Cleaning up Balboa Avenue & Panama Bay

GlobalGreen · 08-27-2007

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Sea view does not always equal sea view. Stay away from Balboa Avenue because the sea there is black and I wouldn't recommend opening your windows unless you like the smell of raw sewage.

Ever took a romantic walk on Balboa Avenue? not such a great idea. lol

Patricio · 08-27-2007

Well it could change, i heard a brazilian firm was contracted to reform the Boulevard Balbao, i remember seeing on TV a kind of computer simulation of how it would look like.
Remember they are breaking down a lot of old buildings and building a lot of new flats on the avenida especially close to the famous restaurant..
In 5 /10 years it could be kind of Copacabana and that would be nice.........but the smell.....and the beach.....lets hope it works out fine.

expatplayer · 08-28-2007

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Originally Posted by Patricio

Well it could change, i heard a brazilian firm was contracted to reform the Boulevard Balbao, i remember seeing on TV a kind of computer simulation of how it would look like.
Remember they are breaking down a lot of old buildings and building a lot of new flats on the avenida especially close to the famous restaurant..
In 5 /10 years it could be kind of Copacabana and that would be nice.........but the smell.....and the beach.....lets hope it works out fine.

Do you have any more information on that? I think that it would be great if they did reform the Boulevard Balbao.

Patricio · 08-29-2007

I saw it a couple of weeks ago on one of the TV stations , can't remember which one, but it looked impressive also complete revamping of the roads on the boulevard was shown in a computer simulation.

Patricio · 08-29-2007

Ambassade San José - Nieuwsflits nr 14 Panama

this is a quote from that page
"
Waterfront landfill plan advances

A new plan to fill in a fringe along the beach between Casco Viejo and Punta Paitilla appears to have all the approvals from the municipal and national authorities as a solution to the daily traffic jams around Panama City. It would entail a wider Avenida Balboa, new parks along the bay and the relocation of the Hotel Miramar’s Marina. Could mean opportunities for dredging companies. "

panamapal · 08-30-2007

So they are definitely going through with then? Are there any problems this will cause?

PanamaPat · 08-30-2007

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It would entail a wider Avenida Balboa, new parks along the bay and the relocation of the Hotel Miramar’s Marina.

That sure would be nice, but where will all the sewage go? Panama needs to resolve this urgently as I can't see how it could become a world-class destination without a top notch bay.

Lalaguayaba · 08-31-2007

Exactly! There is so much beautiful coast with funky water around P.C., it'd be really nice for the IPAT office to be able to sell truth in advertising by having clean, clear waters around the city.
So with the new refinery plans for the Pacific coast of Chiriqui (nowhere close to P.C.,) it will be interesting to see how they package sunset views of fractional distallation stacks and the oily airborne residue...

Panama dreams of refinery | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Business Columnists: Jim Landers
Panama Refinery Said to Be On Schedule, Despite Lack of Feasibility Study
Panama unveils $40 billion oil refinery plan - Panama Guide

Of course, this may just shunt more tourist dollars to the relatively less developed Bocas del Toro, and the northeast Caribbean coastal homes of the Cuna.

I'd love to see Occidental Petroleum pledge the $$ it will take to clean up the bay to the south of P.C. as part of the refinery building project--a pipe dream, for sure, but a good one!!

Cheers.

coolandhot · 09-02-2007

Are there any activist groups who are trying to get it cleaned up?

Ajay · 10-13-2007

Here's a link to a video on how Balboa Avenue will look in around three years. They are also working on cleaning up the bay.
The New Balboa Avenue, Panama

panamaoffshorelegal · 04-11-2008

Yes, I can't wait for Balboa to be what it could be and will be. Currently you can't even really walk along it. Getting from one side to the other as a pedestrian is hazardous to your health also.

Anyone know if they have plans to add a beach to the city anywhere... maybe not to swim but it would be nice to have a place to sit out in the sun by the water.

Panamax · 07-12-2008

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Originally Posted by Ajay

Here's a link to a video on how Balboa Avenue will look in around three years. They are also working on cleaning up the bay.

Do you (or anyone, for that matter) know how they plan to go about "cleaning-up" the bay, as opposed to just burying it under land fill?

MRWOOHOO · 07-13-2008

I think that burying it and then letting nature eventually take its course is their idea of "clean-up". It is good to see that they are installing the new sewer lines along Balboa so things are not going to keep getting flushed into the ocean. The one place in particular across from The Hard Rock on Balboa is especially foul. I would hate to be one of the guys helping fill Panama Bay.

Panamax · 07-14-2008

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Originally Posted by MRWOOHOO

I think that burying it and then letting nature eventually take its course is their idea of "clean-up". It is good to see that they are installing the new sewer lines along Balboa so things are not going to keep getting flushed into the ocean. The one place in particular across from The Hard Rock on Balboa is especially foul. I would hate to be one of the guys helping fill Panama Bay.

I was hoping they'd do something like that rather than just sweep the dust (so to speak) under the rug...

MRWOOHOO · 07-14-2008

"Sweeping under the rug" is ALLOT cheaper than actually cleaning, unfortunately. At least they are going to stop the process of pumping raw sewage into the ocean. All things considered it is good something is being done. I really cannot imagine living in some expensive condo along the bay and smelling that. I guess you get used to it, kinda like living on a dairy farm. After awhile you rationalize it and say "It's only poop", lol.

MRWOOHOO · 07-14-2008

If you live on the upper floors of the really huge buildings the smell of sewage and diesel is not really that much of a problem.

Panamax · 07-14-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRWOOHOO

"Sweeping under the rug" is ALLOT cheaper than actually cleaning, unfortunately. At least they are going to stop the process of pumping raw sewage into the ocean. All things considered it is good something is being done. I really cannot imagine living in some expensive condo along the bay and smelling that. I guess you get used to it, kinda like living on a dairy farm. After awhile you rationalize it and say "It's only poop", lol.

"Only poop?!" As opposed to what, radioactive fallout?! Seriously though, whatever they do would be a great aesthetic improvement over that current eyesore of a shoreline at low tide.

dsc · 07-14-2008

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Seriously though, whatever they do would be a great aesthetic approvement over that current eyesore of a shoreline at low tide.

Yeah, no foolin'..

I read about this before coming to Panama City, but it was still a surprise seeing it live.

If PC had a great waterfront like the Rambla in Montevideo, Uruguay with nice combed beaches that stretch for kilometers, it would only add to the popularity of the city and help to 'sell' it more.

MRWOOHOO · 07-14-2008

I grew up in a small dairy farm community and after awhile "Poop is Poop", lol

. I do truly hope the fill project takes care of most of the smell because it is powerful if you are walking down Balboa. If the breeze comes from the ocean it smells like sewage. If it comes from inland it smells like exhaust fumes. I am sure property values will go up once this is finished. What has been proposed is really nice looking and can only help. If Panama City actually had usable beaches the real estate would be VERY expensive. Oh well, Rome was not built in a day.

fxtrader · 07-21-2008

I live on Balboa and watch the fill process daily. They're making a lot of progress. Granted they do most of the work when the tide is out (because they have to) but if it continues at it's current rate I'd say in a few months the fill portion would be complete. Now... what else it entails I have no idea. I'm just referring to the initial groundwork.