Abandoned Buildings Dilemma

[fk4515]

ADA accessibility, Asbestos and lead base paint. We legislated the death of these buildings and the small towns they are in.

[AlMayer1100]

In capitalism scarcity is the driving force. Never give anything away for free. If you cant find tenants for a building, leave the building empty. Even though there are people who need a place to stay. Dont let them in. The bakery destroys the bread thats not being sold. Even though there a people starving. Capitalism produces scarcity. No money? Bad luck.

[blissfullB]

Modern code enforcement makes it prohibitive...asbestos abatement, plumbing and electrical upgrade. Beautiful old buildings everywhere standing vacant and rotting.

[eagle45147]

I remember going to the Lyons theater. Now that the new bridge is at 19th Ave. N. I think it is hurting the Lyons business district.

[HistoricDepths]

nice video! thanks for the video! :)

[sennichi98]

Life ebbing out? During the entire video saw one other sign of life - a pickup drove by. That was it! I'd say life is already gone.

[oomoonbeam]

wow that high school,its sad to see it closed u can just imagian all the memories it has for people who use to go there.... My old high school was knocked down it been there for 70 years i felt sad walking round on the reunion day before they knocked it all down,its going to be playing fields now, they have built a new one close by and my daughter will be going but just looks like 80s square blocks no character at all..p.s love your trip down memory lane going to look at some more of ur vids:0)

[telemetry9]

This is happening throughout western society. Very apparent here in the UK. Nobody makes anything in this virtual economy and shareholders dictate policy.

Hence society is declining as economic value is considered the only value. Well; there's much more to being human and existing than that.

Paradigm shift - shock therapy is the only thing that'll change this toxic behaviour now.

[yamahonkawazuki]

i would love to get my hands on a property/properties like youve shown, i dont know whay, i just like the old buildings.

[westend104]

@yamahonkawazuki ME TOO! I'd love to put some tender loving care into restoring some of these cool places. The old post office downtown in this city is abandoned, and it's architecturally significant; would make a great restaurant, book store, bowling alley - maybe a combination of all three! Thanks much for watching.

[yamahonkawazuki]

@westend104 id love to get my hands on that old high school. maybe make a B&B out of it. or something. even if its NOT official, id still rehab it, and live within while working on it lol. those old buildings have some STRONG bones i lived in a 4 square house in west chicago il. built in 1910 talking 2x12" TRUE floor joists.

[DavisCampbell]

sad....

[TheSparrowsRevenge]

that high school is a gorgeous building! it's definitely a shame that it was left to rot. i live in a small town myself and there are beautiful 100 year old pioneer buildings sitting around that no one seems to care about. each year they crumble a little more and it just breaks my heart to see it.

[westend104]

@TheSparrowsRevenge Yes, you're so right; it's a shame and a waste. Thanks so much for watching, and spread the word about coming to the rescue of historic buildings. We need to show them some TLC.

[mvarahadas]

Older communities were designed around a central plaza or courthouse. This made the business district within walking distance for the urban populace. Rural residents could drive a few miles and get what they needed in one location. The Interstate Highways and easy auto financing created a new mobile consumer. Rural property was cheaper and had fewer zoning issues than urban land and the new breed of consumers allowed decentralization to occur.

[westend104]

@mvarahadas Fascinating! Thanks so much for watching, and sharing these observations! In this town's case, there were strict zoning decrees in place for decades, but when they began to relax in the 1980s, sprawl happened and the downtown came upon hard times.

[swampzoid]

in this economy, i'm afraid they may sit for awhile. if and when things start rolling again, maybe those buildings could be readapted for living and retail space. the likeliness that the old school could be a school again is unlikely, though. Lots of old school buildings are now condos. that's a cute square but all the people are at walmart and burger king. but what bothers me the most is that they've demolished nice old churches in your town.

[westend104]

@swampzoid Thanks so much for watching and your insightful comments! Yes, economic problems hit small towns like this very hard. Dwindling populations mean fewer municipal tax dollars and incentives to reuse, recycle, and restore these old buildings. Yes, the churches problem is immense; very historic and beautiful buildings are vacant and/or there's not enough political will to protect and restore them or find a new use.

[22RZE]

I've watched all the open space disappear where I live, and I'm not just talking about a small town. I'm talking about many towns, in several large counties, and I border 4 states where I live, within 15 minutes, to 45 minutes. I'm perched between Philadelphia and Lancaster. It's disgraceful that you drive around, and find block after block of abandoned homes, that the politician's claim are too costly to demo, or rehab. Truth is, the politician's are lining their pockets from new construction.

