forums
new posts
donate
UER Store
events
location db
db map
search
members
faq
terms of service
privacy policy
register
login




 1 2 3  
UER Forum > Archived US: Great Lakes > Anyone Active in Iowa? (Viewed 5191 times)
Lord Yuric 


Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 20 on 6/1/2012 7:41 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've actually found a good amount of abandonments throughout Iowa. Tiny farm towns never have the money, or the need to demolish anything. The location database has a good amount for Iowa.
Just drive around checking small towns or talking to locals. Bigger cities aren't as great as they tend to demolish buildings so they can rebuild.

HKfan 


Location: Dubuque, IA
Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 21 on 8/21/2012 6:36 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Radio2600


There's one that's a fairly easy and big abandonment close to downtown, but it's guarded 24-7. The guard rarely leaves his shack though.




I think Lord Yuric and I explored this location on 8/19/12. It's a large factory at 300 Sw 16th in Des Moines. It was very empty. One of the least interesting abandonments I've been in. And to top it off, an angry security guard yelled at us to leave on our way out.

Clockwork 


Location: Minneapolis, MN
Gender: Male


I WILL KILL THIS MONKEY! I'M CRAZY!

Send Private Message | Send Email | AIM Message
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 22 on 8/23/2012 6:41 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Have you guys been exploring more stuff lately? Have you done any of the caves and/or drains in Dubuque?

Radio2600 


Location: On the Road to Wellville


HY KAK TO TAK

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 23 on 8/25/2012 2:52 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by HKfan


I think Lord Yuric and I explored this location on 8/19/12. It's a large factory at 300 Sw 16th in Des Moines. It was very empty. One of the least interesting abandonments I've been in. And to top it off, an angry security guard yelled at us to leave on our way out.


Yep, that's the one.

In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind.
Lord Yuric 


Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 24 on 9/10/2012 3:48 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
That location was seriously the least interesting actual abandonment I've explored. Why there is a security guard is beyond me. And you can't use copper thieves as an answer, because the copper's already gone.

geneboy 


Location: boulder, co
Gender: Male


It's all about the adventure

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 25 on 9/10/2012 4:10 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Lord Yuric
That location was seriously the least interesting actual abandonment I've explored. Why there is a security guard is beyond me. And you can't use copper thieves as an answer, because the copper's already gone.


Meh, for Iowa, it was sort of interesting. It's at least large and decent for photos. I suppose it also helps that it was conveniently located near where I lived. The guard is almost a non issue. He watches movies in his shack the whole time and if he catches you, just leave, he's not the police, just hope to police response time is enough time for you to disappear.

Tenebrae 


Location: The Wild West


Life's short; eat dessert first.

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 26 on 9/10/2012 2:12 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by compyello
my brother lives in Ames I don't know if there is anything in Ames.


The U. has some interesting old basements (but it's been a long time since I was there).

Radio2600 


Location: On the Road to Wellville


HY KAK TO TAK

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 27 on 9/15/2012 2:52 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by geneboy


Meh, for Iowa, it was sort of interesting. It's at least large and decent for photos. I suppose it also helps that it was conveniently located near where I lived. The guard is almost a non issue. He watches movies in his shack the whole time and if he catches you, just leave, he's not the police, just hope to police response time is enough time for you to disappear.


The guard is in there to keep squatters from moving in.

The woods between that place and the river are loaded with hooches.

In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind.
crows 


Location: Eastern Iowa


Il est interdit de faire smashy smash

Send Private Message | Send Email | AIM Message
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 28 on 12/9/2012 4:55 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Maybe late to this party, and new to the forum, but I'm in Iowa City and have found quite a few abandoned sites all over everything. Driving the back country with no particular destination in mind has given us a dozen or so farm houses, and areas that if we were a little more intrepid we would have been able to get into and run around in in the towns.

There are districts of CR that have flood-condemned houses on them like fleas, but they're being bulldozed one by one so if you want them go sooner than later. We're going up to another block close to downtown that we haven't been to and looked like there were a lot of boarded up houses in (when we drove through it the other night) tomorrow. There are also a half dozen towns that I've been through in the last few months alone that are rotting from the center out. Though we haven't tried to get into any of the walled up businesses ourselves, these places are pretty sleepy and I think someone with a little more stealth and savvy than me wouldn't have a lot of trouble.

I think I might have seen that place in Des Moines last week when I picked up my girlfriend from the airport and we killed time driving around town looking for jank. Looked like some kind of manufacturing plant right next to a grand old substation? Lots of fence and barbed wire, but I didn't see a guard house anywhere. It did look very empty from the windows I was able to peer into, but there was a tremendous amount of graffiti.

input: bacon | output: fiction
Radio2600 


Location: On the Road to Wellville


HY KAK TO TAK

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 29 on 12/11/2012 2:56 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The guard is in a metal shack on the West edge of the property. If there's no car parked next to said shack, then there's no guard.

There are days (few and far between) where there is no guard.

CR - there's not as much in CR now as there was 4 years ago, following the flood. Drive East out of downtown, along the river.

