Across the busy intersection of Queensway and Commonwealth Avenue is Commonwealth Heights and Green.
To the residents who first moved here in the 1960s, it was "Chap Lak Lau" (Hokkien: 16 storeys) named after the three 16-storeys blocks. Completed in 1964, blocks 81, 82 and 83's height and their commanding location gave rise to their colourful Hokkien name, serving as a clear location reference, especially to many coming in directly from the kampongs and slums. The ten-storey and 16-storeys blocks formed Commonwealth Estate and are typical of HDB architecture of the 1960s which exhibits little variation because of pressing demands to solve the housing shortage as quickly and cheaply as possible.
By the mid-1960s, visitors were often brought here to view Singapore's successful housing programme. Block 81 was the VIP block where distinguished visitors such as Mr. Spiro Agnew, former Vice President of the United States, and then Crown Prince Akihito of Japan, visited for a panoramic view of the model satellite town.
It was also in Commonwealth Estate that the "Home Ownership For the People Scheme" was introduced in 1964. 2,068 two and three room flats were sold, a key first step in enabling Singaporeans to own their homes. Today, over 82% of Singaporeans live in public housing with 80% of Singaporeans owning their homes.
Between 2000 and 2003, Commonwealth Estate was upgraded to achieve what HDB termed as "seamless living", with covered walkways, ramps and lifts for every floor. It was then renamed Commonwealth Green and Commonwealth Heights.