District 14 is made up of Geylang, Paya Lebar and Eunos and all three areas have had important roles in Singapore’s history, which are reflected in the architectural designs of the structures and buildings populating these areas. District 14 appeals to property investors because a major effort has been made to preserve its cultural heritage. This is evident in projects like Paya Lebar Central, the Geylang River Projects, and Wisma Geylang Serai’s Civic Centre.

Geylang

Geylang is made up of private housing along with shophouses, but this area is mainly known for its eateries serving a broad assortment of delicious foods at cheap prices. Furthermore, transport lines throughout the district make it easy for residents to reach Paya Lebar, Eunos, Kembangan as well as the Aljunied MRT stations around the area. 

The name Geylang can be traced back to the word “geylanggan,” a Malay word that means “twist or crush” in order to extract the meat and milk from coconuts, so they can be used in Peranakan cuisine to thicken curries. These days, Geylang is attracting a lot of interest due to its proliferation of property launches. 

There are at least 40 different projects under development comprised of 2,190 units as of 2017. These have brought the number of homes in Geylang to more than 5,500. Many of these homes are quite small and called “shoebox” units since they are only 400-600 sq. ft. in size. However, there are a number of units averaging 818 sq. ft. Being so small, the capital outlay is lower, which is why these units appeal to investors, as well as locals and expats.  

Paya Lebar

Much of District 14’s historical and cultural elements have been preserved, but certain parts of the district were approved for redevelopment, especially in Paya Lebar. The Draft Master Plan of 2013 shows 5.4 million sq. ft. of space devoted to commercial and industrial technological development. 

At the same time Paya Lebar is being identified with advancement and technology, it is filled with factories, businesses, and government offices. These include headquarters of the local postal service, the Singapore Post. It also has fast-food eateries like McDonald’s, KFC, and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. 

Residents of Paya Lebar can enjoy the Tanjong Katong Complex, which is in the district, as well as the heritage centre Malay Village where they can periodically see performances by Kuda Kepang. During Ramadhan, the Hari Raya Bazaar is held here, which offers residents a wonderful range of foods, carpets, curtains, and other Malay goods. 

Eunos

Originally called Kampong Eunos, today Eunos embodies a rich mixture of tradition and modernity. Traditional elements include the delicately designed Masjid Darul Aman mosque along with the Mangala Vihara Buddhist Temple. In contrast, modern day elements are the Kampong Ubi Community Centre, which holds classes in Malay art and culture. The Eunos Market Food Centre is another modern element that provides residents with a nice array of tasty local foods.