Iowa City: there is a mostly boring abandoned sanitarium West of town. I forget where it actually is though.

Go up to US 20 and there's some interesting stuff around Waterloo and something "special" in Independence, although it's not really abandoned.

In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind.
mjydrafter 


Location: des moines
Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 30 on 1/14/2013 9:18 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Howdy UEer's. My first post here. I have a bit of info on the building here in Des Moines, that you guys have discussed in this thread.

Locals will know this as the river oxbow area where the levy breached back in 1993, which flooded a good portion of downtown. The company I work for was very close to this area and was flooded badly as well. We came pretty close to flooding back in 2008, so out came all the info on the flood of '93. The only way in was by boat for a while. Some really cool videos were taken as my co-workers came in to survey the damages.

The building is owned by Dico/Titan Tire (Titan has a local plant here). I don't know much about the site prior to it being found to be contaminated. It was found to be contaminated back in the early '80s.

The site and buildings are a NPL Superfund site... It has been abandoned since 1983 (which makes it interesting). The site was found to be contaminated with TCE, DDT, and some other nasty sounding stuff. It was a big deal because of it's close proximity to the Des Moines Water Works plant, which is right across the river to the west. In fact one of the intakes for the WWP was closed off because of the contamination "plume" in the sites ground water.

The reason it is still there and guarded is that the clean up is ongoing. If you know the site you will know that there are some weird "smoke stacks" out in the south lot areas. These are used to process the ground water, to below drinking water levels, and then pump it into the river. In fact you can see the smoke/steam from these on cold days. That is also why it is guarded like it is.

I have explored this area pretty heavily, since I know my way around it pretty well. Back during the almost flood of '08, i even had people "report" problems to me as I was exploring. I have also used bicycles and motorcycles. I used to ride my motorcycle on the levy from the site we are talking about all the way back up the river to the stadium.

One other thing that I will caution you on about this site, besides the caution about the contamination, is the area is really popular with local law enforcement. They can often be seen sitting on the east side of the building (16th st) doing paperwork, or whatever. Often there will be 2 of them. If they aren't there they will be a block to the east and can see over to the site pretty well. Like was offered above the area is pretty heavily populated with transients and scofflaws as well.

One of the places you guys would have loved was just east of there, the old PDM plant. It was a huge cluster of buildings that had plenty to offer any one wanting to do some exploration. I went in once before they were all demolished, but didn't have a digital camera at the time. They were cool, since a lot of the big cranes and huge equipment was still there. They were heavily inhabited by transients and troublemakers.

Another site that some of the DSM old-timers will remember was the old Holiday Inn by Gray's Lake that was abandoned after the flood of '93. It was an awesome place to explore, but I was younger back then and it was demolished shortly after I moved to town. And sadly it was before the digital age really took off.

There are some other cool areas here in the city as well, but I will save them for another time. However...

Just to add a nugget of mystery to this thread. I know of a site that will probably be abandoned very shortly. As they will be moving. I assume that the site will be demolished shortly thereafter, but should offer something before it succumbs to the wreckers. If so, I will have my camera this time.

mjydrafter 


Location: des moines
Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 31 on 1/18/2013 12:37 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
There is a thread in the archive with some interior shots here:

http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=91862



iliamo1986 


Location: Central Iowa
Gender: Female




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 32 on 10/2/2013 4:11 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Maybe I can revive this thread... Southeast Iowa here.

"The destruction of the past is perhaps the greatest of all crimes." -Simone Weil
Therrin 

This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.


Location: North of Chicago, IL
Gender: Male


*Therrin puts on the penguin-suit

Send Private Message | Send Email | AIM Message
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 33 on 10/2/2013 6:19 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 

I guess I lived in what would be considered Northeastern IA last year?

I messaged almost every person listed in IA on the forum at the time, and all I got was some pretentious bitch pm'ing me back telling me she was a PHOTOGRAPHER, and all this other crap, and about how she was getting MARRIED and didn't get on UER anymore.

I suppose I saw a couple places that looked worthwhile. Mostly corn though.

Give a person a match and they'll be warm for a minute, but light them on fire and they'll be warm for the rest of their life. =)
iliamo1986 


Location: Central Iowa
Gender: Female




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 34 on 10/2/2013 9:58 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Therrin

I guess I lived in what would be considered Northeastern IA last year?

I messaged almost every person listed in IA on the forum at the time, and all I got was some pretentious bitch pm'ing me back telling me she was a PHOTOGRAPHER, and all this other crap, and about how she was getting MARRIED and didn't get on UER anymore.

I suppose I saw a couple places that looked worthwhile. Mostly corn though.


Yeah, Iowa's presence on UER is pretty underwhelming, which is sad. There really are a lot of great little gems in this state, many of which I have yet to see in person because I don't get outside Southeast Iowa much. One of my favorite places is across the Mississippi River in Warsaw, IL. Great old battery factory.

