THE CASCADIA (Review)

District: 21
Location: Bukit Timah Road
Address: 947 Bukit Timah Road (Management Office addess)
Tenure: Freehold
Developer: Allgreen Properties Limited
Number of units: 536 units
Number of Blocks: 13 of 10-storey each
Parking Lots: 567 (basement parking)
TOP: October 2010 (according to marketing agent)

THE CASCADIA is technically not “new” – this development was launched back in 2007 and about 187 units were sold then at about $1,500psf. Then came the property downturn and the developer decided to hold back on sales till about May of this year.

THE CASCADIA resides on a 300,000sqft irregular-shaped plot along Bukit Timah Road (next door to The Floridian), but the showflat is located off-site on an empty field at Old Holland Road.


The sales gallery was rather empty when the wife and I visited last Sunday morning. Units in 7 of the 13 blocks (total of 296 units) are still available for sale, but we were told that almost 60% of the project has been taken up.

There are quite a number of unit types and sizes being offered at THE CASCADIA:
• 1-Bedroom (38 units): 570 – 710sqft
• 2-Bedrrom/2+Study (109 units): 871 – 1162sqft
• 3-Bedroom/3+Study (81 units): 1173 – 1323sqft
• 4-Bedroom/4+Study (45 units): 1410 – 1593sqft
• 2BR/2+S Penthouses (12 units): 1679 – 2260sqft
• 3BR/3+Study Penthouses (7 units): 2346 – 2884sqft
• 4BR/5BR Super Penthouses (4 units): 3961 – 5231sqft


The 2 and 3-bedroom penthouses come in 2 levels, but the upper level consists totally of roof terraces (unless space to us). The Super Penthouses have interior living spaces on both the upper and lower levels and come with their own private lap-pools.

THE CASCADIA is a full facilities condominium, but the facility offering does come across as dull compared to some of the newer launches – you still get the basic facilities you would expect from a condo project, but there is no “wow” factor here. It does offers two tennis court, which is generous for a 500+ units project.



There are 3 showflat types on display at the sales gallery:
 1582sqft, 4-Bedroom+Study (Type D2s-a)

 1237sqft, 3-Bedroom+PES (Type C1-a)

 1162sqft, 2-Bedroom+Study+PES (Type B1s-a)


The layout of the 3 unit types is rather similar (supposedly unique for Allgreen’s development), so we will just concentrate on the 4-Bedroom+ Study unit.

As we stepped into the showflat, the wife and I was amazed by how huge the living/ dining area is – until we realized that it is “enlarged” by sacrificing the common bedroom adjacent to the living area. So this is effectively a 3-bedroom+ study unit. If one decides to keep four bedrooms, the living/dining area is actually a tad small. We were told by the marketing agent that even if we decide to do the former, we can only knock the wall down after the condominium obtains its legal completion status, and at our own cost (of course). The living/dining is at least regular in shape, and comes with 3.2m ceiling height. The floor is furnished with unique 60cm x 60cm “porcelain” tiles – this is supposedly tougher than granite (go goggle it, says our marketing agent) and looked rather nice.

There is no balcony in this unit – the “balcony doors” open out to a sunken planter box, which seems rather strange. However, this just means more interior living space so we aren’t complaining.

There is also no dry kitchen – the only kitchen you get is a rectangular strip that comes furnished with “Miele” hob/hob/oven and solid surface worktop.

The small yard area extends from the kitchen – not a lot of space to work with after fitting the washer/dryer (separate units will need to be stacked). The bomb shelter/maid’s room is short but wide – so you will need custom-made bed if this is the domestic helper’s quarter. A small bathroom is available in the yard area.

The common bathroom is decent size, with ceramic tiles floor and walls. It also comes with good quality “Damixa” bathroom fittings - we may be partial here, since we have the same brand of fittings installed in our master bathroom...

The 2 common rooms are regular and good size, so fitting a queen bed inside will not pose too much of a problem. It comes with nice wood strip floors, but we are not particular impressed with the modular “open” wardrobe system (read: no doors). Just thinking about the dust and having to keep the wardrobe tidy (or out of sight) made the two of us cringe.

The study area is about the size of a small store room. Maybe that’s why it is not enclosed (again: no doors). The developer has deliberately hacked the wall between the study and the junior suites to increase the perception of space.

The junior suite looked rather small and comes with the same modular wardrobe system. The attached bathroom is also small but comes with good quality “Damixa/Duravit” fittings. The standing shower stall may pose a challenge for “bigger individuals” to maneuver inside (kudos to the wife for spotting this).

The master bedroom is very good size and has a set of “rounded” windows on one side. It also comes standard with transparent glass wardrobes but again with no doors. The master bathroom is also good size, fitted with granite floors/walls and comes with a bath tub and adjacent standing shower stall. The usual “Damixa/Duravit” fittings apply.

What we like:
 All units in THE CASCADIA are primarily North-South facing, which means you do not get the direct morning/afternoon sun.

 All the rooms are regular shaped with no odd-corners.

 All the showflat types come with the same good quality furnishings and fittings.

 Even the 2-bedroom units come with long bath and adjacent shower stall in the master bathroom.

 Within close proximity of the upcoming King Albert Park MRT station (part of the Downtown Line Stage 2) that will be completed by 2015.


What we dislike:
 The living/dining for all 3 showflat types are quite small. This is especially disappointing with the 4-bedder unit, unless you sacrifice a common bedroom to enlarge the living area as per the showflat.

 Only 1 primary school is within 1-km of THE CASCADIA – Methodist Girls’ Primary.

 For investment purpose, the rental yield may not be fantastic – although many do prefer rental units in a new development, THE CASCADIA will probably face severe competition from Maplewood and Nexus as well as The Floridian when this is completed.

Price-wise, a 4+Study unit in Block No. 943 (#06-49) will cost $2,161,320 or $1445psf. This unit will get the main pool view. Maintenance for this unit (7 shares) is around $266/month, which is quite reasonable.

As we have mentioned earlier, 60% of the unit in THE CASCADIA are already sold as of last Sunday. The developer has allegedly increased their selling price by 1% since last Saturday. Deferred payment Scheme is still being offered for this project.

In summary, both the wife and I are rather impartial about THE CASCADIA. We are quite happy with the unit layout (other than the small living/dining area) and the quality of furnishings/fittings provided, but we still think that the facilities within this project are somewhat “old school”. This may be a consideration for buyers who are big on facilities. And who can blame them, when they have to shell out almost $1500psf for their apartments?