Only Two More Floors - Now 25 Floors High

I left UK in October and returned to Thailand. Have happily traded winter in England - with cold dreary weather and darkness at 4pm - for rainy-season in Pattaya. For me, this the perfect time of the year here in Thailand, with day-time temperatures around 80°F (27°C) and a couple of hours of rain to wash everything clean, and night-time temperatures around 75°F (24°C) for comfortable sleeping (or other ;) bedroom activites) without needing air-con.

External Structure Almost Completed

I am still confident that I shall be able to announce that construction of View Talay 7 has reached the top (27th) floor in my next post, with topping-out of the structure at 27-floors before the end of this year.

Even with the heavy rains we are getting almost every day now, construction is continuing at a fast place. Construction has now reached the 25th floor.

Still No Activity On Plot Of Land Between VT5 and VT7

Previous remours of construction planned for the larger plot of land on the north side of View Talay 7 seem to have been unfounded. The land was indeed cleared, a new fence erected, and and some equipments appeared.

However, I walked along Dong Tan beach yesterday and found no equipments in sight, with the previously cleared land now showing regrowth.

Christophe Asked For Pictures

Coming soon!

Reaching For The Stars - Now 18 Floors High

Did You Miss Me?

I have been in UK for the past couple of months, where the weather has been lousy. Dreary days and nights, with lots of rain. I cannot wait to return to Thailand, even though life is not so calm back there, what with protesters in the streets - AGAIN - and threats of yet ANOTHER military coo!

Amusement Park Project Cancelled?

Rumour has it that the Amusement Park project planned for the site located between View Talay 5 and View Talay 7, as reported in my previous post Amusement Park Next to View Talay 7, has been cancelled and some Villas are to be built on that plot. I will work on getting verification and more details when I return to Pattaya in October.

Meanwhile, View Talay 7 Has Reached 18 Floors

As the photo shows, construction of View Talay 7 has now reached the lofty height of 18 floors. Only 9 more floors to go.

I still expect View Talay to cap off the 27th. floor of the structure by January 2009, as I predicted in my post dated 9th. May 2008, and titled Now Up To 11 Floors.

Building completion is scheduled for 2010.

Amusement Park Next To View Talay 7

So Now We Know...

For a year or more we have been wondering what would transpire with the large prime - and up until now undeveloped - plot of beach-front land between the View Talay 5 and View Talay 7 condominium buldings in Jomtien, Thailand.

It's Going To Be An Amusement Park

I have it on good authority that the land has been purchased by a foreign company. It is already being cleared, all that remains is a small wooden house and a few trees. Plan call for a fun-fair type amusement park with rides.

How High? How Big? How Long Until Built?

No additional information yet, watch this space!

What Does It All Mean?

There should be no impact on condo-units on the Jomtien (South) side of the building. However, on the Pattaya (North) side:

• Depending on the height of the new construction, ocean-views may or may not be affected.
• Depending on the hours of operation, noise from the rides will surely be an issue.
• Owners of units on the North-side may be disappointed if they intend to live in their units, but those that intent to rent out their units may find many potential customers due to the entertainment next door.

At this stage, there are more questions than answers.

Clearing Land Next To View Talay 7

Another Depressing Bar

Went to Jomtien this afternoon to visit a bar that has recently changed ownership. They were having a party so I expected the place to be rockin'. Was more than a little disappointed, but more on that later.

Thais Don't Take Their Children To Pattaya

After the bar, I had a couple of beers in me and was feeling mellow. The sun was shining, surf was up, so I walked back along Jomtien Beach. I enjoyed the walk, and taking photos of the natives. The traffic was bad anyway, and a baht-bus would have been slower than walking. Thais from Bangkok descend on Jomtien in droves on week-ends with their families, tending to avoid Pattaya as they know that it not the 'upscale family resort' that it is advertised to be, no matter what the marketing people would have us believe.

Still Working On 11th Floor

I soon found myself close to View Talay 7, and went to take a look. They are still working on the 11th floor, just as I reported in my previous post on 9th. May. I include a satellite photo here from Google Maps.

View Larger Map

No More Fence, Clearing Land

Walking a little further, I was surprised to see that that the large plot of land beteen View Talay 5 and View Talay 7, the plot that was fenced and over-grown just nine days ago, is now un-fenced and almost completely cleared. There is obviously some construction planned. Will post photos later.

