PATTAYA, Thailand – The long-running controversy surrounding the abandoned Waterfront project at the foot of Pratumnak Hill near Bali Hai Pier has returned to public attention, with Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet saying the project now faces two possible outcomes — demolition or modification to comply with the law.
The issue resurfaced after the CSI LA Facebook page highlighted the Waterfront project, prompting renewed discussion online over the unfinished structure and its long-running legal problems.
Poramet said Pattaya City is waiting for the Department of Lands to reach a final determination concerning the project’s land title documents. The decision will be critical in determining what happens to the building.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) had previously issued an opinion concerning the issuance of land documents for the project. Pattaya City subsequently forwarded the matter to the Department of Lands for consideration under its authority. If the Department of Lands determines that the land documents were issued unlawfully, Pattaya City will proceed according to the law and instruct the project owner to demolish the building. If the owner fails to comply, the city can enter the legal process to carry out the demolition and recover the costs from the owner.
However, if the Department of Lands determines that the land documents were lawfully issued, the project owner would have to submit the building plans to Pattaya City for consideration under building-control regulations. That could require substantial modifications to bring the structure into compliance, potentially including reducing its height or altering parts of the building that do not meet legal requirements.
Poramet said these are currently the two main paths available to the city and that Pattaya is ready to act once the Department of Lands reaches its conclusion. He stressed that the issue has dragged on for years and remains a matter of significant public interest, making a clear decision increasingly important. The mayor also addressed reports that vehicles have recently been entering and parking inside the Waterfront structure.
He said the building remains unfinished and is subject to an order prohibiting its use. Allowing vehicles or people to enter the structure could pose a safety risk, meaning the building cannot legally be used. Pattaya City has already taken legal action over the matter.
According to a complaint filed with Pattaya City Police Station on February 23, 2026, a city representative reported that motorcycles, including large motorcycles, had reportedly entered and parked on the lower level and second floor of the Waterfront building the previous day.
The complaint stated that the building remains subject to orders issued by Pattaya City under the Building Control Act B.E. 2522, including provisions prohibiting the use of a building deemed potentially dangerous.
The city therefore authorized its representative to file a complaint against the project-owning company and relevant parties, asking police to investigate and proceed under the law. The Waterfront project has remained an unfinished landmark overlooking Pattaya Bay for years, becoming a highly visible symbol of the unresolved dispute surrounding the development.
For now, however, the future of the controversial structure remains tied to the Department of Lands’ ruling — whether it ultimately faces the demolition process or gets another chance to be modified and brought into legal compliance.
