A historic building located at 9 Norris Road has recently been put up for sale with an asking price of $16.5 million. This three-storey, freehold property is situated in the Little India Historic District and has been around since the 1930s.
Originally known as the Ramakrishna Mission Building, the property is zoned for civic and community institution use. It was previously occupied by the Ramakrishna Mission, a spiritual and welfare organization, for 20 years before they relocated to Bartley Road in the 1950s and sold the building.
In recent times, the property underwent a renovation and modernization by its previous owner, who invested approximately $5 million in the project. The site was also home to the Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA), a non-profit organization founded in 1970, and served as a family service center in the 1980s.
The property sits on a 5,447 sq ft plot with a total built-up area of 9,200 sq ft and an impressive 15m street frontage. The previous owner enlisted the help of local architectural and interior design firm OWAA Architects to restore the building’s façade to its original Moorish style. Some notable features include timber-louvred windows, a cantilevered balcony, and domed roof turrets. Additionally, a glass canopy was added to the internal courtyard, providing natural light to flood the interiors.
The internal layout of the building has been reconfigured to allow for flexibility. The ground and second floors can be used for gallery rooms, practice studios, or multi-purpose function spaces, while the third floor can serve as an office.
After the renovation, the property was first put on the market in July 2024 with an asking price of $16 million. However, it was reportedly sold to a Singaporean entrepreneur for $12.5 million in December of that year. A property title search reveals that the transaction was completed in May 2025.
The new owner has now decided to list the property for sale again, this time with an asking price of $16.5 million, equivalent to $1,793 psf based on the total built-up area. Interested parties can also lease the building for $50,000 per month. Jane Tan, the group associate director at OrangeTee & Tie, has been appointed as the exclusive marketing agent for the property, which is available for sale through private treaty.
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According to Tan, it is rare to find freehold heritage buildings with civic, community, or institutional zoning for sale. The building is suitable for various uses, such as a community club, museum, art gallery, civic institution, or childcare center, subject to approval from the relevant authorities.
However, due to its zoning, the property is limited to local buyers only. Tan has already received several inquiries from interested parties, including commercial schools and childcare operators.
She notes that it is becoming increasingly uncommon to find conserved freehold buildings of this size and at such an affordable price. For those interested, they can check out the latest listings for Little India Conservation Area properties to find out more about the buyer profile and price trend for the area.