It was two years ago that a local developer announced the construction of a 91 floor condominium tower containing 611 condos, shops, restaurants etc. etc. This would be the tallest building in Thailand and the 20th tallest building in the world.
The condo was to be constructed next to some other developments from the same company on a small plot of land which overlooks a slum area; although you can see the sea in the distance (the “artist’s impression” above seems to move the whole structure closer to the sea than reality. We don’t have any seagulls either, the sea is too polluted). Access roads to the site are primitive and it was difficult to see how the local infrastructure could support the development and eventual occupation of such a massive building.
But Pattaya city hall gave the go-ahead in July 2006 and the developer announced completion within four years; that would be mid-2010 for those of us with limited maths skills. So, the monster erection should be half way to completion by now; good news for those who signed up and handed over cash two years ago. Well, not quite.
What the developer failed to mention to prospective purchasers was that they couldn’t actually start construction until they received final permits from the Thai government. Oh dear. Give us your money anyway.
Eighteen months later and the required permits were finally in place and construction was announced to start in March 2008. So, did it? No. What we do have is an empty office and a rather flash cement mixing plant which currently seems to be doing good business supplying cement to other developments, but not much else.
So, progress in two years has resulted in a two year slippage and no construction as yet. Will they ever start, and if they do, when will they actually finish?
Some indication, and no comfort, can be gained from looking at another project undertaken by the same developer. Residence 5 was started in March 2006 and scheduled for completion in February 2008. Is it finished yet? No. It is an empty shell with a tiny crew of workers who seem to have done nothing over the past six months except slap some paint on the outside.
Ocean 1 in four years time? Don’t hold your breath.