Looking for location advice

[mikedgibson]

My family and I are Canadian and considering a move to Singapore and are looking for some guidance on where to live.

We have 2 young girls (one 3 months old, one 3 years old).

Based on our research and experience we know we want to be close to an MRT station to make it easy to get around. My office location will be in the east side so we are thinking it might make sense to be in that area. We'd also like to be in a building where there are other families with young children so our kids can socialize.

What we are currently considering is a place near the Dakota MRT station. There seems to be some newer buildings in that area that are very close to the MRT station that will make it easy to get around.

Does anyone have any experience with this area and would they recommend it? Alternatively, can anyone recommend a good location that meets the following criteria:

1) Close to an MRT station (preferably within 1 km)
2) Preferably on the east side
3) Family friendly building
4) Building with lots of amenities for children (kids playground, kids pool, etc.)

Thanks for any guidance.

Mike

[zzm9980]

Dakota has some nice condos right behind it. There's even a recently re-done river trail for walking/biking which isn't half bad. It also has one of Singapore's top hawker centers for cheap local food (Old Airport Rd hawker center).

Cold Storage (grocery store many expats prefer, at least until they get used to Singapore) is only two short MRT stops away in Kallang Leisure Center next to Stadium MRT.

[jshi]

Pick a bldg that is walking distance to at least one super market. Trust me.

Taking public transit with shopping bags in SG is not fun, especially when you are likely to have small children in tow.

Sorry, I don't know the East area...
But I will say, convenience for you getting to work is not as much of a hassle as convenience for getting around when you are trying to get somewhere with the kids. So long the commute is pretty direct, you will find that most commercial office buildings are pretty well served by mass transit.

[uscate]

Or remember that cabs are pretty cheap here - my sig other takes a cab from the CBD round trip to the Eunos area for about what he'd pay for parking in Boston. Not the $1.68 it would cost for MRT, but still within our version of reality. This might work as an option for you and/or your family.

[katbh]

And do not forget the buses. I am also in the east. At the moment Dakota is a little soleless as it is quite new.
Buses get you every where pretty quickly.
Where in the east are you going to be working and are you thinking about schools for the kids? This will also be important.
I have lived in 11 places in the east and with a lot of children, I have visited most condos for play days etc.