One Pearl Bank condo residents upset access to sky garden on National Day restricted to 120 people who paid for tickets

Resident discontent arose in One Pearl Bank, a condominium in Outram Park, following the restriction of access to their sky garden during a National Day event. The 39th-floor sky garden, open for viewing from 5pm to 9pm, was limited to ticket holders purchasing tickets priced at S$5 for children and S$10 for adults. Despite the restriction, management clarified that it was implemented for safety and crowd-management purposes.

The event included a live screen of the celebrations and a buffet, with registration required to manage attendance and crowd. The nominal contribution was collected to cover catering costs. While residents without tickets were unable to watch the fireworks from the sky garden, they had previously planned to do so. One resident, who owns a two-bedroom unit worth S$2 million, expressed his disappointment at being denied access to his own home.

The Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) Council and Savills Property Management, the managing agent of One Pearl Bank, confirmed that the restriction was in line with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) occupant load limit of 157 persons. The restriction affected not just the sky garden, but also the gym and social lounge on the same floor.

Residents questioned the decision, expressing concerns about their freedom of passage and usage of common facilities. They also wondered if similar restrictions could be imposed during future events, such as New Year’s Eve.