Before and after - artist's impression of the future of Walking Street!

[topt]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

Here's Bang Saray's walking street.  No go go bars.

I am curious craig - how often is Bang Saray's walking street actually that busy?

The times I went to restaurants near there it looked more like a ghost town after 8pm?

[Docno]

1 hour ago, Geoffggi said:

The government should remember what happened in Singapore when they tore Boogie Street down, the powers that be in Singapore realised it was a mistake and rebuilt Boogie Street but it was never the same.....There is a lesson there!!!

Not quite right. They simply turned that former red light district (Bugis Street of the 60s and 70s) into a shopping centre, much like what this artist is proposing. I lived next to it for several years. No 'rebuilding', just renovation and cleanup. And there have definitely been no working girls or 'girls' there since the place was converted.

[alant]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

Many on WS now spend no money.  Or very little.  Kinda like the red light district in Amsterdam.  Many walk by, few partake.

 

If they did it properly, it could be very successful.  I quit going to WS several years ago.  Just not my cup of tea.  I know many others who feel the same way.

 

Here's Bang Saray's walking street.  No go go bars.

https://www.mypattayacondo.com/bangsaray-walking-street/

 

And Chiang Mai's market.  Always busy with tourists.

http://www.embark.org/thailand/chiang-mai/culture/sunday-market

The thing about Chiang Mai's walking street, always = only on a Sunday. Have a look at the anusarn every other day

[farcanell]

1 hour ago, Lupatria said:

There should be a serious warning on all media regarding the stuff these guys seem to smoke!

Lol... I was thinking TAT should be marketing it as a new gen thai stick.

[craigt3365]

4 minutes ago, topt said:

I am curious craig - how often is Bang Saray's walking street actually that busy?

The times I went to restaurants near there it looked more like a ghost town after 8pm?

Not really sure.  I was there a few months ago and it was insane.  Impossible to find parking.  The action is mainly on the beach road, not necessarily in town, right???

[craigt3365]

1 minute ago, alant said:

The thing about Chiang Mai's walking street, always = only on a Sunday. Have a look at the anusarn every other day

 

Agreed.  But if it was setup differently, with restaurants, shops, etc, like they might do on WS, it'd probably be quite busy???

[topt]

 

5 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Not really sure.  I was there a few months ago and it was insane.  Impossible to find parking.  The action is mainly on the beach road, not necessarily in town, right???

Yes I was meaning the road that runs by the sea up to the pier with the couple of restaurants over the sea. Mind you the town is usually very quiet as well - however I avoid weekends.

 

Just had a look at the link -

Quote

Walking Street at Bang Saray Beach is simply the few hundred meters of beach road nearest to the town. It is closed off to traffic on one Sunday per month (at the moment) and transformed into a bustling street market. Currently, the market happens on the first Sunday of the month.

Mind you it was written Jan 2016......

Edited September 14, 2017 by topt
add content

[CGW]

1 hour ago, Geoffggi said:

The government should remember what happened in Singapore when they tore Boogie Street down, the powers that be in Singapore realised it was a mistake and rebuilt Boogie Street but it was never the same.....There is a lesson there!!!

But! the "New" Bugis Street generates far more taxable income than it ever did before when it was??? a late night drinking Street?

[hobobo]

Perhaps they should do it in stages: tear down the neon signs, hanging wires and unsightly hoardings on one side of the street, then see where people congregate. If more are on the old, "bad side", forget stage 2! (And restore the "clean new side" to what it was!)

[alant]

4 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Agreed.  But if it was setup differently, with restaurants, shops, etc, like they might do on WS, it'd probably be quite busy???

Anusarn has restaurants, this once busy market is now not anywhere like as busy. Walking st has it supporters and its haters but it is a novel place and I think getting rid of it will kill south Pattaya

[smudger1951]

This is the same approach as when they revamped the beach and made took away all its character and places to sit down. The contractors work was terrible and it falls apart. Never mind putting that right just move onto walking st and bugger that up.

[whitemouse]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

Many on WS now spend no money.  Or very little.  Kinda like the red light district in Amsterdam.  Many walk by, few partake.

 

If they did it properly, it could be very successful.  I quit going to WS several years ago.  Just not my cup of tea.  I know many others who feel the same way.

 

Here's Bang Saray's walking street.  No go go bars.

https://www.mypattayacondo.com/bangsaray-walking-street/

 

And Chiang Mai's market.  Always busy with tourists.

http://www.embark.org/thailand/chiang-mai/culture/sunday-market

 

Because once in Bang Saray, or in Chang Mai,  people are forced to go to these dreadful markets,  they have to go somewhere. No one wakes up on a freezing morning  in Sweden in December, and thinks "Oi, I'm gonna buy a ticket to Bang Saray and visit the market there!".  

 

But many, many more people visit Pattaya, and it isn't because our markets. Pattaya is 'extreme' city, because of its unique attractions, and it draws millions. Take that away, and Pattaya will become Bang Saray, a place no one has heard of

[hansnl]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

Many on WS now spend no money.  Or very little.  Kinda like the red light district in Amsterdam.  Many walk by, few partake.

 

If they did it properly, it could be very successful.  I quit going to WS several years ago.  Just not my cup of tea.  I know many others who feel the same way.

