Exploring an Abandoned Failed Subdivision in the Illinois Cornfields

[@melvinglick9446]

It’s good that you protect people’s privacy..anyone can encounter hard times. We had a builder in our neighborhood that bought up property for a big development,promising a certain amount for HOA. Then he never built more houses after about 3 and those 3 would have to bear the HOA or do all the outside maintenance themselves,not the community they were promised ,so they left.

[@b3455t]

3:13 those old Gateway computer boxes man that brings back memories.

[@denniscrane9753]

A whole different world at that point! I miss it!

[@KatieB1776]

Incredible find. Beautiful homes…love your work.

[@shelbyz1974]

Illinois destroyed people with large rural homes. Property tax increases in the 90's went crazy and its only gotten worse. I know this personally as my grandmothers 90x60 foot home went from $3k to $12k in property taxes. Insane right?! Really cool find though. Thanks for the video!

[@StringerMedia]

Very true

[@denniscrane9753]

How dare you criticize democracy you bigot! 🙃

[@aaron___6014]

It's why my family moved out of IL in the late 90s. I hear Cook county is doing it again by increasing home valuations.

[@billkallas1762]

Hardly.......Northwest Chicago suburb, Property tax of $3,000 a year, for a 3-bedroom ranch. Big lot, on a court. Right next to Schaumburg.

[@TheSpidersoftheworld]

It's called inflation.keep crying. . .

[@monkeywentbananas]

I love the old Gateway Computer cow boxes in the garage! Dates this to mid to late 90's! I shipped a many of those in my 7yrs working for Gateway!

[@aaron___6014]

I remember Gateway even had stores, one being in Rockford.

[@aaron___6014]

4:26 I had that model as a kid, and still have it today. It's a Testors Burago Ford AC Cobra, metal body. The paint looks a little dull though. I can not believe how high the waterline was in those finished basements. Thanks for keeping it fresh!

[@mathieubroersma]

These homes shouldn't be abandoned but lived in by nice families. Knocking down properties that have nothing wrong with them is beyond me. And then we wonder why everything is so expensive these days. Property taxes should go down when a home gets older 👍🏻 that way people will have more to spend to keep up the place.

[@BlubbyO]

Property taxes will go up when rural neighborhood adds retail shops, parks, sports centers, road infrastructure. Where I live was added alot more shopping walmart home depot and pretty well alot more other retail, when before we only had a small plaza and a big grocery store. The housing market has gone bonkers I call it in the last few years. They say it's the out of control immigration, and the lack of housing which is true. The real estate value of the house has more than doubled in about 15 years... I know crazy right!? Property tax hasn't gone up all that much though.

[@sassysue6472]

Beautiful homes. Love that first house-had the thing that gave weather info. Top of the line stuff. Sad to see them just decaying.

[@tommanning7337]

Love the Illinois stuff, lived here my whole life, and I’m still trying to figure out why 🤣🤣🤣

[@denniscrane9753]

No doubt! 45 years you would think i would find a way!

[@amyboone125]

Agreed

[@SteveStevenson-gb6mh]

Illinois is a great state but the politicians are our problem.

[@tommanning7337]

@@SteveStevenson-gb6mh you got that right!!!!!!!!!!

[@marinschuldt101]

It's a black hole 🕳 lol

[@RobsNeighbor]

Great video! Love the adventures you share. Thank you

[@maxvancleve5341]

OMG THOSE RED SINKS WERE BEAUTIFUL!!

[@RODALCO2007]

That are both very nice large houses, pity that they are left to decay. Maybe a flood prone area there. Thanks for the tour.

[@SolidCoreBlack]

It's saddening to see the many memories they've left behind.

[@ShadeAstray]

"Baseball" game while they're at Soldier Field

[@StringerMedia]

😂

[@dothackersnet]

Close enough. If the bears move to arlington heights, can't wait for the abandoned Soldier Field episode

[@IowaSheepdog]

Baseball. Football. Whatever it takes.

