Top 10 Housing Development Fails

Residential subdivisions seem to spring up everywhere so that must mean they're easy to build... right? They're actually pretty complex construction processes that can go off the rails with poor management or bad luck. This video looks at 10 (ish) of these type of projects that did end up struggling. Some were able to push through the challenges while others were outright failures.
Highlights
0:05 - ASCAYA - Nevada
1:38 - Concrete City - Pennsylvania
2:51 - Tundra Village - Texas
4:05 - Indian Ridge Resort - Missouri
5:03 - Soul City - North Carolina
6:44 - Burj Al Babas - Turkey
8:11 - Silverado Homes - Arizona
9:07 - Rotonda Meadows and Villas - Florida
10:21 - The Compound - Florida
11:24 - Golden Gate Estates - Florida
13:20 - (Honorable Mention) Fishtown Townhouses - Pennsylvania
14:22 - (Honorable Mention) Terra Nativa Phase 3 - Idaho
15:32 - California City - California

[@dagnation9397]

My grandparents bought a lot in CA City. The main reason (IMHO) that the city did not get built out and settled is that there is not enough water for a city with 50,000+ home lots. If there was enough water for housing, there would already be farms. Every other irrigatable desert in CA has farms. Our family estate (all 1/8th acre) is 5-10 miles from the nearest water main, and there is no plan to extend it out any time soon. 60 years later, no water, no power, no paved road, no hardwire internet service/phone/cable.... We pay $165 a year in taxes and fees. We got an offer on the land that was about the same amount it was purchased for. Yeah they were scammed. If they had just bought AT&T stock with that money instead....

[@krisstopher8259]

absolutely horrible. sounds like china. it happens on a mega scale over there. you won't believe this but they got 3 BILLION unbuilt/unfinished/dangerous apartments, the number might even be the finished ones that are dangerous and unliveable. entire cities completely empty, big cities too. they have even invested in africa so they got ghost cities over there too. no one gets their money back, NO ONE EVER! it's all a f-ing scam!

[@Wabu1]

I have good news they dropped the extra $146 per parcel so your taxes are going down.

[@fresagrus4490]

I appreciate you putting a list of the content in the description, so we can see if it is something we already know or not related. Thank you for that and for the video!

[@Greatdome99]

i remember the TV commercials in LA: "You'll be sittin' pretty--in California City!"

[@StevieinSF]

California City is in the Antelope Valley, which has always struggled with crime and weirdo's hiding out. Best to steer clear of it.

[@BuildingTales]

Seems like it would be a fascinating place to check out, but I can imagine there are some characters out in a place like that!

[@rockland2]

There was a development in the SF East Bay area in the 1990’s where bunch of condos were built right off the freeway where I-680 and Ca-17 met. They got halfway through the project and realized that a freeway rerouting went right through the development. When they originally built the freeway most traffic was headed to San Francisco so the south bound left lanes of I-680 continued on to Ca 17, but as the Silicon Valley grew most southbound traffic went towards San Jose so everyone in the two left lanes would have to merge right to continue on the freeway, so in the 90’s the state started the correction after the condo project was already half done. They had to demolish three or four huge condos to make room for the realignment. It was quite the sight to see!

[@Orangewood76]

I lived in Kingman when they tried that Silverado development. It was preposterous even during the bubble. Kingman's a dirtly little wide spot off the interstate, without much there. Silverado is 25 miles away outside of town and the meager infrastructure that exists.

[@BuildingTales]

It is definitely odd some of these developments are sooo far out from everything... its hard to believe anyone really thought the plan would pan out

[@VanillaMacaron551]

Japanese money flooded Australia in the 1980s. One of many big projects was a thing called a "Multi-Function Polis" that was planned for near Adelaide in South Australia. Never went ahead but used up many acres of newsprint back in the day. "Location, location, location" is the oldest real estate truism - am I right in thinking the failed projects in this video were all on sub-prime land, miles from anywhere?

[@Iconoclasher]

I drove through California City a few months ago. Not too bad. It's livable. The most exciting thing to do there when you visit is leave. 😂

[@ChristiesThisnThat]

Great video!

[@RedbookGereute-bs1xg]

You should have left the Turkish development off the list and used it for an international top 10 list later. 10. Burj Al Babas, Turkey 9. The Colossus of Prora, Germany 8. Sanzhi Pod City, Taiwan 7. A development in Spain 6. A cuty in China ...