[RoyElvisBand]

and it just keeps getting worse I mean why don't they just give them away if they are just going to let them rot there needs to be a new abandoned law use them or lose them that is just how I feel this is happening all over america and it is just stupid I would love to save these old buildings I have 30 years in building maintenance its no big deal but if they wait to long it will cost a lot of money

[Annanimiss]

@RoyElvisBand I completely agree! I have wanted a house for so long, but finances and circumstances have held me back. It irritates me to see such waste!

[ArizonaFlame]

You sound a little like John Malkovich.

[westend104]

@ArizonaFlame Thanks (great actor!). I've also been told I sound like Nicholas Cage and Elmo. lol

[dreampoets]

@westend104

i like your voice and i like your sentiments also! too many maanequin americans are on the road trip of so-called success for newer buildings and strip malls and to me that reality is tasteless and annoyingly selfish..all the Wal-Mart supporters and builders should change their thinking and behaviors

[frankenstein04]

@ArizonaFlame i agree

[tstscooters]

and the sex in the toilates

[muta157]

You know it's funny, people live in a small town and want to move to a big town, and I live in a city and would love nothing more then to move to small town like this.

[xanadu247]

They should convert the school into apartments.

[iksproduction]

great video mate! :)

[westend104]

@iksproduction Thanks so much! Cheers, Jay

[Jayfeather971]

@westend104 omg u do sound like nicholas cage

[Jeremysezsmile]

Demolish all the Catholic Churches,,,, They are houses of evil and rob people of their money, freedom of thought and for a great many alter boys, their mental health...

[MuseumOfDreams]

They will not gladly let you in because if you fall through a floor you might sue the city and they will go broke. Signing and insurance waiver doesn't mean anything either sadly. Enrollment goes down in white American and small towns are turning into ghost towns. Most people have to live where the jobs are and they are not in rural areas probably the reason you yourself did not stay in this town!

[westend104]

@MuseumOfDreams Great observations - and some cautionary tales there about injury and insurance liability. My family moved out of this town, I left to go to college, and - yes - I never looked back. It's very common, isn't it? But if I could freeze time and stop "progress," I'd be able to go back and visit a town left in the same condition I left it. Wishful thinking, at best.

[rudolft]

Have you tried to get into that school? I'm sure that if you contact the party that owns it now they would gladly let you in after you tell them that you graduated from high school there.

[westend104]

@rudolft I was in town for only a few days and had to leave without being able to make the right hook up. But hopefully some viewers will be able to get permission and go in and film. I'd love to see what's inside! (Thanks for watching!)

[TheRalphus666]

I called the phone number they want way too much for that property

[radioman66]

Great job narrating, you really expressed your feelings and it holds true. We all know small to medium sized towns like this in our lives. Great job its really interesting how so many of us have heartfelt feelings about preservation of these old buildings and yet we can't do much about it because many of us don't hold the higher cards

[westend104]

@radioman66 Thanks so much for watching and your kind words! Yes, it's a queasy feeling to know that beautiful buildings come and go so quickly and new buildings - while safe and accessible - can be so ugly and built so cheaply. It's a universal problem.

[TheIcantbelievethis]

do worry they will make condo's outta of it soon

[JeepCrazyMe]

The problem is, we're a throw away society, and have that mentality. So build a cheap (quality wise) new school then tear it down in a few years. Now these beautiful old buildings, are expensive to maintain, not to mention, are filled with "lead" paint and Asbestos. It's really sad. Today, nothing has character, heart or soul!

[irock1987]

I attend Ashford University (former Mount St. Claire College) and I was wondering where this building is.

[westend104]

@irock1987 Thanks for watching! These buildings are on Main Street in the Lyons section of Clinton, not far from the bridge. (My mother graduated from Mount St. Claire; great school!).

[MsSammis]

Thank you very much for this video.

[westend104]

@MsSammis And thank you for watching. Much appreciated!

[Lockbar]

The casino will fix everything. (being sarcastic).

[westend104]

@Lockbar Yep, there's nothing like a little gambling money to make all problems go away. But a magic bullet would definitely help!

[grettagrids]

plz watch my vid of "abandoned historic school" a BEAUTIFUL sandstone brick buiding with NO future:(.

[RedDragon7777]

The two people who are DIRECTLY in control of the gas prices are responsible for the economy problems. It's too bad that you didn't go inside of your old HS and give us a tour. My Jr. High has been torn down and that has left a huge hole in me I'm sorry that you have a simmilar loss 8-(

[CrookstonDocumentary]

So excellent in how you make your points. Yes, this, indeed, happening with city councils in smaller communities who want that suburban feel, new and souless. And as they proceed, they abandon the past, radically so. Keep up your great documentaries / commentaries

[westend104]

Many thanks for watching and for your kind comments! All the best, Jay

[aduecey]

Its a very charming old town. Its sad that we don't appreciate these places more.