[@corneliusva]

Great info and great find

[@joezimmerman4574]

Recognized the houses right away, never understood why nobody bought them they’re right in town

[@peladan418]

Where is the location Joe? I’ve lived in Franklin, Sangamon, Logan, Vermillion, Peoria & currently in St. Clair County. I have a feeling that it’s a bit closer to Chicago.

[@peladan418]

Also in Bureau County

[@joezimmerman4574]

Elburn il

[@harthenry]

Gateway Computers -- that's a throwback

[@ethanrbutler]

Black cabinets with red / orange sink basin is awesome when you first entered the house

[@BlubbyO]

I could just imagine that garage basement being maybe a games room, pool table maybe a card table or something, very cool! Given it was Chicago you would heat it up with a stack of wood at that fireplace. Thanks for your explores guys, I feel like it's your full time occupations with the frequency of the content. Awesome and I appreciate it! Check out EWF if you like bunkers and cave explores and stuff.

[@eugenemolloy3595]

The way the property taxes in Illinois is crazy my mom lives in Lockport Illinois and she is paying almost 10k a year now when a couple years ago it was only 4k a year.

[@ioranaaloha4676]

😮😢

[@PreciousFox15]

Don't even get me started. I live in a small house in Bolingbrook and my property taxes are over 6k a year 😢😢😢

[@thelioness6102]

@@PreciousFox15geesh crazy

[@MrDannyZ28]

I’m in Bridgeview and I’m just under 12k. So my house will be paid off in a few years and I’m paying 1,000 a month for taxes. Basically renting the land for a grand a month

[@Poundemonium24]

Those front lawns look well kept and nicely edged…even the trees lining the street look trimmed…for being abandoned. Wonder if the city or new property owners are doing the upkeep.

[@Kochiha]

I used to pass right by these all the time and didn't even bat an eye. Given how much rapid development has been happening in that town in the past 5 years (as of December 2024) alone, I'm surprised something CAN even be abandoned in that town. (And for anybody scrolling through the comments to try and figure out where this is, just watch the video with a careful eye and you'll figure it out. If you know, you know, like my uncle says.) I can only imagine that the commercial zoning is because of the failed subdivision's location, but I managed to dig up some village board meeting notes and there was no indication that the little road there was involved in a 2025 surface improvement plan proposal, despite pretty much the entire area around it being involved. All the surrounding parts of town are experiencing some sort of development or proposal or something as well. It's just this little pocket that seems cursed to be left out.

[@echoman6358]

Baseball game?!?! That is Soldier Field!!!

[@carlsaganlives4036]

Super obvious. Nowhere did I see any indication of baseball. Also, the last time he said 'for sure, baseball game' - and the photo was clearly a striped football field with a ref and uniformed player right there, lol. Oh well, must not be a Bear or football guy, that's cool.

[@echoman6358]

@@carlsaganlives4036 he said BASEBALL atleast 3 times! But edited the video at this point.

[@PreciousFox15]

Da Bears.

[@dragnbane]

"This WHOLE street is abandoned....its only 2 houses"

[@coyoteinawell8887]

On the topic of weird things on Google maps I recall looking at Wisconsin and finding blocked out areas when you look into the heavily wooded areas far from civilization.

[@yerfuct]

oh that's interesting. What parts?

[@Willowinthewinds]

Any land owner can request their property to be blurred on Google. You don't need a reason to request it and once it is done it can never be undone, even by future owners.

[@dgenis74]

Just saw video this morning and drove by there today, a complete coincidence. There is another abandoned house about a half mile north on the other side of the main street as well.

[@ShirlBussman]

Where is it located? Really curious, please! ☮

[@thehauterod]

@@ShirlBussman Elburn, Illinois

[@ShirlBussman]

@@thehauterod No kidding! I just went thru that town this afternoon. We stopped at Yeager's and took a ride into Elburn. Thanks for letting me know. I almost forgot this video. ☺

[@thehauterod]

@@ShirlBussman That's cool! Glad I could help 😄

[@ShirlBussman]

@@thehauterod You did so much. Thanks !☺

[@Byrdstar6423-un3me]

Its so incredibly tragic how NO ONE can afford a home and yet we have multiple huge abandoned neighborhoods that could be repurposed as homeless housing jeez

[@YaelSharon3410]

Good video. Liked and subscribed

[@michelleford7392]

Great video as always!

