Economic Collapse! - Southern Brevard Beaches, FL

[Clemburke1111]

I grew up in Satellite Beach in the 60s and 70s .Pop retired from NASA yrs ago.

[twpboy72]

Brevard county is a dump. Rednecks and white trash.

[TheChuck624]

I just got back from the Jensen Beach, Hutchinson Island area. Things did not appear to be as bad as the last 3 years I have visted the area, but I still noticed a lot of empty commerical buildings vacant. There was also a staggering number of foreclosures listed in the classified section of the paper on Friday morning however.

[549silver]

Love the vids keep them coming. Lets see how the malls are doing!

[chbs4122]

just googled it. motel was damaged by hurricane in "05" and gas station was damaged by hurricanes and has old tanks in the ground that are a hazzard. that is why these are vacant...not the collapse

[dragasoni]

@chbs4122 If the economy was better, don't you think somebody would have taken over these properties? I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you.

[chbs4122]

I agree with you on there are many vacant commercial units, but no more than I have seen in other parts of the country. That not the point. It is a misrepresentation on why these picticular ones are vacant

[brettfoshager]

My sister Ann just went to Florida last week, are things looking good in Florida now?

[dragasoni]

@brettfoshager It seems to get worse each day.

[stormbytes]

I'm planning on visiting FL in the spring. I'm grateful for your little tours! Very informative for someone such as myself who is planning on roughing it, camper style.

[dragasoni]

@stormbytes Thanks a lot. If you're into beaches, check out Siesta Key Beach. It's the best beach in Florida, hands down. Let me know if you need directions.

[clarkewi]

Florida has always had booms and busts. Good time to buy cheap. Xlnt beach property.

[chaineychainaman]

I'm from up north and haven't been to Fl for awhile. When I was growing up, dad always took us to Fl for trips. I have wonderful memories of just riding down A1A and looking at the shops, motels, and other scenery. Dad passed away a few yrs ago right before the economic collapse. He loved Fl and would have been very sad to see what is happening. The media doesn't show us all of the devastation that has happened all across our country. Thank you for taking the time to film this & posting.

[dragasoni]

@chaineychainaman I know what you mean. I used to come to Florida on vacation when I was a kid in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. I liked it here so much that I moved here 10 years ago. I can tell you that this all happened in the last 2 years, and it happened quick.

It's sad to so much despair. If you drive though at the speed limit, you might not notice a lot of it. But when you slow down and keep your eyes open, it's impossible not to notice.

[chaineychainaman]

@dragasoni Thanks for your reply. I have wanted to move to Fl for yrs. but haven't be able to due to a chronic health problem that makes it hard to find work that I an able to do. If I had the chance to move I would never again return up north. It is a beautiful state and it is a shame to see what has happened. All across our country so much has been lost. When you see all those empty business just think how many employees were working at one time &now you wonder how they are getting by.

[dragasoni]

@chaineychainaman I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm glad that you're working and making due where you are. This is a great state, and it's a shame to see it in this condition.

I barely get by each month, we just make it with less than $20 a month wiggle room.

[chaineychainaman]

@dragasoni Thanks for your reply. What worries me (my budget is about like your $20 wiggle room) is if the smallest problem comes up there goes the budget. In my territory the winter is the hardest to get through. We can easily have $450 a month for heating a home. And, our elec. co. is raising the fees that they apply on the bill. Yeah, that is how they get around saying they didn't raise the rates. The just tack on nonsense fees and raise them when they want to.

[dragasoni]

@chaineychainaman I know what you mean, my parents pay nearly $500 a month for heat as well. The heat in my house is electric, but I rarely use it. I have no oil bill, and no gas bill; everything runs off the electric. My bill is nearly $200 a month in the summer, and about $90 during the winter. Our electric rates are just under 9 cents per KM/h.

[gradiu3rox]

That's crazy, they don't pour a foundation first? Is that how they do things in the sand? Is that how they make big buildings?

[dragasoni]

@gradiu3rox I'm clueless about construction but I was thinking about that too. I guess they pour the foundation around the sides to support the walls initially?

[gradiu3rox]

@dragasoni I googled it but it looks complicated. I have a friend I can ask next time I see him (what i mean by that is play on xbox live with him), and I'll ask him. I'll let you know if I figure it out.

[stormbytes]

@gradiu3rox what you're looking at is beneath the subflooring. It's not structural (foundation). The concrete foundation was poured before they set any part of the building.

[gradiu3rox]

@stormbytes ty! I did construction work for a while but I never saw any of the buildings at this early stage. So is that sand there as a spacer?

[stormbytes]

@gradiu3rox I doubt it's a spacer. I'm no expert on tropical climate construction but my guess would be that its got something to do with moisture absorption. Kinda like the FL version of a french drain perhaps? Maybe someone more knowledgable might chime in.. Its definitely not structural though.

[gradiu3rox]

@stormbytes Oh. You said it's not structural last time, but I think I understand now. It could have just blown in! Sand gets into everything in Florida. But that's probably not it.

[stormbytes]

@gradiu3rox Nah.. unlikely. There's too much, too evenly laid out. Looks to be intentional. But then again, go figure!? I don't really know Florida.. But I look forward to getting to know her more in Spring once I get my teardrop built ! :)

[gradiu3rox]

@stormbytes Is teardrop a type of camper trailer? Sorry for all the questions.

[stormbytes]

@gradiu3rox Yep. A teardrop trailer is basically a mini camper that you can tow with pretty much anything. It's light, minimalistic and super comfy! It's got a full open-hood kitchenette and all the conforms of a bedroom inside, without the pricetag of a commercially produced unit

[gradiu3rox]

@stormbytes Cool! That will be useful when things go all Mad Max over there. lol. jk, I hope.

[stormbytes]

@gradiu3rox Hah! Well you know.. watching this video I'd say real estate in FL is probably cheap enough to rent a hotel room! :P

[dweber66]

it's like that documentary "Life after People."

[commando602]

Hey man, Thanks for doing the beach side... I lived right behind that gas station that was closed down by Patrick AFB.... Thanks again for showing me my old neighborhood!...

Your a good man!

[dragasoni]

@commando602 No problem buddy, but I couldn't find the plaza you were talking about on that corner. It wasn't there anymore I guess.

Also, what was the name of the GM dealer were you asking me about?

[crushingright]

trouble with florida its an aging population. Or ancient population that is.

Publix does well cause the geezer's still gotta eat.