No Plans For A "View Talay 9"

I had already asked in the View Talay office if there was a View Talay 9 planned. They assured me not. I was told that View Talay 7 is absolutely the last project by the boss, as he is retiring. View Talay 8 is under construction further along Jomtien Beach, but this project is managed by his daughter, and I was told that she has no View Talay 9 planned. So if it's not another View Talay project, what is it? Let's hope it's a low-rise. I shall investigate further.

Now Up To 11 Floors

Two Floors Per Month

Did my Jomtien walk today. View Talay 7 is still growing, they are now working on the 11th floor.

I estimate that they are completing approximately two floors of external structure per month, and at this rate I predict that they will cap off the 27th floor by January 2009.

Completion 2010

Completion is scheduled for 2010. Thus they would have about one year for interior fit-out, which should be adequate considering that they supply units as a 'shell' with little interior work required.

Plot Next Door Still Overgrown

Still no development of the land on the north-side of View Talay 7. This is a large empty plot between View Talay 5 and View Talay 7. The plot remains overgrown and uncleared.

Jomtien Beach Nicer Than Pattaya Beach

It was a beautifual day today, and Jomtien Beach was looking nice. Thai people from out of town much prefer Jomtien over Pattaya, Jomtien gets far more Thai visitors than Pattaya. Most "Farangs" agree that Jomtien is much more attractive than Pattaya. However, it was low-tide while I was there and one potential problem was very apparent.

Dirty Great Big Sewage Pipe

There is a large-diameter waste-pipe running into the ocean almost directly in front of View Talay 7. The pipe runs from Thappraya Road across the beach about 100m south of View Talay 7, just to the north of the Police Box.

As far as I know, there are no sewage treatment plants in this area. They pump raw sewage into the ocean. So how far does the pipe go off-shore, and how likely is it that normal wave action - or a storm - will bring sewage ashore?

Still Climbing - 10 Floors

The 10th Floor

Seems that the complainants from Jomtien Complex have filed an appeal to the Administrative Court on the continuing construction of View Talay 7. However, the number of persons listed has shrunk from ten persons in the original complaint to eight in the appeal.

Construction continues, with many workers and three cranes still in daily operation. I would estimate that they are now completing 2-3 floors per month. As of today they have completed nine floors and are working on the tenth.

Meanwhile, the large undeveloped plot of land on the North side of View Talay 7 is still untouched. This parcel will certainly be the site of another large project in the near future, perhaps another condominium building. Alternatively a shopping centre, entertainment complex or cinema. None of these presently exist in Jomtien, so this is a definite possibility.

Click on the following links to read about the unlucky owners in View Talay 6 and the dirty great big shopping mall called Central World Pattaya which is being built next to their condominiums.

Decision Not Yet Final

The Fat Lady Is Still Singing!

From the English translation of the decision of the Rayong Court dated 16th. January 2008, it appears that the Court lifted the injunction ordering a halt to construction of View Talay 7.

Thus, construction is now allowed to continue. However, it seems that the original complaint filed by residents of Jomtien Complex last year remains undecided by the Court. Thus, this is not the final decision.

Meanwhile, back at the site. Construction is full speed ahead!

Today Is View Talay Day!

Latest news is that there is to be a court hearing today, 15th. January.

View Talay Day!

Rumour has it that the court has already reached a decision, and View Talay has won the case. However, this is as of yet unconfirmed. So watch this space for updates!

Anticipation

This decision seems to have been anticipated by View Talay. There has been some heavy equipment deliveries to the View Talay 7 construction site since early January, with increased work activity. They have stacked building materials on top of the 4th floor.

In addition, they have made some smart moves whilst construction was limited by the courts.

Firstly, they wrapped the site in enormous tarpaulins, which would have prevented any corrosion in the rebar. It's amazing to see construction projects abandoned here - sometimes for years - and left open to the elements. Rebar corrosion will weaken the structure enormously. NorthShore is a good example of this. It was designed as a hotel, but uncompleted due to financial problems and left as a rusting shell for years before Raimon Land purchased it, and marketed it into a "luxury condo" project. Those units are tiny, but have been selling at outrageous prices.

Secondly, while they could not build View Talay 7 higher that four floors they spent the time building interior walls, and even the balcony railings are in place for those four floors.

The Fat Lady Is Still Singing

However, it's not over yet. As above, the final decision of the court is unconfirmed. Of course the complainants from Jomtien Plaza may file appeals, and it is likely that View Talay will file a counter-suit against the complainants for costs and compensation.