[@redjar43]

Funny, the basements were more interesting than the houses upstairs. Beautiful brick fireplaces in both houses!

[@Nativebeautys]

I really enjoyed that! I am now a sub and got the bell for future video's!

[@akshonclip]

This looks like the typical “Build Two, Rent One” scenario. Both houses were on the same note and bank foreclosed.

[@johnrowlette7430]

The skeleton in the basement was a dog! Poor thing, OMG.

[@amyboone125]

So sad

[@peladan418]

I take it you’re not a FootBall fan? Errata: “…they were definitely at a baseball game.” Once of the most iconic stadiums ever to be built, SOLDIER FIELD, Chicago IL

[@caroville]

And gotta be the niners in those gold pants. Hahah that would make an interesting baseball game

[@TheBrainSquared]

I would of got the hell out of that building after seeing that much mold.. I had a hard time breathing while watching.

[@pancakeswarrior11]

im sorry but why do you need a green toilet in a basement?

[@Racerkey999]

explores abandoned homes...stumbles onto the Great Soldier Field Baseball Conspiracy

[@dougstanley7662]

Nice brush mower at the 2nd home.those mowers are killer to clear out overgrown properties.

[@carlsaganlives4036]

It looks recently used, too. It's a wheeled string trimmer.

[@karltork6040]

D R Trimer Mower

[@dougstanley7662]

@karltork6040 a friend of mine bought one to clear out 13 neglected rental properties that belonged to another friend.The city we live in wanted to charge him $1200 per property to clear the lots so we took the brush trimmer and a riding mower and a couple push mowers and got them whipped into shape over a week and did it for less than a third of what the city wanted to charge

[@juniorjones9719]

Baseball game......come on man..... Soldier Field

[@mikeschlesner6673]

wood floors buckle like that when the basement fully tops off with water. it warps the whole house.

[@peladan418]

Correction to my “ERRATA”: ‘Once’ should read ‘One’

[@smeasy18]

Wow in the second house you could see the water line and how high the water was. Must've been a burst pipe or something.

[@BadAss-HellHound666]

These are foreclosure homes. The banks have companies come in and board up broken windows and doors as well as maintain the yard. I've been through alot of foreclosures in Illinois. Still have all my keys from all the different lock changes...experienced some odd things doing that job. 😅

[@sweetpea2788]

That place is such a cool little Time Capsule.

[@ericvonwiegen5672]

Nice 👍

[@mshadow9280]

There was enough information in this video to find the exact location. I’m not an UrbanX or a bad guy. But this is like 2 towns south of me. Next time you guys are in the area would love the opportunity to explore with you!

[@thelioness6102]

That is so 80’s golden girls decor lol 😂 The baby blue and peach colors my mom decorated the whole house in with our blue sinks….. ugh horrible…I hope it never comes back in style

[@GingerNinja1]

4:11 July 1995 You need a respirator. That's likely tocix black mold.

[@Sum-wk5li]

I know where that is. I know what town these homes are in. I live about 20 minutes away from the town.

[@richbowie76]

Photos were of Soldier Field

[@snarfarpher2416]

Why the fuck is the grass mowed if no one has been there since 08?

[@jeffwain]

Whoever is cutting the grass, I'm surprised they're edging the curbs and driveways.

[@monkeywentbananas]

The Decor screams the 1990's

[@calvinhobbes6118]

Probably the model homes for a neighborhood that never materialized. Id bet there was not enough interest to build more. Then property taxes or commercial builds finished their fate?

[@reidgk]

cool video! Some of the backgrounds of your shots gave away the location.

[@kevins1242]

If I remember right, i think the white house was a dentist office at one time

[@Chillydall02]

Dude I was gonna go there the other day and there were multiple lawn service trucks so I decided not too

[@moncorp1]

Dude went back and got those gash mags after he turned the camera off.

