Serene Loo/Ryan Huang, Channel NewsAsia 31 Oct 08;
SINGAPORE: One of Singapore's oldest hotels has finally called it a day after 55 years. The New 7th Storey Hotel at Rochor Road is making way for the new Bugis MRT station.
The new Bugis station is one of the six that make up the 4.3-kilometre Downtown Line One, which is scheduled to open in 2013.
Authorities said demolition of the hotel is unavoidable due to engineering constraints.
The owners spent some S$100,000 renovating the budget hotel earlier this year.
Some people paid the hotel a final farewell visit on Friday.
Despite its name, the New 7th Storey Hotel actually has nine storeys comprising 38 rooms.
Many will remember its manually-operated lift and its spiral staircase.
However, there is some consolation as part of the hotel will still live on. Its charcoal steamboat restaurant will be moving to its new home at the Marina Barrage in December.
Parts of the hotel decor will be put up for sale. - CNA/vm
