Even today, the building management regularly receives complaints about alleged streetwalkers touting sexual services.
“It really affects the change that we are going through,” said Mr Stevenson Goh, a representative of Orchard Towers’ building management.
Approaching the police is the only recourse, said Mr Goh, as such activities take place in public spaces outside the building. The police told CNA they are looking into the matter, adding that they will take appropriate action against any illegal activities.
“STRONGHOLD OF THE ENEMY”
Cornerstone, the church that acquired two adjacent properties in Orchard Towers, has couched the transformation of the mall in religious terms.
In a note to his congregation explaining the church’s decision, Senior Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong acknowledged the building’s seedy past, directly referencing its notorious nickname, “The Four Floors of Whores”.
“Once a stronghold of the enemy, (the two properties are) now being claimed by the people of God,” Mr Yang, who is one of the church founders, wrote.
In the meantime, efforts are underway to improve the building’s facade.
While faith seeks to reclaim Orchard Towers from its past, a fresh coat of paint and new cladding aim to do the same – one wall at a time.