[@StringerMedia]

Smh

[@macdad159]

Was scheduled for re-zoning however, it is Illinois. Same with the abandoned cul-de-sac in Itasca.

[@RobertSanchez1]

Those were pictures of Soldier Field. They play football there and you can see in one of the photos the refs and players on the field.

[@DPhippsActual]

Thinking it is property bought up/out by black rock, vanguard, or main Street. chiina bassed real-estate companys is my guess.

[@timothyharris1125]

10:14 That poor cat. Got stuck and probably never made it out.

[@a.v.8267]

Question, so how can you say these are abandoned because a builder went bankrupt, when people have lived there clearly. I think you may not understand the order of operations here...

[@toadlika]

If you are where I think you are, Two of the homes are still lived in by the owners.

[@Ron-zi3cg]

That's about the way it is where I live, but people don't believe what I say, in the city where I live, them 6 figure houses are pitiful, I couldn't even afford one of those.

[@jeffsmith-ze6wb]

I wouldn’t want to love in the land of stinking that’s for sure!!!

[@rdejaynes]

LAST SOLD ON MAY 17, 2007 FOR $860,000

[@Neozio]

Wow!! I live in Illinois & this state is literally 2 cultures in one state. I was born & grew up in the Chicagoland area & lived in Southern Illinois for 12 years. I seen so many towns like this & that is why I came back to Chicago. I was blessed, my father was able to ride the retail corporate ladder. Thank God he never got caught up into material things, worked 40 years & now retired.

[@alison5009]

@@Neoziowhat’s wrong with Southern IL? What parts didn’t you like?

[@Kevo105]

Where is this?

[@ioranaaloha4676]

😮

[@thehauterod]

@@Kevo105 Elburn, Illinois

[@choochoo9436]

Looks like there was a flood in those homes.

[@deepergodeeper7618]

would love to swim in that pool

[@RichBassler]

I saw these two for sale from a bank owned list after the 07-08 recession but if I remember they wanted someone to buy all property plus homes as is and wanted astronomical $ now for sheets and giggles I emailed my sister friend in Michigan on price and availability this coming week since my sister lives in burr ridge just outside of Chicago you never know?

[@Allan_123]

This was recant damn

[@chuntikyeung7074]

@StrⅰngerMedⅰa兄弟片中01:20那辆货卡车感觉很新 是废弃的么？

[@StringerMedia]

It's not abandoned. Somebody is sleeping inside after a long day of work

[@izzy574]

Why?

[@gravitationalslipstream]

I'd be wearing a respirator or gas mask in those properties.

[@chrisbondio2394]

Abandoned homes don't have maintained yards and fresh trash cans next to the garage.

[@2swag.productions]

4:09 or toilet ananasdasdas

[@teddybear4020]

FIRST HOUSE NICE,But flooded in basement i c water mark

[@47coffee]

Holy crap that second house is absolutely soaking in black mold! That thing should've been demolished and razed years ago. A health hazard for the whole area just sitting like that left to fester and boil in black mold.

[@mr.garbagetrucks7916]

COOL

[@PookShiesty-z2x]

no way you just said the wrong sport 🤣

[@StringerMedia]

I don't even think about what I'm saying in my videos 😂

[@Willowinthewinds]

The pictures were Soldier Field at the Bears game not baseball.

[@Brian-StarGazer-77]

There was 12in of water in the basement

[@countdankula6740]

They moved out because taxes are insane 😂

[@billkallas1762]

1972, I'll guess $130,000

[@teddybear4020]

WATER mark in 2nd house too

[@PrincessLorie]

You should be wearing gloves, dude. 😬

[@scottragan1240]

You are totally wrong. Those houses were bought up for commercial Property. I grew up with the people that owned them. They did let them sit to long before tearing dn. I believe the city stepped in and made them tear them dn.

