Those *are* nice photos; the greenery outside contrasting with the industrial look inside is especially cool.
"this place was bought and is going to be turned into a laser tag arena"
Oh, that's a good sign!
What they don't tell you about abandoned factories or other industrial facilities is that sometimes they are abandoned because the industrial processes contaminated the groundwater. Dioxin, PCBs, lead, radioactive stuff - things that can put you in the hospital, carcinogens, all sorts of crap.
So long as the old owner keeps the property, he might be able to avoid an environmental audit, which he wants to avoid, because he is liable if the area is dirty. When someone buys it from him, they will both be liable for the costs of clean-up once the contamination is discovered, so it becomes hard to get a buyer if that is suspected. It becomes less costly for the original owner to sit on the land. That it was sold is a good sign, tho it doesn't guarantee the area is clean.
Stuff to watch out for in abandoned industrial facilities:
Don't take home any souveniers from the property back home.
Avoid wearing cloth shoes, and if you do, be careful not to step into any puddles, definitely stay out of any standing water in the building.
Stay clear of 55 gal drums and the areas around them, even the empty ones like in the photo.
Don't open any contaners you find sealed on the property. I assume that one is pretty obvious, but I thought I would mention it as a particular peril to life-n-limb. (My husband cleans up hazardous areas, and they use non-sparking "safety" tools for mystery drums. He says depending on what was in them, and the age of the chemicals, you can get explosions of toxic or corrosive agents from the extra oxygen that is available when the lid comes off, much less by adding a spark from using a metal tool to pry off the lid.)
*sigh* Not be a buzzkill. This was something I just didn't know until I met my husband, and as someone who had enjoyed wandering around in abandoned buildings, it was an eye opener. Thought I'd pass it along.
"this place was bought and is going to be turned into a laser tag arena"
Oh, that's a good sign!
What they don't tell you about abandoned factories or other industrial facilities is that sometimes they are abandoned because the industrial processes contaminated the groundwater. Dioxin, PCBs, lead, radioactive stuff - things that can put you in the hospital, carcinogens, all sorts of crap.
So long as the old owner keeps the property, he might be able to avoid an environmental audit, which he wants to avoid, because he is liable if the area is dirty. When someone buys it from him, they will both be liable for the costs of clean-up once the contamination is discovered, so it becomes hard to get a buyer if that is suspected. It becomes less costly for the original owner to sit on the land. That it was sold is a good sign, tho it doesn't guarantee the area is clean.
Stuff to watch out for in abandoned industrial facilities:
Don't picnic there; don't eat your lunch there. Don't smoke anything there. (open flame = bad)
After you get home, wash your hands thoroughly.
Don't take home any souveniers from the property back home.
Avoid wearing cloth shoes, and if you do, be careful not to step into any puddles, definitely stay out of any standing water in the building.
Stay clear of 55 gal drums and the areas around them, even the empty ones like in the photo.
Don't open any contaners you find sealed on the property. I assume that one is pretty obvious, but I thought I would mention it as a particular peril to life-n-limb. (My husband cleans up hazardous areas, and they use non-sparking "safety" tools for mystery drums. He says depending on what was in them, and the age of the chemicals, you can get explosions of toxic or corrosive agents from the extra oxygen that is available when the lid comes off, much less by adding a spark from using a metal tool to pry off the lid.)
*sigh* Not be a buzzkill. This was something I just didn't know until I met my husband, and as someone who had enjoyed wandering around in abandoned buildings, it was an eye opener. Thought I'd pass it along.
Cool photos!
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