Trump’s Vision for a Government Overhaul with RFK Jr. and Elon Musk Gaining Power

[Greenside]

Doing a quick Google to check out pictures of the Astra Condo (presently subject of another thread) I came across this mind blowing round up of current projects in Chiang Mai. Some are now complete and some are computer renderings but there are many that I've seen advertised in the past couple of months.

Check it out and be afraid. Be very afraid...

[MESmith]

I drove past "The Benefits" condo site a while back. Made me laugh. Where do they get the names. Maybe only Brits understand. Where do I sign on?

For a glimpse of Chiang Mai in the future, look at La Paz

Edited February 13, 2013 by MESmith

[masuk]

I thought it was illegal to advertise properties and not show the actual surroundings.

In these cases, a few hundred kilometres of power and phone cables in front of every building.

[Greenside]

You must be living on another planet, or at least a different country! When did you ever see a housing or condo development rendering in a sales pitch look even remotely realistic as far as the surroundings go? Every one of those 65 talang wah plots in every development is set amidst trees and meadows (and has at least a Merc in the driveway.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

a lot of those projects are already completed or in the case of others like the new malls well under construction.

I shudder to think of the next wave of development after the ones listed.

[Greenside]

More here.

[realthaideal]

The height of civilization - The Mall. Deity: The Baht.

[richard10365]

Awesome! I love all the new things. More more more!

[Loaded]

Some serious money has come to Chiang Mai. I'm pretty sure it won't tolerate the smog from February to May so at least some good may come from it.

[candypants]

Apparently its all the fault of Blether's wildly successful circle of friends

[canuckamuck]

I went back to Chiang Mai last week after moving away about a year ago. Unbelievable amount of construction, and total gridlock inside the superhighway. Not regretting the move to Chiang Rai at all.

[heybruce]

Unique Condo, where high end units, about 65 to 85 square meters, go for 6 million baht on up. For that much money you can buy a nice house and a decent amount of land in most of the first world (yeah I know, not in the high price cities and popular beach front areas, but still in many nice, liveable areas). I don't know who is paying this much for these condos, or what kind of construction standards they are being built to, but for the foreseeable future I'm happy to rent..

[CMNightRider]

Has anyone heard any updates on what is going to happen with the Amari Rincome Hotel on the corner of Huay Kaew and Nimmanhaemin?

[Dante99]

Can't remember 1997? Another property bust on the way, ghost buildings galore in what, another 3 years?

[elektrified]

Unique Condo, where high end units, about 65 to 85 square meters, go for 6 million baht on up. For that much money you can buy a nice house and a decent amount of land in most of the first world (yeah I know, not in the high price cities and popular beach front areas, but still in many nice, liveable areas). I don't know who is paying this much for these condos, or what kind of construction standards they are being built to, but for the foreseeable future I'm happy to rent..

I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to pay 6 million THB on up for a 65-85 square meter box.

[heybruce]

Unique Condo, where high end units, about 65 to 85 square meters, go for 6 million baht on up. For that much money you can buy a nice house and a decent amount of land in most of the first world (yeah I know, not in the high price cities and popular beach front areas, but still in many nice, liveable areas). I don't know who is paying this much for these condos, or what kind of construction standards they are being built to, but for the foreseeable future I'm happy to rent..

I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to pay 6 million THB on up for a 65-85 square meter box.

Hard to believe, but these seem to be in line with the Astra prices, and at least one TV member is concerned they will sell out. I'm beginning to think there's more than one born every minute.

On the bright side, all this overbuilding should keep rental prices down.

[MESmith]

What concerns me is not what's going on inside the ringroads (that's gone, going to be built on), but what's going on in the countryside. Uncontrolled development, no planning strategy. Buy rice field, do what you want with it. Chiang Mai urgently needs some kind of "green belt" policy. In a few years it's all going to be gone. Real shame Hwy 1317 heading east is being widened out towards Mae On, the roadside trees are being felled already. Once that is finished the developers will take over. Actually, they're taking over already. There will be no more attraction to the valley. Then, they'll start building on the hillsides.

[ianf]

I believe that ll this development here has something to do with the Thaksin factor. He, or rather his Government, are repaying loyalty debts to their wealthy cronies in this City and allowing them to build what they want with credit lines that are easy for them to access. Chiang Mai is still Thaksin's power base and I wouldn't be surprised - when circumstances change in this country and Thaksin has seized total power - that Chiang Mai will become the HQ of his empire. The building blocks are being put in place now ....... to the detriment of the city and the lives of the people who live here. They don't give a monkey's hoot about the environment, planning or the local population - they're only interested in their own power and wealth and control.

[jko]

It's basically very simple - you cannot stop the tide coming in, and I'm afraid nothing in the world is going to prevent Chiang Mai becoming more crowded, more polluted, more noisy, less healthy, hopelessly overbuilt, and alas, ending up as a charmless, Lanna-less, traffic-choked and smelly city - probably living predominantly off Chinese tourists spilling over the border in big busloads.

