“Hougang Residents Protest as Condo Developer Cuts Down Trees for Cycling Path “

To facilitate the construction of a new cycling path, a condo developer has begun chopping down trees along Hougang Avenue 2, sparking anger among local residents.

One resident, Priscilla Lim, took to Facebook on May 14 to voice her frustration. She shared photos of a tree stump and several trees marked for removal, stating, “They have already cut down a few healthy trees along Hougang Ave 2… The trees have been around for more than 30 years! This is just an outrage!”

In her post, Lim highlighted a sign placed by the developers of Florence Residences, indicating that the trees would be removed to make way for the cycling path. Florence Residences is a 99-year leasehold condominium project developed by Logan Property.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Lim expressed concern that the loss of shade from the trees would make the walkway warmer for pedestrians.

A visit to the site by a Shin Min reporter on the evening of the same day revealed that five trees had already been felled, with nine more scheduled for removal. The pavement currently measures about three meters wide, while the trees occupied approximately half a meter of that space.

Lim isn’t alone in her discontent; other Hougang residents also lamented the loss of the trees. A resident surnamed Huang stated, “The trees have been with us for many years; I hope they don’t chop them.” Huang argued that the existing pavement width was sufficient for the cycling path without necessitating the removal of trees.

Conversely, some residents support the development, believing that urban expansion should take precedence over preserving greenery. A resident surnamed Xie remarked, “It’s a good thing to widen the road so that it’s easier for vehicles to pass through. Urban development shouldn’t be hindered by trees.” Xie also expressed hope that new trees would be planted in the future.

Lim noted that she previously contacted the developers of Florence Residences, who explained that they were advised by the Land Transport Authority to install street lamps on the pavement prior to cutting down the trees. The developer also assured her that they had received approval from NParks before proceeding with the removals.

AsiaOne has reached out to Logan Property for further comment.