Monica Pitrelli

I live in a condo on Leonie Hill Road, between Grange Road and River Valley. Reasons for living here: As much as I loved Tanjong Pagar, three daily drives to my kids’ preschool wasn’t cutting it!

Public transport: The COE on our car ended a few months after we moved here. We decided to give carless life a chance; friends said I wouldn’t last a month. It’s been a year and counting, and now I’m a total convert. I walk and take the bus everywhere – especially since Uber got nudged out. It’s cheaper, healthier and more environmentally friendly, and I love it.

Best green space:

There is an enormous area of undeveloped land at the corner of Grange and Paterson Hill. Its shady and beautiful, and the kids and I call it “the forest”. I feel so lucky to live in one of the most densely packed countries in the world and look out onto open space and green grass.

Local amenities: We grab coffee and ride bikes with the kids at Robertson Quay, walk to Paragon to go to the doctor, and all of Orchard is at our fingertips. Great World City is two streets away for a quick shop or movie. The area has so many families with young ones, which means my kids always have friends around.

Local recommendations:

Little Hands Montessori preschool is divine for little ones; Kith and Swirls Bake Shop at Robertson Quay for coffee and mini cupcakes; Jody Apparel in Far East Shopping Centre for clothing alternations; and Nonjya Monjya for okonomiyaki and monjya made at your table.