But these buildings are the sort of things we romaticize about when we think of small towns. We all want a town with history but we for some reason don't support it. We run to the walmarts and turn our backs on main street. It will be interesting to see when the walmarts wind up abbandoned too as internet commerce takes over. Maybe then we will return the our old city centers?

[eddiez152]

Great video memory. I would like ti use this in a tune I am doing about clinton. The name of the tune is "Can't be my Town" and can be found on soundclick.

[hellsmaw84]

if people cant keep paying on the property they have due to this economy, then they are forced to abandon their properties just so they can save a buck. its truely sad to see so much suffering due to the economy.

[deepeeeh]

all this bad stuff started hapenning when Jesus was taken out of the classroom

[MrTabby5000]

Maybe jesus should have learned something about his responsibility about his creation.

[dfarr33]

I attended old Lyons High School for one year before it closed and I finished at the old Central Jr High building (which has been torn down). So sad...

We do have some great memories and recall them on Memories Net.

[eddiez152]

dfarr,

I think I may know you. Lived up on the north end of town.

eddiez

[couerl]

Life after people. That place has about 20 years and it's back to nature. Wonder what the economic foundation of that town was and if it was a union or non union town?

[westend104]

Yes, the site is returning to its natural state. The town was based a lot on immigrants coming in and participating in the big lumber boom of the late 1800s when Clinton, IA was THE lumber capital of the world. Then the logging around there stopped and moved further north. So that was a big blow. Later, union factories like DuPont and Clinton Corn Processing (now ADM) came in and started employing workers. The town has struggled.

[ledled3]

I think the old lyons school is apartments now. Thats just what i heard anyway.

[distancerunner]

Good job

[PhoenixArisen333]

Leave the abandoned buildings alone.... they're great for exploring.

[HattieLovesCattie]

Sadly,many are torn down.On YT,there are pics of a huge ass HS in Denton,TX that was torn down.The city refused to save it.There are also many abandoned mental hosps in the US on YT and so many look like buildings from Europe.Its cheaper to bulldoze them down than remodel them.:(

[PhoenixArisen333]

There's an old abandoned (huge) orphanage in Sherman TX that I have been to see. It was shut down in the 70's, and still standing. Not sure why it hasn't been torn down, but I'm glad. This place is very creepy... to think of what might have gone on there. Google Woodman Circle Orphanage in Sherman Texas.

[13svincent]

lol, my moms lawyer, did own that building u r talking about not sure if he still does or not now that was back in 02, i used to live in sherman texas,and been to the woodmans cirlce, its crazy. i wih someone would put in on utube.

[maicodude69]

education use to mean somthing back then

[eagle45137]

I remember going to movies at the Lyons Theater and there was an ice cream shop nexty door after the movie.

[mensacyclist]

There's nothing sad about abandoned churches.....thats called PROGRESS!

[mariusbleek]

zing!

[LuigiGodzillaGirl]

I too grew up around small town Iowa. I was so sad to see my old middle school be torn down. It was never abandoned; the district built a new building behind it. It's a shame because it was such a beautiful old building.

[angeliowa94]

All of these buildings are not abandoned. The Lyons HS is owned by a couple and they are rehabing a new room each time they finish a room. The gray building is the Mason's and the movie theater is a club now.

[westend104]

Thanks for clarifying. I'm relieved. The old churches in town, however, are quite sad and deserted. Will the couple who own the old HS bldg be using it as a home or converting it to apartments? Are they encountering asbestos and having to abate it? If it's for future apartments, will they install an elevator to comply with new bldg codes?

[JBBoy895]

Great vid.Love the classic old buildings encased in a fall setting! Superb!

[westend104]

Thanks so much for watching and your kind compliments! These old abandoned buildings are amazing. When I was in college, I used to love going into the country and walking through abandoned farmhouses. Some very cool things were often left behind.

[jimkinner]

Too much asbestos, old boilers, and inefficiencies. Once abandoned deterioration really sets in. It would be like you or I getting a 1970's car from the junkyard, and making it into a daily driver. The Catholic Church of America made their own bed.

[coshyno]

dude you shoud go inside

[kosmosleha]

I'll take it :)

[JonnyboyUK2]

Your films would be more interesting if you jazzed them up a bit....like have some zombies walking about, eating people and stuff.

[westend104]

Sorry; zombies are way too expensive to bring along on a vid shoot. Perhaps cats eating tinned tuna next time....

