy conservation housings.

I lived on 41 for two months at Redwood Residence during early 2012. It's very close to Paya Lebar MRT station. I don't consider it seedy at all but I'm a single guy. Not sure if I would live there if I was tied down and starting a family though.

As a single guy I liked it a lot as there were many places to go eat nearby and it's just a block away from Paya Lebar MRT station. The coffeeshop on the corner got a lot of my business (open 24 hours). The place definitely has different customers during noon time and midnight.

[zzm9980]

I wouldn't move there with the intention of starting a family. Even ignoring the potential seediness issues, there is a decided lack of green spaces or playgrounds in that area. There is also lots of traffic, more so than many other areas, both vehicular and pedestrian. Pick an out of the way HDB estate to start your family.

If you like the housing, look closer to Joo Chiat. It has seediness issues too (as it's less than 1km away), but is much more family friendly.

[tonycur]

I'm about half way between Joo Chiat and Geylang, with a wife and a small child (just off Tanjong Katong Road).

Paying 3.5k for a 1200sq ft condo with good amenities. Love the area, and love the value for money, and we are in no way bugged by any seediness or the like.

[zzm9980]

The condos just off Tanjong Katong Rd and any of the Geylang Lorongs (or even Joo Chiat Rd by the bars) might as well be the distance between Singapore and the Moon. Night and day. And he wants an old conservation house, which will be closer to the moon, per say.

Not that these things are really that bad compared to red light areas in most of the rest of the world, but OP should know it's there before committing to the spots to raise a family. FWIW, I'd raise a family right near Joo Chiat without a second thought, but I'm open minded. Geylang Lorongs I would not, but more so due to the lack of open space, noise, and traffic.

[Edroche]

Lor 25 is a bit too close to the dodgy area. That cross road, Aljuned + Geylang and west is where it gets ghetto. I used to live in the condo on 27a some years back. The area is ok, there are older hookers in the local eateries. Location is good for going into CBD, expecially as MRT is across the road. It was a bit too local. There were no decent supermarkets. Simsville condo is up the road and is pretty ok. The Lors are cleaner up there, probably nearer Paya lebar.

[karanmaroo]

Whats the dope on Geylang now? Can one look to rent a condo around Lor 30?

[zzm9980]

Whats the dope on Geylang now? Can one look to rent a condo around Lor 30?

Every Lorong has condos now.

[ecureilx]

Whats the dope on Geylang now? Can one look to rent a condo around Lor 30?

I thought you asked the same question in another thread and got detained responses ...

[karanmaroo]

Hi ecureilx,

Yes, and thanks for your responses on the other thread. My apologies if I have double posted and violated the decorum around here - my only logic behind re-posting here was that there could be posters who are specifically following this thread and would have a very good idea / advice about Geylang.

Thanks,
Karan