 

Here's Bang Saray's walking street.  No go go bars.

https://www.mypattayacondo.com/bangsaray-walking-street/

 

And Chiang Mai's market.  Always busy with tourists.

http://www.embark.org/thailand/chiang-mai/culture/sunday-market

You would be very surprised how much money goes on in the Amsterdam district.

That said, the town government is trying to kill off the business.

And now the business goes underground.

[whitemouse]

1 hour ago, mark01 said:

Hate walking street, so the quicker the change, the better.

Knock it all down and start again.

 

I too dislike it intensely, so I don't go there, you could avoid it too. It's dead end street, easy to avoid, to get to it you have to make an effort.

 

Every popular tourist city has its unique attraction, take that away and place dies. Vegas without casinos is a hole in a desert, Siam Reap without Ankor Wat wouldn't even exist. 

[Toshiba66]

If they do go ahead with this planned nonsense Its a shame none of us will be here to see it turn around for the better.

[connda]

Let's drive a stake right through the heart of the exotic culture that tourists come to enjoy.  
Instead, make it look like Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.  That will sure draw the tourists!  

Edited September 14, 2017 by connda

[The manic]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

Many on WS now spend no money.  Or very little.  Kinda like the red light district in Amsterdam.  Many walk by, few partake.

 

If they did it properly, it could be very successful.  I quit going to WS several years ago.  Just not my cup of tea.  I know many others who feel the same way.

 

Here's Bang Saray's walking street.  No go go bars.

https://www.mypattayacondo.com/bangsaray-walking-street/

 

And Chiang Mai's market.  Always busy with tourists.

http://www.embark.org/thailand/chiang-mai/culture/sunday-market

Chang mai market is dead and soulless and has no entertainment venues. It  Bans alcohol and smoking and just sells tourist that. Like the crest of CM its a joyless dump with the worst kind of smug expats sipping veggie shots and hazelnut lattes whilst posing with their fake tatoos  and daft top knots. Its is a city occupied by the military.

[Monkeyrobot]

I count 256 in the before and 9 people in the after. And what will the do with all the side sois . Why am I even wasting my time on this. 

[JusticeGB]

Imagine Times Square or Piccadilly Circus without their iconic advertising signs. It would be better to ban the illegal tour guides being followed by 50 or more rude Chinese tourists. 

[dunroaming]

4 hours ago, Metapod said:

Well they got one thing right, there is a hell of a lot less people walking around in the second image.

Took the words out of my mouth.  I would say that after the makeover the picture shown must relate to the rush hour!  People go to Walking Street for the sex and debauchery and cheap booze.  It's famous for it's infamy and the look of it is part of that.  Just spend the money on fixing pavements elsewhere in Pattaya and the rest of Thailand.

[Estrada]

2 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

Why it only showd one side of WS?

Because all the buildings on the seaward side of the street are built illegally on crown property. I first came to Thailand in 1982 and they have been threatening to knock those buildings down sporadically for the last 35 years. It has never happened because politicians own some of the illegal buildings.

[Jip99]

Just now, dunroaming said:

Took the words out of my mouth.  I would say that after the makeover the picture shown must relate to the rush hour!  People go to Walking Street for the sex and debauchery and cheap booze.  It's famous for it's infamy and the look of it is part of that.  Just spend the money on fixing pavements elsewhere in Pattaya and the rest of Thailand.

 

 

Never found cheap booze in Walking Street....

[observer90210]

Yes, yes...of course!!....rebuild the place, cater only the usual international global brands that can afford the unrealistic rents, make the street look like any other street around the world...raise the price for a whisky coke to US$ 15,-- a glass... and then let's get a look at the new picture of deserted Sois!!

[pattayadgw]

All I can say is 'DREAM ON'...... and if it ever did happen to be cleaned up like 'sophon cable' have visualised, yes, it would be full of families and that would be all... all enjoying their swim in the sewer of Pattaya beach... all that money that is presently generated... gone... all gone forever!!

[whitemouse]

Hopefully there will be a Nike shop on that new shining shopping street!! And maybe daytime  outdoor stalls of 180 baht T shirts

[dunroaming]

14 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

 

Never found cheap booze in Walking Street....

I guess it depends on where you usually drink but I take your point.

[Deez]

5 hours ago, ezflip said:

spiting on the road and gawking at everything.

You mean $hitting on the road and spitting at everything..

[wavemanwww]

This quote from the article made me fall over with laughter " It has been transformed into a place of calm and order where families would be at home".  Been there many times to see the nightlife, bars and girls when in the mood. Without that entertainment its the "Walking Dead" Street. Beside that what family takes children to such a place in the first place anyway? Maybe paedophiles would be the only exemption!

[Thaidream]

It will happen and its simply because those in power do not like the type of business Walking Street represents. The conservative government wants to finally change Thailand's image and they are bound and determined to do it.  Business is already down. Raids will continue.  The seaside portion of the street will be torn down and most of the owners on the other side will relocate.

Western tourists are already giving the city a miss and heading for cheaper locations in Cambodia and Vietnam. That is exactly what the powers want. Pattaya's long term plan is gentrification for Chinese and middle class Thais .  More malls; more restaurants; boutique shops etc. 

Some  nightlife will relocate to the Jomtien area and the dark side but the fun will not be there.Just a bunch of people looking at smart phones and pining for the good times of past. What you see happening in Bangkok is  starting to happen to Pattaya.

 

[RichardColeman]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz