Pattaya's long-stalled Waterfront project at the foot of Pratumnak Hill could face demolition or a legally required redesign, depending on a pending decision by the Land Department over its land title documents.

Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said the city is still waiting for the department to rule on the documents, following an earlier opinion by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The outcome will determine the next legal step for the unfinished building in Pattaya.

The development has returned to public attention after the CSI LA page raised the matter online, prompting renewed debate on social media.

Land ruling will decide the next step

Poramet said Pattaya City had submitted the matter to the Land Department for consideration within its authority and is now awaiting the result.

If the department concludes that the land title documents were improperly issued, the city will act under the law by ordering the project owner to demolish the building. Should the owner fail to comply, Pattaya City can begin demolition proceedings itself and seek to recover the costs from the owner.

However, if the documents are found to have been lawfully issued, the owner will have to submit the building plans for review under building-control laws.

That could require alterations to sections which do not meet legal requirements, potentially including reducing the structure's height or changing its design to bring it into compliance.

Poramet said there are therefore two main possible outcomes: demolition or alterations to make the building lawful. He said the city is ready to proceed as soon as the Land Department reaches a conclusion and wants the long-running matter resolved quickly.

Building remains off limits

The mayor also warned that the Waterfront building is incomplete and remains subject to an order prohibiting its use. Vehicles and people should not be allowed inside because this could create a danger, he said.

Pattaya City has already taken legal action over reports that cars and motorcycles had entered the project, to use it as a car park.

On 23 February 2026, a person authorised by Pattaya City filed a complaint at Pattaya City Police Station after information circulated on social media on 22 February that a group of vehicles had parked on the lower area and second floor of the Waterfront building.

The complaint states that the building is covered by Pattaya City's order under the Building Control Act BE 2522, which prohibits use of, or allowing people to use, a building that may be dangerous.

Police at Pattaya City Police Station accepted the complaint for further legal action against the company owning the project and related parties and legal proceedings are ongoing.

Pictures courtesy of Matichon

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31 August 2026

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The Waterfront, the gift that keeps on giving. Surely it just needs demolishing!

21 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

The Waterfront, the gift that keeps on giving. Surely it just needs demolishing!

The previous Major's parting gift !

How many years does it take to check the deed documents?

The problem with corruption is that it creates difficulties that are basically insoluble. Without it mistakes can be corrected before they get out of hand.

The options stated in the story are the same options as years ago.

Been tied up in legal limbo waiting for a more favorable political candidate to be in power.

The reelected Mayor seems like he truly wants to make Pattaya better. Unfortunately he is still restricted by the legal shenanigans that people use to delay the inevitable.

It should be preserved a 'World Heritage Site' for all he world to see.

Maybe a symbol of corruption? A shrine to those that worship money?

They could even double charge foreign visitors.......................

21 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

How many years does it take to check the deed documents?

My wife is trying to get a certificate stating some land she has is hers. So far it's been 10 years. After eight, she went to the office where they unearthed the paperwork and said it would be processed. Two years later, nothing has progressed. She's made visits to the office and the boss is never there, and a couple of weeks ago she had to provide documents again. A friend suspects the land has been sold to a third party by a corrupt official. We'll see. It could be worth 5-10 million, so no small change.

Background - she and her sisters and brother were all given land by their father, who simply claimed the land many decades ago when that's how things were, before it was all regulated.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Pattaya's long-stalled Waterfront project at the foot of Pratumnak Hill could face demolition or a legally required redesign, depending on a pending decision by the Land Department over its land title documents.

As if they need more time to decide what to do with an eyesore

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Waterfront project at the foot of Pratumnak Hill

Stands at 53 stories high (though initially planned and permitted for up to 57 or 50–54 stories.

From the ground level, Pattaya fire department hoses can reach roughly 3 to 4 stories high when operated manually by firefighters, or up to 10 to 15 stories high when paired with the city’s specialized aerial ladder and platform trucks.

So I would expect beyond 15 stories the building will have its own interior fire prevention/fire fighting systems as per the 1979 Thailand Building Control Act. If not it may be unreasonable financially to meet code and building will have to be demolished, at least beyond 15th story.

https://www.thailandlawonline.com/translations/building-control-act-be-2522-1979-english

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

following an earlier opinion by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

What was that opinion? Maybe potential for government insider corruption that could have mislead or aided builder?

I personally like the building and I always have. Pattaya has very little in the way of interesting architecture. That holds true for the Pattaya Beach Road/Marina area--about the only interesting things I can think of, besides Waterfront, are the curved top on Northshore and Centre Point Space. Rather slim pickings.

In my opinion, Waterfront is Pattaya's landmark building, and the most famous at this point, even unfinished. I see Waterfront as an asset for Pattaya and it's perfectly located in relation to the famous Pattaya sign; they compliment each other very nicely. Pattaya Beach needs at least one statement building--more would be better--and, unless something else comes along, Waterfront rules. Really, about everything else is rather ordinary and forgettable.

It perhaps bears remembering that the Eiffel Tower was widely disliked, even despised, by Parisians when it was first built--and many wanted it torn down. While Waterfront is no Eiffel Tower, I think many Pattayans, including myself, will end up missing it if it is torn down. I always look forward to seeing it when I am riding down Beach Road and it first comes into view. I hope the decision will be to bring the building into compliance and then complete the construction.

Off topic post removed @Priorexpat

Bali Hai is basically bankrupt.

How can Bali Hai pay for demolition or how can City Hall get its money back if it does the demolition?

Turn it into an art object; that is the cheapest solution. Only some paint and good LED lighting are needed.

The owners are long gone and went bankrupt so how could they get them to do anything, even pay the bill for demolishing it. I think the city needs to finally tear this old eyesore down and put a trolley up to the top of Rama 5 lookout platform and over to big Buddha Hill. Cut out all of the buses out from trying to park on Pratumnak Hill and they will have plenty of parking down at Bali Hai to drop off their customers. It couldn’t cost that much to put a short trolley up the hill and tourists would probably love to do it. Just a thought.

1 hour ago, Mr Janneman said:

Turn it into an art object; that is the cheapest solution. Only some paint and good LED lighting are needed.

"They'd" have to buy it first before even thinking about doing that.

3 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"They'd" have to buy it first before even thinking about doing that.

They can buy this for a symbolic amount of 1 baht.

Key Timeline Details

• Launch/Proposal: First announced and planned around 2004.

• Construction Started: Actual building work began in 2011.

• Construction Halted: Work was officially ordered to stop on July 16, 2014, due to public outcry over blocked views and safety or design variations.

• Current Status: The 53-story building remains an unfinished and abandoned structure.

...Seems Like 'Someone' ...Has Been 'Holding Out'....(?)

...For A 'Settlement'...To Their 'Liking'... (?)

...Wonder What All Those Years Of Exposure To The Elements Has Done To The Concrete...Etc... By Now... (?)

I think this case will be settled in the next twenty years . . .

5 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

The previous Major's parting gift !

You think? That's not how it works in Pattaya.

1 hour ago, SOTIRIOS said:

...Wonder What All Those Years Of Exposure To The Elements Has Done To The Concrete...Etc... By Now... (?)

Even if they did use the right rebar in the correct configuration (referring to certain recent stories), over a decade of exposure to salt air probably isn't good for it. It was meant to be enclosed. Not exposed to the elements on the bay.

12 hours ago, mfd101 said:

The problem with corruption is that it creates difficulties that are basically insoluble. Without it mistakes can be corrected before they get out of hand.

I had a similar case in Africa once over money owed.

The big boss was sorry but " when you break an egg

you can't put it back again ".