Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Call for questions: ABANDONED BUILDINGS (Patreon)

Published:
2022-10-25 14:08:40
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Domicology: it’s a thing. Today I’m in Detroit and headed up to Lansing to chat with the founder of Domicology about the lifecycle of structures, why houses get abandoned, demolitions, how much material can be re-used, and issues with gentrification. So so so excited. Bring on the questions.

Cobwebbily,

Alie Von Podcast

Comments

Ali Vessels

What is it about an abandoned building that always makes me want to go explore it? Also why do people immediately think they're haunted?

Jessica Kleist

How many abandoned buildings are there in the US? How do these rates compare globally? Do some states have more than others? Are they abandoned bc they are haunted???

Davis Born

Why can’t they be turned into affordable housing

Maren Prophit

What is the most dramatic or memorable demolition that you've witnessed? Or heard about? Is it satisfying or upsetting?

Caylie Evans

How dangerous/illegal is it to explore abandoned buildings? Asking for a friend…

Anna Thompson

What goes into the decision between updating and repurposing a building vs knocking it down and starting from scratch? What's the general process if it's not a clear choice?

Kaylee Dyer

Oh hey welcome to Detroit Ward! While you're here you should go to the Red Wings game tonight, it's pride night lol

Trevor Durning

What is up with the abandoned frank lloyd wright houses? Why don’t they get preserved?!

Nathan Bronec

Benefits of remodeling vs demolition/recycling in relation to the embodied carbon of a building.

JENN 'Benthopelagic squirrel' ALVAREZ

Ive always wanted to go into an abandoned building but I'm a wus. What's the coolest thing you've ever found? Spookiest place? Ever encounter any critters?

Zed Shirogane

What happens if wildlife takes over the building before it gets demolished? And do you see any particular kinds of wildlife, IE: will the raccoons rule us all in a few years?

Antonia Clark

Would our modern structures stay intact as well as the pyramids or is there a significant difference in built that would cause modern buildings to collapse sooner?

Maren Prophit

Given your location in Detroit how do you feel about the massive amounts of architectural history that is unoccupied or sitting abandoned? Is there any hope to reclaim it or will the blight continue?

Brooke Williams

What is the strangest/coolest/scariest thing you’ve ever seen in an abandoned building?

Aubrey Nelson

What happens when you get tons of abandoned homes. Not for sale, just sitting there getting into worse and worse shape? I always wonder at it because it seems such a waste!

Garvey’s

So if you start squatting in an abandoned place, then begin fixing it up again but you haven’t bought anything - at what point could the government start taxing you on it?

Anika's Cat Arya

It's very alluring to visit abandoned places for the spooks. Is it unsafe to do so?

Hillary

What are the best practices for building a home that will last for years? What are the best sustainable materials to use? How do we get away from “disposable housing”? Also, white tiles in the 90s— WHY.

Jake Rideout

How does the life cycle of a new-built home compare to similarly built structures from other time periods in the United States? Is it true that things just aren't made like they used to be? Are any architects or manufacturers addressing this?

Elektra

How have tax breaks/loopholes impacted the number of abandoned properties? Have changes in tax code been a catalyst for more buildings being left to deteriorate instead of being sold, rehabbed, etc?

Garvey’s

Do you have a favourite abandoned place?

Elisabeth Westner

Right? And why is it not a great idea to explore them? Or, conversely, is it okay to explore them? (Unless they have a no trespassing sign on them; I do not want to get into legal trouble.)

Katelyn Schwarze

What a topic. I’d love to know what corners of the world have the best relationship with repurposing their buildings and the way they reintegrate into a new generation of use. Do they have methods you would love to see adopted elsewhere?

JENN 'Benthopelagic squirrel' ALVAREZ

Is there a time frame that the abandoned building is no longer "owned" therefore it's not trespassing? Like that creepy falling down building you've passed by your entire life?

Laura Acosta

Do they still use wrecking balls to demolish stuff? When did that become a thing?

Ma's Nature Walks

How does local culture influence building abandonment? I've noticed abandoned houses in the countryside have a different sort of feel to them than abandoned buildings in cities.

Sydonie S.

Is letting nature overtake abandoned structures okay from an ecological standpoint? When does letting abandoned structures succumb to nature a problem?

Bees knees

There are differences in the reverence we place on built structures by society. For example, in some Asian societies, homes are seen as inherently replaceable, impermanent, and desirably so. They are torn down and replaced with another home. What lessons can we learn from this point of view?

Jessica Smith

What happens to the physical objects left behind in abandoned buildings? Why don’t people clean everything out before they leave? Who owns it? What about old hospitals with medical records? What are the ethics of studying the personal effects of people who were forced to abandon their homes or maybe died unexpectedly?

Emily Staw-fur

How common is it for people to suddenly abandon a house and leave most of their possessions? Under what circumstances do people do this?

Neal Sorensen

Is it legal to explore an abandoned building? Any tips on finding places where it isn't trespassing?

Megan Duffy

Why is it so difficult for these abandoned homes be turned into affordable housing or other useful community programs and activities

Amy Narimatsu

Are there any efforts to turn abandoned buildings into climate change resilient infrastructure? I'm curious about the feasibility of turning abandoned areas into affordable housing, especially for climate refugees, and making buildings green, or at least greener than they were before

Dantooine

how can we make it easier/more cost efficient for people to flip/restore abandoned homes/buildings rather than build new? Thinking about the trees and forests here.