[@BLAZERWILD]

I really enjoy your videos on these houses. But you should really consider wearing a mask when going into these houses. That black mold is toxic and can kill you. Depending on how sensitive you are. I have been in my share of houses with mold only 1/10 as bad as that. I have felt adverse affects in my sinuses because of it. Anyways keep the good videos coming. take care

[@LtColDaddy71]

I was born in IL, grew up here, came back here after transferring to the reserves and starting an airline career. We are a unique state for sure. My family farmed here, as do I currently. There is a string in my ancestry of people who that came over from Wales and settled in PN on land that was part of the original William Penn land grant. The move to Illinois came 2 full generations after the American Revolution. The debt to my family that was owed for service in the war for American Independence was paid with land here in Illinois. Somewhere along the line, a cute freckle faced Welch girl fell for an Italian boy, and the family basically considers itself Italian now. The Italian wing of my family fled their farm at gunpoint. They had farmed in the foothills of the Alps in Northern Italy, going back to the days when it was a village of retired soldiers who served the Roman Empire. Prior to Benito Mussolini forming the Fasci d'Azione Rivoluzionaria, and later the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento, and ultimately, the Republican Fascist Party which allied with Hitler, old Benito was a true Communist. So was his dad. They ran people off their farms. It was a movement that goes way back, and even here in the US, if any of your ancestors went to a rural church, they sat and listened to communist inspired preaching, and believed in it themselves. The idea of American Exceptionalism was non existent prior to WWI, and wasn’t a thing until after WWII. There is a rich culture here in Illinois. I learned a lot about farming from my grandfather, and a farmer who I worked for, who sold me my 1st chunks of stalled out thickets and trees on a handshake when I was 14. It was flooded, abused and neglected. He sold it to me for $1/acre on the premise that I’d make it suitable for hunting, and he’d be allowed to hunt it until he died. By the time I graduated college, I had 300 acres of rolling pasture, 200 acres of 40% tree canopy, protective pasture, and 200 acres of 80% canopy, healthy and thriving woodland. I had a really ne had of Cattle and sheep too, was raising hogs and chickens. My dad ran it for a decade while I paid the government back for my college education and letting me fly fast jets. The rest is history, but to make a long story less long, the culture and history of Illinois is rich and storied. We hit a vein of land so productive and full of potential, it will take 1000 years to mine it out and desertify it. Eventually we will. But over the years, I’ve saved little pieces of it, while producing nutrient dense food and comfort to those who want to put something besides hot pockets in their bodies. There is no excuse for taking farmland out of production to grow houses instead. I understand growing cities encroaching over time, but all those people building their little acre of paradise, only to drive in to town to work, are the scourge of rural America. They make it nearly impossible for us to do our jobs, get equipment moved around. Hey, if you raise a few sheep, have a big garden and a family milk cow and chicks running around, I love ya and I’ll do anything I can to be a good neighbor. But you don’t see that a lot. Their kids aren’t even outside. 😮

[@eklodry6495]

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[@StringerMedia]

I understand this 😭🙏

[@eklodry6495]

@@StringerMedia i know!

[@richarddrafahl8200]

Go Trump, he is the man.

[@dankman239]

How in the short version of this video you were acting like you were living there in the last one to live and now in this video You're explaining how you found this on Google Earth??? In the short you make it seem as if some omnistic thing happen and everyone had to leave. But now in the long-term video within the first 3 minutes you say you don't know much about this development. So basically ur a bozo

[@rdejaynes]

April 2023 Valuation provider Estimate Collateral Analytics $436,000 CoreLogic® $506,400 Quantarium $1,044,648

[@jonathanhemlock5243]

Typically Illinois.

[@gingercheyene]

Get a job dude!! Actually get a G.E.D. then get a job!!!

[@StringerMedia]

Six figures at 20 mate

[@QuentinH2024]

He has more than you ever will 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@47coffee]

People are forbidden from having hobbies dude!! Only work work work!!! /s

[@ioranaaloha4676]

Not being political here... but it’s political! Taxes, IRS 🥺 be careful PLEASE when you vote your “ leaders “ I came from country with….. 😟🤔🫢🤫 BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! Good videos! Good job!!