[@haweater1555]

Certainly the top international housing development boondoggle are those crazy man-made islands in Dubai.

[@BuildingTales]

Great ideas, appreciate the suggestions!

[@fresagrus4490]

Prora isn't remotely a failure, it has been used for multiple purposes in the past years and literally a touristic attraction

[@SavageScientist]

great video i subscribed

[@BuildingTales]

Thanks, Appreciate it!

[@asteverino8569]

The Florida builders and speculators should study the success of Del Boca Vista, and even the movie "Coconuts " for more sales tips. Otherwise, Florida has a dubious reputation for many things.

[@ericscott5224]

❤ I see what you did there. Don't forget Del Boca Vista Phase 2

[@colormedubious4747]

Why do you classify the "Soul City" founders working with the Nixon Administration as an "unlikely" alliance? Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency. Under his Administration, the UMTA (predecessor agency of the FTA) funded groovy and funky public transportation demonstration projects such as Detroit's DPM and the Morgantown PRT.

[@kcindc5539]

I went to WVU and loved the PRT. It was a clever transportation solution when it began operation in 1976 that exists to this day

[@colormedubious4747]

@@kcindc5539 I have visited it several times to photograph it. I even got a tour of the control room. The staff was welcoming, kind, and SUPER helpful. Would visit again. Would recommend it to a friend.

[@fresagrus4490]

The political spectrum has shifted so much to the right that Nixon is kind of progressive now

[@jeffjay2323]

There were subdivisions being built all over the country when the crash happened. Many of since been completed by new developers. What i find most interesting is how the new developers offered a different type of housing then what was originally planned. So you may have a subdivision with half larger homes and half starter homes. or half single-family homes, the newer one's townhomes.

[@TimEssDub]

I am surprised Lehigh Acres, Florida did not make the list even though it's completely platted.

[@Karmy.]

Also surprised that Greenleaf in Dawsonville, GA didn't make it either

[@BuildingTales]

I guess I'll have to start working on part 2! Appreciate the suggestions!

[@iworkout6912]

It seems now that most of the large housing projects are in two states, Florida and Nevada. I know the most about Nevada. I guess its trying to build near Las Vegas, yet take advantage of the growth to that area. Coyote Springs, Nevada, is a master-planned community built around a golf course, and several developments in the Pahrump, NV area. Calvada comes to mind, along with others. The idea was communities being somewhat close to Las Vegas, and providing all the business you would find in Vegas. Coyote Springs was planned to have 250K residents about 55 miles north of Vegas. But...water was the issue and several permits have been denied about the water usage in such a large community. The golf course was built along with a club house, and has been noted as being a fine course. not much was built as far a housing was ever built.

[@stephen_dmg2003]

i live near the compound. it's creepy as shit lol, florida has always been scammy

[@BuildingTales]

Is it trespassing to go on it or is it public?

[@NotsoFree_StateofFlorida]

Soul Tech 1 purchased by the correctional institute. The irony !!!

[@susiedupuy9532]

Burj Al Babas, Turkey reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode, very weird.

[@BuildingTales]

Very surreal scene for sure!

[@stickynorth]

Cool video. Great choice for California City, CA as the #1 abandoned real estate venture of all time... I'd also add the Chicago Spire as an an honorable mention if only because it created a round cesspool of water on the Chicago waterfront since 2008 thanks to its lack of completion... Two new towers are planned for the site but the tallest is only like 800' compared to the proposed 2000' Spire as before... Salton City, California and Townsend, Ontario are probably good candidates for the list as well... SC, CA was planned for 40,000 people, Townsend, Ontario for around 100,000 to start... The first now has about 5000 people and the latter? A few hundred...

[@BuildingTales]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! And I appreciate the other ideas too! I definitely think some of those will make it into future videos!

[@Geotpf]

California City is 100 miles north of Los Angeles, not east.

[@Davidbirdman101]

The government could put all these undocumented immigrants in the one in las Vegas. I mean, they're giving free 150,000$ "loans" . Maybe enrich the culture out there.😂😂

[@runitthru]

What’s missing in most of these is why some of these developments stopped, like the florida ones. You said unsurprisingly this big dream never came to fruition but you don’t say why. Why didn’t it continue?

[@Howiefaam31459]

Naming the place Concrete City, PA? Seriously 😅

[@Freddie_Dunning-Kruger_Jr.]

It appears someone is still mowing the grass at the Rotonda?