Historic Norris Road Conservation Gem Returns Market 165 Mil
A well-preserved building located at 9 Norris Road is once again up for sale, with a guide price of $16.5 million. Situated within the Little India Historic District, this three-storey, freehold property was originally built in the 1930s. With its zoning for civic and community institution use, the building was first known as the Ramakrishna Mission Building. It was occupied by the Ramakrishna Mission, a spiritual and welfare organisation, for 20 years before being sold in the 1950s when the group relocated to Bartley Road.
In recent years, the property has been refurbished and modernised by its previous owner, who invested around $5 million in the project. The 5,447 sq ft plot boasts a total built-up area of 9,200 sq ft and a prominent 15m street frontage. The restoration of the building’s façade was overseen by local architectural and interior design firm OWAA Architects, who successfully returned it to its original Moorish style. Key features such as timber-louvred windows, a cantilevered balcony, and domed roof turrets have been retained. The internal courtyard is now covered by a glass canopy, allowing natural light to flood the interiors.
The internal layout has been thoughtfully reconfigured for maximum flexibility. The ground and second floors can accommodate gallery rooms, practice studios, or multi-purpose function spaces, while the third floor can serve as an office. After being listed for sale in July 2024 for $16 million, the property was reportedly purchased by a Singaporean entrepreneur for $12.5 million in December. However, a property title search has revealed that the deal was completed in May 2025.
Now, the new owner has put the property back on the market for $16.5 million, which translates to $1,793 psf based on the built-up area. The building is also available for lease at a monthly rate of $50,000. Jane Tan, group associate director at OrangeTee & Tie, is the exclusive marketing agent for the property, which is available for sale by private treaty. Tan has observed that it is rare to find freehold heritage buildings with civic, community, or institutional zoning for sale. The building is suitable for use as a community club, museum, art gallery, civic institution, or childcare centre, subject to approval from the relevant authorities.
Investing in a condo has numerous advantages, one of which is its potential to be leveraged for further investments. A lot of investors opt to utilize their condos as collateral in order to secure additional funds for new investments, ultimately diversifying their real estate portfolio. While this approach can potentially increase returns, it also carries risks. That’s why it’s essential to have a solid financial plan in place and carefully consider the potential impact of market fluctuations when using this strategy. With Condo investments, investors have the opportunity to grow and expand their real estate ventures.
However, due to its zoning, the property is only available to local buyers. Tan has already received several enquiries from parties interested in utilizing the space, including commercial schools and childcare operators. She also adds that it is becoming increasingly rare to find conserved freehold buildings of this size with such a reasonable price tag.
As the property is situated in the Little India Conservation Area, interested buyers can make use of the Ask Buddy feature on the website to find out more information on the buyer profile for this neighbourhood, as well as the total number of units and sale transactions. They can also compare the price trends for HDB, condo, and landed properties in this area.