It's called development, progress, aka greed. And it's happening everywhere.

That may scare residents like myself away who came here eons ago seeking peace (green outskirts of Chiang Rai already on my next list, but the same thing will likely happen there in a decade or less) but - that's not really the point.

Fact is, many young people actually ENJOY the emerging horror story that is Chiang Mai, in the same way as they enjoy the tragedy of ruined, exploited Koh Samui - which myself and many other Golden Oldies remember as a pristine paradise, where in the sixties, there were no roads, and no scheduled ferries - you hitched a ride on a fishing boat.

Perhaps in fifty years, today's IPod-equipped backpackers will tell internally-wired globally-connected teenagers how they adventurously 'discovered' the 'real' Chiang Mai, way back then, in 2013.

In short, all is relative, and everything is subject to change. So let's just enjoy what we have today.

For as long as it lasts.

[elektrified]

Good posts from MESmith, ianf and jko. I pretty much agree with everything they said.

A couple of weeks ago I went to one of my g/f's properties in Saraphi to take a look at a problem reported by her mother. I hadn't been to that lot in about 5 years but knew the way - so I thought. On my first attempt I was shocked at the amount of development in the last 5 years. In fact, I could not locate the soi that goes to her lots. Everything was so different, moobaans had been built, roads, huge homes, shops, etc. All the familiar markers were gone. I had to make a 2nd attempt a few days later and find a local at the market to come with me for a few minutes and show me where the soi was. Most of the rice fields were all gone. I think a 10% per annum growth rate needs to be put in place. Growth got out of control in parts of Colorado in the USA and this measure was put in place before all the mountains were leveled!

I definitely think the Thaksin factor has a lot to do with the over-development that is going on, on the way to, and in San Kampaheng.

I first went to Koh Samui and Phuket in 1987 or thereabouts, 20 years after jko went there. Even in 1987 they were both lovely. I visited Phuket last year for 10 days. I could not believe my eyes. All the beautiful nature had been replaced with concrete, steel and glass. The amount of lights on at night when looking up from the beach at Kata was amazing. All the friendly locals have been replaced with seedy hustlers from almost every country in the world. I will never visit Phuket again. I don't want to see Koh Samui. I want to remember the way it was...

Too bad for Chiang Mai. Only 6 years ago it was wonderful. It has grown so much in 6 years I can't even believe it.

[hellodolly]

Well not to throw water on peoples enthusiasm but.

I really think what is going to happen is we are going to have a lot of new buildings. Some will fill up and many will not. Rent prices will be low so that a middle rent figure of say 15,000 baht a month will get you what you pay 20.000 or 25,000 baht for now.

The Condo and shopping Mall will soon outstrip the population here in Chiang Mai. Also remember that a lot of the buyers already live here and they will be leaving empty units when they move.

How many are being snapped up by speculates. Often these people fall behind in the upkeep payments and the buildings no longer maintain the shinny new look.

Just my opinion.

As for Thaksin country having any thing to do with it I doubt it. That is a lot of money to throw around on the hope he will return and become the emperor of the North.

[hellodolly]

I just scanned through them all and there sure is a lot coming on line. I noticed that they were not all Chiang Mai.

Made me want to get one of those girl friends who brings in the big bucks.

[Waffle]

I drove past "The Benefits" condo site a while back. Made me laugh. Where do they get the names. Maybe only Brits understand. Where do I sign on?

For a glimpse of Chiang Mai in the future, look at La Paz

Theres a moo ban not from us, the name... "Richy Rich Land"

nearly fell off my bike the first time I rode past it.

[theblether]

Apparently its all the fault of Blether's wildly successful circle of friends

No.....it's my fault, I'm moving to CM in March and they're getting the place ready for me.

[finy]

Isn't that what happens?

Chiang Mai becomes Bangkok, Chiang Rai becomes the new Chiang Mai, and the little mud hut in the middle of the forest becomes the new Chiang Rai?

I spend a month in Chiang Mai about 8 years ago and I can't tell the difference between then and now tbh.

[haybilly]

Honestly--though, the traffic build up in the last 12 months is horrific--I have seen more actual smashes, rear-end shunts and near-misses, in the last month than I care to think about--even very nearly became one of these statistics but for superior ABS and higher intervention--what has happened to encourage such lunacy?? I dread the morning school ride these days.

[jaideeguy]

Build it and they will come!!

god, I hope not......where will I go??

[just_Elaine]

Yes, I frankly think all this development sucks. It's just too much at once. It is harder to find the charming Chaing Mai that I grew so fond of so many years ago. It's still here, but just harder to find! Ahhh. Progress, I guess.

[worgeordie]

With all the building going on,they will ?, factor in that they will need to increase

the water,and electric supply massively,I am sure Thai forward planning will have

the matter in hand !!

regards Worgeordie

[MESmith]

Build it and they will come!!

god, I hope not......where will I go??

Probably to the Makro that will be built next door to your place