Only place I've explored in NE Missouri (an area that's much more desolate than SE Iowa) is my great-grandparents' old homestead. But NE Missouri is a gold mine of abandonment...I just need a weekend to wander wherever I want. (Hard to come by nowadays.)

One of these days, when I get back on my own computer and have time, I will try to post a few shots of the places I've mentioned.

"The destruction of the past is perhaps the greatest of all crimes." -Simone Weil
Radio2600 


Location: On the Road to Wellville


HY KAK TO TAK

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 35 on 10/3/2013 5:07 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I heard that there is a quirk in the Iowa property tax law regarding commercial real estate that encourages owners to demolish buildings to rebuild at a later date, rather than let a building sit vacant.

Also, buildings that were not on the tax rolls prior to going into private ownership don't fall into this.

This would explain the lack of abandoned commercial buildings, but an abundance of abandoned schools.



In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind.
Therrin 

This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.


Location: North of Chicago, IL
Gender: Male


*Therrin puts on the penguin-suit

Send Private Message | Send Email | AIM Message
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 36 on 10/3/2013 9:28 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Radio2600
I heard that there is a quirk in the Iowa property tax law regarding commercial real estate that encourages owners to demolish buildings to rebuild at a later date, rather than let a building sit vacant.

Also, buildings that were not on the tax rolls prior to going into private ownership don't fall into this.

This would explain the lack of abandoned commercial buildings, but an abundance of abandoned schools.




There are a LOT of quirks in their tax laws.


In Iowa, every basement is usually missing one brick somewhere. (I heard)

Apparently as long as a brick is missing, it's "unfinished" and not taxed? Something like that. I had a friend with the FDA who worked in Des Moines back in the 60's. He had quite a few stories about their dumbass jacked up laws in Iowa.

Give a person a match and they'll be warm for a minute, but light them on fire and they'll be warm for the rest of their life. =)
Radio2600 


Location: On the Road to Wellville


HY KAK TO TAK

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 37 on 10/5/2013 4:35 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Therrin
Apparently as long as a brick is missing, it's "unfinished" and not taxed?


The "one brick" loophole is still on the books, but the county assessors can declare a building finished if the exterior is completed. So to take advantage of it now, you have to leave the siding off on one side.

Some cities addressed the "one brick" loophole by putting a one year expiry date on building permits. Once a permit expires, you can extend it for six months. The cost of extending the permit for 6 months is equal to 1 year in property tax.

It's like any other law that was intended to cut people some slack. People figure out how to work it to their advantage.

Like the welfare programs that run out after 3 years with the intention of getting people off the welfare rolls. If a welfare recipient has a kid, their benefits can be extended another 3 years. So, long as a welfare recipient has a kid every 3 years, they can stay on welfare indefinitely.
[last edit 10/5/2013 4:42 AM by Radio2600 - edited 1 times]

In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind.
Therrin 

This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.


Location: North of Chicago, IL
Gender: Male


*Therrin puts on the penguin-suit

Send Private Message | Send Email | AIM Message
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 38 on 10/5/2013 7:14 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Radio2600


The "one brick" loophole is still on the books, but the county assessors can declare a building finished if the exterior is completed. So to take advantage of it now, you have to leave the siding off on one side.

Some cities addressed the "one brick" loophole by putting a one year expiry date on building permits. Once a permit expires, you can extend it for six months. The cost of extending the permit for 6 months is equal to 1 year in property tax.

It's like any other law that was intended to cut people some slack. People figure out how to work it to their advantage.

Like the welfare programs that run out after 3 years with the intention of getting people off the welfare rolls. If a welfare recipient has a kid, their benefits can be extended another 3 years. So, long as a welfare recipient has a kid every 3 years, they can stay on welfare indefinitely.


Yeah, tell me about it. People are taking advantage of wellfare across the country like it's going out of style. And people who aren't ON wellfare, are defending the right of people who ARE. It's a fucking mess.

The funny thing is, the folks online who like to rant about people's rights to be on wellfare, they never take people into their own homes and provide for and support them.

I don't get that. You'd think if they were so set on the greater good and the rights of the "poor" to be taken care of, that they'd help take care of them personally.

*shrugs*

I guess it's only okay if ALL OF US are supporting them, and not those people personally.

Give a person a match and they'll be warm for a minute, but light them on fire and they'll be warm for the rest of their life. =)
punkrocka7 


Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Anyone Active in Iowa?
<Reply # 39 on 10/5/2013 9:19 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Sorry to get butt in here, but I'm a freshman at UW-Platteville, about a half hour from Iowa. It is so boring here, and if theres any good places in Iowa, well I guess I would drive to Iowa!

UER Forum > Archived US: Great Lakes > Anyone Active in Iowa? (Viewed 5191 times)
 1 2 3  



All content and images copyright © 2002-2024 UER.CA and respective creators. Graphical Design by Crossfire.
To contact webmaster, or click to email with problems or other questions about this site: UER CONTACT
View Terms of Service | View Privacy Policy | Server colocation provided by Beanfield
This page was generated for you in 125 milliseconds. Since June 23, 2002, a total of 736967060 pages have been generated.