[medic2191]

This is such a shame. We see it a lot in our area too. The old buildings get left behind for some silly steel stucture. The steel structures are so cold looking and offer no unique features they also give no clue to the culture of a community. Such a waste. Newer is not always better.

[westend104]

It's a dilemma for communities! Old buildings are expensive to restore, repair, and bring completely up to code. Many builders strip the architectural details out of buildings and turn historical gems into old wrecks that deserve to be torn down. I have no answers, but I think it takes groups within a community to adopt individual buildings that have been abandoned and help bring them back to life. I agree with you 100% that these buildings reflect our culture and rich history. Fight on!

[eagle45137]

I think it is because they never bother to repair the old buildings but let them go is why so many get torn down. Might be cheaper to keep them in good repair and maybe update heating and cooling but keep the buildings look. This town had U S Grant's Father as the first mayor but they tore down his home. The old HS and gym are just a small marker now.

[westend104]

Thanks for the historic facts! Amazing to know that Grant's father was a Lyons mayor. New building codes are very difficult to keep up with, and recent laws giving disabled folks access to buildings has made it difficult to repair and update older structures which were never built for open access (e.g., ramps, wide door frames, elevators). It's often cheaper to tear down and rebuild, which is quite sad.

[eagle45137]

I grew up in Clinton and left for the USAF in 68. I moved to Ohio as my late wife wanted to settle near her family. I was in Jr. College when the HS burned down and watch a lot of memories lost. My home was on the 1800 block of Roosevelt St. and now the North bridge is half a block from there. I was back in 2003 and it has changed so much.

[westend104]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Lyle! I was in CHS when it burned, and the fellow who did it (and also burned area garages and the Lafayette Hotel downtown) was in my home room! It was a very tense time in Clinton. It HAS changed a lot, and not all for the good, unfortunately. I loved seeing the old fountain in Riverfront Park with all its bright colors, however. And some of the residential neighborhoods still look the same (I grew up on Main Ave near the old drive in).

[BrennaFG]

they sure don't make things like they used to!

[westend104]

Brenna, thanks so much for watching -- and you're right. We're saving a buck and creating hack buildings with no flava.

[MIGHTSPIKE]

I really enjoyed your video. I did the same thing when I went home to visit. You cry for your home town. I cry for my home town, have all my childhood memiories there. You want to fix it. But how? I share your passion about the buildings. Tear down a town fixture to put in a parking lot or casino? What have we done to ourselfs?

[westend104]

You're summarizing it beautifully. The moral of growing up is that small towns are losing out and perhaps in the future we will return to a more small town, rural way of life here in the U.S. and begin to honor the slower and gentler pace of these wonderful towns and small cities.

[hystericalsam]

sorry typo in last comment

[hystericalsam]

it seems a bit like silent hill, just kidding it is a very pretty town my cousins used to live in clinton, its amazing how fast we get grow old

[westend104]

lol You're right about it being a pretty town. It still has great charm, but I wish time would stop and we could get everything restored to the way it used to be! How's that for wishful thinking?!

[AmethystWillow]

It's a shame that these buildings are not being used. I went to Roosevelt School in Clinton. The last time I heard, it was being used as a school district office.

[westend104]

You're right; Roosevelt School is now the administrative office building for the Clinton Public Schools. What a beautiful old building, and I like the way it faces an open land area (although I think it might have turned from a park into some kind of parking lot and apartment complex or home for the aged.... Thanks for watching!

[qernst8]

This is a nice video but kind of depressing. I've been in and around the Clinton area since I was born and it seems like everything in the Lyons District and downtown is getting abandoned for the new business area on the highway. Wal-Mart kind of drove everything out of business in my opinion. I remember going to some of those downtown stores (remember when we had a JC Penny?) when I was a little kid in the '90s but now most of them are gone. :(

[westend104]

Thanks so much for watching and for sharing your Clinton experiences! For years the Downtown Clinton Association had a lock on business within Clinton city limits, but they relaxed zoning to invite franchises and chain stores into the city, and that began the shift over to the Wal-Mart and highway string of businesses. I used to love shopping at Penney, Grants, Kleins, Jupiter, Woolworth's, Allen's Tea Room, Marcussi's, and other downtown mainstays. Thank heavens Rastrelli's is still around!

[DewbieHaut]

It does need TLC, but many small town unfortunately don't get the funds to do rehabs. todays architecture is very different from the 19th and 20th century architecture in a bad way.

