Abandoned

SOUTH BEND, IN – Expansion, building, and loaning were the American catchwords of the last two decades, where easily available credit and willing buyers helped expand America’s residential and commercial areas to new heights. Rapid building and unchecked planning brought civilization to new areas, and created new ways of manufacturing and shopping for goods. Recent economic collapse, however, has far reversed this trend. Places such as shopping malls and factories, as well as the neighborhoods we live in, once full of life, now have dead or are deteriorating zones. Across America, regardless of land value or otherwise, certain structures, stores, and homes are all falling victim to the current economic climate. They are, in a word, abandoned.

I have spent the last few months documenting these haunting contemporary relics of the current economic crisis. I hope that these images can convey the feeling one would have when standing in front of them and remembering what they once were. This article contains some explanation of the places as well as a broad analysis on abandoned businesses, places, and homes in America.

The first thought that comes to my mind when I see an abandoned store or home is what it used to be. What purpose did this place serve? Who were the people that lived or worked or shopped here? The thought is very haunting for some and very poignant for others, but the truth is unmistakable: an abandoned structure once was full of life. And digging even deeper in to my feelings, I think about the people who put hours of sweat and thousands of dollars into this structure.

A bad economy gets personal when it comes all the way to your home. Foreclosure, which occurs when homeowners become delinquent on their mortgage payments and their lender seizes the home, has been on the rise over the past few years. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, 250,000 families enter in to foreclosure every three months. This translates in to many families being forced out of their homes, whether from a loss of a job, health care costs, or other unforeseen circumstances. It also translates in to many abandoned homes. Foreclosed homes come in all shapes and sizes – from small one-story low-income homes shown above, to massive sprawling mansions in ritzy neighborhoods. In both instances, however, these homes serve as a sign of the times in their communities. Haunting images of abandoned homes recall those who used to live there and those who built it.

The next signs of a slumping economy are related to business. When sales decrease, companies undergo layoffs to cut labor costs. When an economy experiences high levels of layoffs as well as decreased cash flow among consumers, businesses with low sales who cannot cover their costs are forced to close stores, file for bankruptcy, or even worse – go out of business. When companies go out of business, they leave behind relics of what they once used to be: the bricks-and-mortar stores and factories where business once thrived.

Circuit City, the a massive electronics retailer with a humble beginnings as a TV seller in the 1940’s recently dissolved in the US. It leaves behind 567 stores in America. Many consider Circuit City to be the largest retailer to be hit hard by the current economy. The company has dissolved and now only exists in Canada. After all the liquidation sales are finished, only the trademark red structures are left in strip malls across the country.

Further, manufacturing and distribution centers often are closed in a slumping economy to save on costs. These structures are larger and are often more haunting than stores that close. See the image on the next page for a glimpse of the distribution center of a South Bend furniture company, Ries Furniture Company.

If there is an industry in America that full represents the magnitude of the current economy, it’s the auto industry. The high gasoline prices of last year combined with the poor incomes of Americans and tough credit from loaners created a perfect storm of economic disaster for automakers both domestic and abroad. The big three automakers in America, GM, Ford, and Chrysler, have all experienced plant shutdowns, layoffs, and the need for federal assistance. Likewise, the usually stellar Japanese manufacturer Toyota had its worst year in 2008 since its inception. One easy way to get a look at the current economic situation for the auto industry in America is to look at car lots. Lots across the country sit idle, with no customers and no lenders to aid in sales. An even worse picture is painted below.

The current economic situation can be seen in many ways – the news medias portrayal of day-to-day politics and money, the advertising signs that remind us of low prices to stimulate the economy, or the homeless who have lost their jobs and cannot find new ones. However, there is no sign more haunting than that of an abandoned or closed down business, or a foreclosed decrepit home. These signs of the economy both overwhelm our feelings and recall a time when these places were once thriving. It is my hope, however, that my documenting of these places may help us remember these abandoned but important parts of our lives.