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Published on July 20, 2007

S Condo, which is located 800 metres down Sukhumvit Soi 50 from the Tesco Lotus mall, caters to a younger crowd who probably do much of their commuting on the BTS Skytrain.

For them to reach Onnuj station from S Condo, they are expected to be physically sturdy enough to undergo journeys to and fro. Couch potatoes may find the routine gruelling.

The good news about going on foot here is that the soi has relatively good, wide pavements.

Hopefully city authorities would not be so foolish as to tear them down to expand the road, as it would totally ruin the soi's only claim as a decent residential zone.

Despite a wide entrance, Soi 50 quickly narrows down to two traffic lanes, which explains the daily congestion here.

A show unit is available on the second floor of Fairview Tower condominium, 100 metres from the BTS station. But buyers need to make the trip 700 metres further down the soi to see the actual site and obtain a clearer picture of this 1.5-rai estate.

The drawing on the brochure forgets to show the proximity to an overhead expressway, which would give some residents a stunningly good view of motorcades streaming down the highway day and night. The rooftop swimming pool will probably have such vistas also.

The mock-up unit shows that developer KSTR has made much effort to provide what it considers a well-built apartment. It has provided some built-in furniture and even generously throws in air-conditioners.

Its approach in offering just two-bedroom units from 60 to 77 square metres is sound, as the 30-square-metre types are really too small.

But it is the design that undermines its strengths. A more seasoned player would probably offer a smarter floor plan. For instance the 60-square-metre unit has a second bedroom that is devoid of windows, and would probably make a better storage room.

On the positive side, guests to the apartment may use the toilet by the hallway and not the one inside the master bedroom, which is the case in many new projects.

Due for completion this December, S Condo will be one of the newer condo towers to rise along this densely populated area, filled with low-cost apartments and slums that cater to port workers at Klong Toei and other migrant workers.

The soi is always full of container trucks and overloaded lorries that tear into road surfaces, leaving holes and cracks which serve as an endless source of headaches for the public works department.

If authorities can evict container yards and port activity out of this Klong Toei-Bang Chak area, life here will improve tremendously.

Still, for all its flaws, Soi 50 is less dangerous than Thonglor or Sukhumvit 55.

The recent tragedy of people being run down by an influential motorist was foreseen by this writer many years ago. The influx of migrant workers  and tardy entertainment outlets have taken its toll on this once pristine neighbourhood.

City authorities share much of the blame for opening up Thonglor to New Phetchaburi Road, inciting a shocking transformation of the area into a gaudy playground for the rich.

The degradation was bound to have a disastrous effect.

Authorities should learn from this mistake and protect Soi 50 from suffering a similar fate.

Itthi C Tan

The Nation