[westend104]

Alex, thanks much for watching and commenting on this vid. It's true that small towns are strapped for cash; if populations drop, the tax base just isn't there to support rehabs. I agree with you about the architectural differences between today and yesterday. We often pay less for much less style and function, and I wish it were not the case. Best, Jay

[kilkennycatart]

It's so heartbreaking to see all these beautiful old building abandoned. Once they're gone, they're gone. There's no replacing them with the craftmanship of the day. The normal excuse for the abandonement is, "Oh it'll cost to much to rehabilitate it." Shouldn't have let it go in the first place. Very frustrating.

[westend104]

Ryan, many thanks for watching and commenting. You are spot-on with your comments; it is very frustrating, and many communities haven't spoken out to try to find new uses for old building resources. Your point about craftsmanship is also relevant; with today's cut-corners and inexpensive finishes, we are losing amazing buildings with gorgeous detail work -- and many details get ripped out for architectural salvage, which is tragic. I hope it will all change!

[inkey2]

So I am curious....(1) where do kids in this town go to school now, if that was abandoned? Also (2)is the population decreasing as well?

[westend104]

Thanks for watching, Inkey! Students go to newer schools that were builtin the 1950s and 1960s (pretty much simple, cheap buildings without any character to them). The population is holding steady at about 27,000; it was 31,000 when I went to high school there back in the late 1960s. Greetings to you in the USVI! Best, Jay

[shanban74429]

wow what great memories you must have of this place. great video and commentary....

[kimmarie801]

thanks westend104

[kimmarie801]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful video...

[westend104]

Many thanks for watching and your wonderful comments! I can't wait to watch your video (I just watched your beautiful vid on God's art creations -- lovely roses and that dog is precious!). Best, Jay

[kimmarie801]

It's nice to know that there is somebody in the world who has a heart for old abandoned buildings. I also share the same saddness with you, as I lived in on old abandoned ranch that my g-g-grandfather built back in 1880 and couldn't part from it. Please see my video called " a little gypsy"- read the info.

[reboot9580]

I agree with you on the small town america. I just posted a similar video of the old Rath Administration building in Waterloo. Its such a neat build with great character and out small town government just dont care. Great video..

[westend104]

I watched your video and loved it. It's so important to restore and recycle our old buildings. They served our communities importantly in the past and should be able to serve new purposes in a changing time. Thanks so much for watching and commenting! Best, Jay

[RachelMcLovin1]

i totally agree! this sucks! i love the lyons part of clinton!

[westend104]

Absolutely. It's such a beautiful historic part of town, and important since this used to be the lumbering capital of the world and perhaps the most "civilized" town for many years west of the Mississippi River. Thanks for watching! Best, Jay

[voodoowitch8]

wow,talk about going back in time. got to see the old PARKSIDE DISCO, loved that place so many fun times and a few heartaches. just got to go back to 1983 again. thanks !!! i enjoyed it!!!

[westend104]

Thanks so much for watching, fellow Clintonian!!!! Go River Kings (Oskiwowwow!) Best, Jay

[demonhunterrocks2008]

i live right near that building

[westend104]

Wow; small world, eh? I used to spend a lot of time in Lyons and my sister went to the old Lyons Junior High, which is where the new apartments are. I miss Clinton a lot! Best, Jay

[norcom455]

I hope those buildings do not get knocked down I hate when that happends

[westend104]

Thanks for watching, and I agree completely with you. It's a big waste. Unfortunately many old buildings are in such bad repair, they literally tear themselves down....

[samasher]

That is so sad!! The area is so beautiful!! It looks like a film set!!

I think the school would make great appartments!! I'd love to live there!!

[westend104]

Everywhere you go in the States, this is much the same story. Usually emigrants came into a town and built beautiful churches that eventually lost their local population base, schools become too old and lack handicap accessibility and need to be expensively remodeled, etc. Oftentimes it's cheaper to build a new building and abandon the old one, but I'd love to live in them, too! xxooJay

[forever57]

It's so sad to know that, buildings so beautiful are abandoned.

Unfortunately it happens in Italy,too.

Sometimes it depends because of lack of money,but often because of neglet.

People,don't care much about the buildings "health"

[westend104]

I think we can imagine many buildings in every country needing money, love, and attention. Imagine all the school children and teachers who filled this old school with life. Now empty of life and purpose. We need more purpose for buildings and to somehow rethink what small towns should do with their architectural heritage.

[westend104]

That is so true, Giovanna. The health and wellbeing of buildings is important to a few, and I love the historic buildings preservation efforts going on around the world, trying to save the heritage of communities. These buildings served people well for decades; we need to be more creative about how we find NEW purposes for old buildings -- community and arts centers, new-concept restaurants, museums and art galleries, etc. xxooJay