Tell me about conservation shophouses

Conservation shophouses are narrow, small terraced houses with a sheltered 'five foot' pedestrian way at the front. They can be used for both business and living and were constructed between the 1840s and the 1960s. These buildings are typically two to three storeys high, built in contiguous blocks with common party walls. They form the bulk of gazetted conservation buildings in Singapore and must follow URA's guidelines for restoration.

When marketing shophouses, factors to consider include location, development options, height restrictions, road line, development charge, car parks, ambience of the area, and permissible use.

Conservation shophouses have several advantages, such as good location, high land content, no setback, no new supply, no maintenance fees, 24x7 operation, no "involuntary" enbloc, high ceilings, no acquisition or road lines, and high-value usage options like boutique hotels, hostels, and spas. They can also be combined with adjoining units.

However, there are disadvantages, including restrictions on redevelopment/renovation, lack of shared utilities and maintenance, no car parks, non-divisibility, old structure, and no control over neighboring units.