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We're catching a little gossip from the community about , that place you sort of remember exists on the South Bund. Evidently, the construction work that's been dogging the area for ages is winding down. We took our first trip to Waima Lu in like a year to see what's up.

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Cool Docks was supposed to be the new "it" place to go back when it opened during Shanghai Expo days. It never really took off. Bad location (unless you commute exclusively by ferry), and the environs are barren. Not even a government-sponsored could save it. It's been dying a piecemeal death for years, just like the rest of us. But rejoice! The jackhammers are slowly falling silent down at the Cool Docks development redevelopment.

Remember that dank concrete not-even-a-parking-lot where they used to house the International Beer Festival? Check out this sick new promenade they put in its place!

Way nicer.

What about those buildings that were facing onto it?

They're all gone, and have been for a while, except Casa and CKClub, which have somehow clung on through months and months and months of construction right outside their doors. , which used to house dance parties, still has a few restaurants and spaces in it, but the majority of the store-fronts look like they're waiting for something.

How about that block of restaurants surrounding a pool?

Still there (mostly) don't worry! deserves a medal for sticking it out this long.

The Future of Cool Docks

Basically, these things. A lot of the thundering construction racket has been caused by these office blocks they're building across the street from Wharf 1846. They look like they're maybe a couple of months from completion now, with one of the buildings rumored to house something Jack Ma-related. That means that there're going to be a lot of office workers flooding the area soon.

That might explain why places like Wharf 1846 across the street are still mostly empty. Might be seeing a second go at the whole "Cool Docks" idea, but for real this time. Not sure what they're going to do about the lack of a convenient metro stop, though.