Lavender, Singapore Explained

Lavender
Settlement Type:Subzone of Kallang Planning Area
Translit Lang1:Other
Translit Lang1 Type1:Chinese
Translit Lang1 Info1:劳明达
Translit Lang1 Type2:Malay
Translit Lang1 Info2:Lavender
Translit Lang1 Type3:Tamil
Translit Lang1 Info3:லவண்டர்
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Singapore
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Central Region
Subdivision Type2:Planning Area
Subdivision Name2:Kallang

Lavender is a subzone within the planning area of Kallang, Singapore, as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Lavender is composed of an area bounded by Tessensohn Road in the north; Balestier Road, Lavender Street and Crawford Street in the east; the Rochor River and Rochor Canal in the south; as well as Syed Alwi Road, Serangoon Road and Rangoon Road in the west.[1]

Lavender is largely commercial, even though several blocks of public housing provided by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) exist at Jellicoe Road and French Road. Notable places in this subzone include Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar Swimming Complex, Jalan Besar Community Club, the series of historic shophouses along Jalan Besar, the headquarters of People's Association, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Building, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Mustafa Centre, Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre and City Square Mall. In addition, the New World Amusement Park once stood in this area.

The district has not changed a lot in a city known for its frenetic urban planning, and as a source puts it, "entering Lavender is like entering Singapore in the late 1980s",[2] where old public housing is occupied by an elderly community, with small automotive shops, hardware resellers and temples.

A trend of gentrification began in around 2014, mainly along Jalan Besar. Parts of the Little India ethnic neighbourhood extends into this area. There are now many small coffee shops and music studios in this rather vintage-looking district.

Lavender MRT station and Farrer Park MRT station serve Lavender subzone.

Etymology

The subzone of Lavender derived its name from Lavender Street. The road was officially named on 8 March 1858, as a result of suggestions by the nearby residents. Contrary to what the name may suggest, the area around Lavender Street was foul-smelling, probably due to either the Kallang Gasworks in the vicinity, or the use of nightsoil as fertilizer at nearby farms. The name was suggested by residents of the area as tongue-in-cheek humour.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Singapore's Kallang Planning Area . 19 July 2018 . 12 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512172937/https://keylocation.sg/singapore/planning-areas/kallang . dead .
  2. Web site: An intro to Singapore District & Area. www.streetdirectory.com.
  3. Web site: Lavender Street | Infopedia. eresources.nlb.gov.sg.