The kampong, or village, was located on a high hill around where the Singapore Anti-tuberculosis Association (SATA) Clinic now stands.

[3] When development began in the late 1960s, the estate was built originally with 40 blocks of flats, consisting mainly of rental units.

To provide for employment, there were 3 factories built - Rollei Cameras, Varta Batteries and Nippon Miniature Bearing (NMB).

In the early 1970s, the electoral division of Chai Chee stretched all the way southwards to Upper East Coast Road.

Chai Chee today is served by amenities like the Viva Business Park, which is a mixed commercial development that offers both office and shopping space.

Residents of the nearby private estates are known to frequent Chai Chee due to limited amenities available in their respective areas.

It is not to be confused with the Kampong Chai Chee Community Club located in Bedok that serves the East Coast Group Representation Constituency.

In addition, the Technopark @ Chai Chee was built over where the Rollei Cameras factory used to be, to enhance the industries there and has since been revitalised as the Viva Business Park.