| Sentosa Cove, a residential development on | | | | |
| Sentosa Island in Singapore is marketed as | | | | Analysts estimate that Singapore's property |
| "the world's most desirable address." There's | | | | market will increase by as much as 30 percent |
| no doubt that Sentosa Cove is among the more | | | | this year. So far, Sentosa Cove has outpaced |
| exclusive developments in Southeast Asia, but | | | | the rest of the Singapore market in |
| is it really the world's most exclusive | | | | appreciation, in part because it is the only |
| address? We'll let you decide. | | | | place in Singapore where foreigners are |
| | | | allowed to buy landed properties. |
| Divided into two gated communities, covering | | | | |
| 290 acres, Sentosa Cove has a members-only | | | | But is it all enough to consider Sentosa Cove |
| marina, berths for mega yachts, and W Hotel | | | | the world's most desirable address? |
| in the works. On the island there are 2 | | | | Developers in Dubai might have something to |
| championship golf courses, and there are | | | | say about that. |
| plans to build a resort featuring a casino | | | | |
| and a Universal Studios theme park. | | | | More on Sentosa Island: |
| | | | |
| Of the 2,500 homes planned for completion, | | | | Sentosa, which means peace and tranquillity |
| some of the more exciting projects include: | | | | in Malay, is a popular island resort in |
| | | | Singapore, visited by some five million |
| - An 18-villa community on Sandy Island, one | | | | people a year. Attractions include a |
| of the manmade islands in the Cove, where | | | | two-kilometre long sheltered beach, Fort |
| villas will range in size from about 6,500 | | | | Siloso, two golf courses and two five-star |
| square feet to 12,000 square feet. Each will | | | | hotels. |
| come with a boat berth and a private pool. | | | | |
| Claudio Silvestrin, the architect, designs | | | | The island has an area of 5 square |
| Georgio Armani's stores. | | | | kilometres. It lies just half a kilometre (a |
| | | | quarter of a mile) away from the southern |
| - A 20-unit apartment development that will | | | | coast of the main island of Singapore. It is |
| be the only property facing Sentosa Golf | | | | Singapore's fourth largest island (excluding |
| Club's Tanjong Course. Each 6,000 square foot | | | | the main island). 70% of the island is |
| unit will have its own pool and an estimated | | | | covered by secondary rainforest, the habitat |
| price tag between 9-10 million Singapore | | | | of monitor lizards, monkeys, peacocks, |
| dollars (about 6.25-6.95 million US). | | | | parrots as well as other native fauna and |
| | | | flora. Significantly large portions of land |
| - The Pinnacle Collection, a planned 20-story | | | | are currently being added to Sentosa due to |
| condominium structure that will be the | | | | land reclamation. |
| tallest building on the island and will offer | | | | |
| panoramic vistas of the South China Sea, the | | | | Sentosa has a stretch of sheltered beach of |
| Southern Islands and the city skyline. | | | | more than two kilometres in length on its |
| | | | southern coast, divided into three portions: |
| Although land sales in Sentosa Cove started | | | | Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach, and Tanjong |
| off with a bust back in 2003 (in the midst of | | | | Beach. These beaches are artificial, |
| the SARS epidemic), land prices have since | | | | reclaimed using sand bought from Indonesia |
| jumped from 350 Singapore dollars per square | | | | and Malaysia. |
| foot to 1,799 dollars per square foot. | | | | |