I found this beauty, a must view.

[dumpster56]

GrowingChicago Pictures, Downtown Gary Indiana, Complete Abandonment

What is happening to our america?

[greg]

So this is what happens when a steel plant closes? Or is more going on?

[ERD50]

Quote:

What is happening to our america?

One could obviously show many more cities that are growing and thriving, so why does Gary act as a proxy for 'america' in your mind?

No big mystery here, the steel mills moved out because they were not competitive with the rest of the world:

Gary, Indiana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

Gary's fortunes have risen and fallen with those of the steel industry. In the 1960s, like many other American urban centers, Gary entered a downward spiral of decline. Gary's decline was brought on by the growing competitiveness in the steel industry, thus US Steel had to have layoffs. This had the effect of increasing crime and dependence on drugs. US Steel continues to be a major steel producer, but with only a fraction of its former level of employment. While Gary has failed to re-establish its manufacturing base since its population peak, two casinos opened along the Gary lakeshore in the 1990s. Today, Gary faces numerous difficulties, including unemployment, major economic problems, and a high rate of crime, though the city has made some progress in addressing these issues since the 1990s.

-ERD50

[cantlogin]

When I look at some of those buildings all I can think of is the potential bargains and what it would be like to live in an old train station.

[dex]

Thanks for the pictures. It is interesting. A couple of thoughts.
1. Mail is still being delivered - must be junk mail
2. Would be a great place to film a zombie movie.
3. I didn't see graffiti.

So what should we do with that city?
Surround it with fences and guard towers and then take all the prisoners we have in jails that have potential to become good citizens and house them in the city. Teach them the construction skills needed to fix up the city and have them do it. Turn it into a showplace for low poluting, high tech living block by block. Also, teach business so that the ex criminals could open small business as they get released.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex Also, teach business so that the ex criminals could open small business as they get released.

Many of them are already pretty good at small business. It's what got them into jail in the first place.

Ha

[SamHouston]

Thanks for all those pictures. Wow...an American ghost town that's not out West. I hadn't realized that things were quite that bleak there. Those pictures are actually pretty spooky.

[Goonie]

Our local area, though much smaller than Gary, has had many of the same problems. Our area has always been manufacturing and agriculture. When a factory shuts down, the local economy suffers, and other businesses go under as well.

Within a 20 mile radius we've had several manufacturers close up:

Nabisco - Closed - 100% of workers out of a job
Westclox - Closed - 100% of workers out of a job
Union Carbide/American Hoechst - Closed - 100% of workers out of a job
Borg-Warner - Closed - 100% of workers out of a job
Snap-On Tools - Closed - 100% of workers out of a job
Sundstrand - Closed - 100% of workers out of a job
Material Services - Closed - 100% of workers out of a job
Thatcher Glass - Closed - 100% of workers out of a job
L.O.F. Glass/Pilkington - Closed 1 of 2 plants - 60-70% of workers out of a job

There have been several factories and manufacturers that have either shut-down or drastically downsized, also.

The point is that if folks aren't working and earning a living, they also aren't spending money at the local businesses, which causes those businesses to go under, too. Most of the local 'downtown' areas around here look just like the pix of Gary. All kinds of halfway decent buildings are sitting empty. Although the 'thrift' stores are doing pretty good!!! Many of the communities are even 'landscaping' there downtowns.....trees, shrubs, flowers, and that sort of thing.....but there still aren't any businesses!

Our downtown isn't quite a bleak as some of the others. Most of our buildings have tenants. There are alot of 'mom & pop' businesses, and a sh*t load of antique and nicknack shops, and of course office space.

It looks like for our area, things are on the 'up-swing' again, as there are several manufacturers and mega-warehouses starting to come in. Being in the I-80/I-39 corridor, outside of the congestion of Chicago and the 'burbs, and having access to not only those Interstates, but also to railroads and river transportation, MAYBE this area will pull out of it's economic nose-dive before it ends up completely like Gary!

One of the up-sides to a nearly deserted downtown, is that you can find a parking spot directly in front of just about any business that is still open!

[ERD50]

Let's see - Steel plant closes due to lack of competitiveness. The town of Gary is hurt by this. What/who was responsible for that?

Maybe that tells us what is 'happening to our america'?


-ERD50

[bssc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 Let's see - Steel plant closes due to lack of competitiveness. The town of Gary is hurt by this. What/who was responsible for that? Maybe that tells us what is 'happening to our america'? -ERD50

I would argue for natural economic evolution. It isn't pleasant if you are on the receiving end but for one reason or the other, the employment rate remains relatively low.

[Trek]

Is it just me, but OP linky no worky.

[calmloki]

ditto

[samclem]

Schumpeter explained it best with his term "creative destruction." Sometimes it ain't pretty, but it makes progress possible.

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_destruction

[Alex]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex So what should we do with that city? Surround it with fences and guard towers and then take all the prisoners we have in jails that have potential to become good citizens and house them in the city. Teach them the construction skills needed to fix up the city and have them do it. Turn it into a showplace for low poluting, high tech living block by block. Also, teach business so that the ex criminals could open small business as they get released.

Great idea DEX!