The New Urban Prairie - The Calumet Wilderness

[@michaelwhite6676]

I think this was another fantastic video that showcases the potential of the Calumet Region. The region's environment has undergone so many drastic and consequential changes over only about a hundred or so years, a lot of which have been detrimental to the plants, animals, and people here. It would be wonderful if we could incorporate more natural areas, do more to clean up the environment, and create more parks and preserves. There's money in all of that too, I think it would be a big draw for the Calumet Region. Thanks for the sharing the cool video and starting these kinds of conversations!

[@SamuelLove]

💯 I appreciate your thoughtful and informed comment

[@mdshonkkc]

There is a subtle beauty in nature reclaiming these structures. I feel for all the folks in Gary and in every rust belt city. These cities were abandoned by greedy corporations and shady government over a half century ago. The people trying to rebuild these cities are too young to have lived in the "good" times and face tremendous obstacles. I wish the best for the good people of Gary!

[@SamuelLove]

Thank you

[@seanimal_rex]

I really appreciate your nuanced perspective. 99% of KZbin content about Gary/South Shore is condescending drivel and blatantly exploitative. Thank you for reminding the world that this is someone’s home and that its beauty is profound.

[@David-yw2lv]

Reminds me of Port Arthur,TX.I lived there for about two years and the same things are happening there.The while Beaumont -Port Arthur-Orsnge Metropolitan area is the Rust Belt of the South.

[@SamuelLove]

Fascinating, thanks for sharing the reference to TX. I always interested in learning more economic geography 👍🏻

[@hanginwithbullfrog4657]

Fascinating

[@LeeTeeVee1927]

I morel mushroom hunt that area and I ride up and down the alleys on my Kawasaki KLR 650. Next spring I am going to add an Insta 360 camera on the back. The conditions of them alleys are definitely viral video worthy.

[@SamuelLove]

Hey Lee - happy Thanksgiving! Great to hear from you! We may have to collaborate on an alley video!

[@LeeTeeVee1927]

@ most definitely

[@777KJV]

When I see videos like this, I always wonder where the owners are, and how one can just afford to abandon a house and property like that.

[@SamuelLove]

A lot of times it’s out-of-state next-of-kin, or the former owner had no descendants. Often times an LLC or non-profit holds the deed and just sits on it. The 2008 crisis was devastating too, lots of people just walked away under water

[@newerafrican]

My brother-in-law does real estate appraisals and told me that the city records are so bad that it's hard to find out who owns what properties, so nothing ever gets done.

[@SamuelLove]

@newerafrican Yes, it’s a mess. I think code enforcement operates at something like a 5%-10% success rate

[@awoodmann1746]

Your kidding, correct? The city is the owner.

[@SamuelLove]

@awoodmann1746 not in every case, two burnt out buildings on my block are still privately owned with the taxes up to date. I don’t know about the buildings on this block.

[@M10000]

Is it called Calumet because of Calumet baking powder?

[@SamuelLove]

From the river system here, the Grand and Little Calumet, which is an English corruption of a French corruption of a Potawatomi term. According to Wikipedia the baking powder company got its start in this region - I didn’t know that.

[@thomasmaloney843]

Great Fallout movie set.

[@davestrang8585]

Looks like Cleveland

[@scarpfish]

Exactly one mile straight south of this location, with a manicured lawn and walled off by a wrought iron fence, is the home Michael Jackson and his siblings grew up in.

[@SamuelLove]

Been to some beautiful block parties around that way!

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

“No more simplification, because it isn’t.” Everyone has an answer, just ask them.

[@marylandria]

apocalyptic...

[@stardust949]

depressing as hell....and I LIKE nature!

[@SamuelLove]

Way things have been the past few years I imagine the empty buildings will come down

[@bradleyw3771]

Gary USE to be a great city!!!!!! What happened????????

[@robertbucsh8840]

Democrats.

[@anitapricecheck9554]

@@robertbucsh8840​​⁠actually a big reason was because the mills moved manufacturing overseas in the 70s & 80s (so under Carter AND Reagan) & all the jobs for high-school-only educated people disappeared. source: my dad was a steelworker

[@JamesCook-u9h]

​@robertbucsh8840 not going to argue politics but I worked there and the entire area from Chicago Heights to the south shore of Chicago went away during Reagan who I voted for

[@bradleyw3771]

@JamesCook-u9h Gary went way before Reagan. Mayor Hatcher???

[@JamesCook-u9h]

@bradleyw3771 it was certainly in a bad way but Chicago heights all the way to the south shore was during the eighties. I live in Kankakee and thousands of good industrial jobs disappeared in the eighties never to return. The same people bitchin about unions then are bitchin about China now

[@thomasrobinson182]

It has a certain decrepit charm.

[@SamuelLove]

I agree! Tho I respect the feelings of my neighbors and fellow Garyites who feel a bit differently