Kyle Harper

How long does it typically take for an abandoned house to get taken over by nature? Are there any type of structures that are completely immune to this?

Maité Huerta

Spooky scary stories from abandoned buildings please?

Sarah

Seconding this!

Ashley Green

Can you tell us more about the abandoned mining towns in the rocky mountains? And for someone who is fascinated by old abandoned buildings, how do I get permission to view/get close to an old building? Is it even possible?? There are so many close to me but they are restricted to the public.

Kelin Jackman

How long does a building need to be abandoned before a decision is made on what to do with it? What can the community do to help them be used for unhoused people?

Victoria Garcia

Which abandoned buildings are your favorite(s)? (And which ones can I explore legally/without getting the big boot?)

Christina Johnson

Why are we building up new buildings instead of using old abandoned buildings? I see open land and trees being demoed for new buildings/ stores... When there's abandoned buildings within the same town.

Emily Adams

Can I share an anecdote? When I was about 12 my dad lived in Moscow. I went there for a few summers. One summer a bunch of kids and I found a "clubhouse!" We were so excited to have a clubhouse! One fateful day I took my dad to show him our cool clubhouse. His reaction? This is a burned out shell of a building full of cats (mostly alive) and being used by humans for shelter at night. So the clubhouse was officially off limits.

Jacqueline Puschmann

Why do some abandoned buildings remain the same for years whereas others fall apart quickly? Does it have to do with just the way it was built? Materials? Weather?

Paul Smith

If a person owns a house but just never lives in it or does any upkeep, is it still abandoned or just dilapidated? Is there a social/municipal difference?

Leora Shimon

I heard a thing once about a black market in good old handmade bricks taken from abandoned buildings to resell for a premium, with people even resorting to arson to make the bricks easier to collect. Is this really a thing? Are there other kinds of illicit trade in high quality materials from abandoned buildings?

Laura Lemon

Are there any consequences when someone takes over a house or property that has been abandoned? I’ve recently wanted to take over my neighbors lot that is full of trash and crumbling structures and turn it into a community farm or garden.

Mishelle

How do abandoned buildings get marked safe for tourist activities? Things like abandoned asylums that are opened for ghost tours. How do we know they are structurally safe?

Dantooine

I didn't know there were abandoned FLW houses!? I'm from Buffalo NY, theres a few there, and I've also visited Falling Water in PA. Love love love.

Tatum

Is it more common for residential or commercial buildings to be abandoned?

Sivvy

Abandoned buildings that had been schools or hospitals- and everything is left behind, including things like patient records or personnel files….what is the proper thing to do with that stuff? Should one across it, if one was say…off having an adventure one afternoon.

Emily Staw-fur

How long does it take for nature to take over an abandoned building? There are pictures of houses in the woods that have been abandoned and it looks like they are more moss/plants than building materials

Fish Chips

Do abandoned property belong to a company or the state, is that why it's illegal to go into abandoned buildings?

Sarah

Is there a way to support sustainable remodeling or preservation that doesn’t do undue harm to the communities that the buildings are in? Being from Michigan and seeing how areas in Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids are being flipped and raising the cost of living to the point where it’s forcing folks to become unhoused is heartbreaking but so is seeing the houses and buildings abandoned and in decay.

Nina Giacobbe

What is the coolest way you've seen and old building get repurposed, either in full or in pieces? (Last name pronounced juh-KOH-bee)

AJ Gray

Two questions (FTQA)! 1. When buildings get abandoned due to things like mold/insect/animal infestations what kind of micro-ecosystems do we end up finding? Cool stuff? And 2. Are there types of buildings that get abandoned more than others, and does it appear that ugly/poorly designed ones get left empty more often?

Annalise De Young

What are the possible ecological consequences of letting the buildings be reclaimed by Mother Nature? Are there ways we could remove more toxic elements and then just let them go?

Swisscheese Jess

It's going to get dark. And it's something some people don't agree with. I took an indigenous study class in spring. We learned about residential schools and how many buildings were burnt down, or torn down. Currently there is one of the last residential school buildings standing in muscowequan Saskatchewan. Many survivors, not all though, called for preserving the building as a reminder of the atrocities that the Catholic Church and the government of Canada committed against indigenous people. your thoughts on how important it is to preserve buildings like such and maybe repurposing them into educational places about histories like this one? Also in general, learn about this. It's horrendous and sad and upsetting, but something that's not being taught enough!

Hannah Michel

how many feral cat colonies have you found, and what do you do with them?

Kaitlin

What is the environmental effect of leaving these buildings standing?

Burks Rives

Do you partake in urban exploration and do you have any scary experiences, natural or supernatural?

Francesca Perrelli

1. Why so many everywhere, 2. Any interesting story involving fire escape stairs? Just cause they fascinate me

KASSANDRA CARLOS

What are the possible long term effects on the body of constantly going into an abandoned building without the proper gear? In Ghost Adventures the crew is constantly in masks.

Jack Sparks

Are there any architectural practices that you think we should still be using either for the sake of sustainability or for structural integrity? Are there any current building practices that you think should be abandoned (on the order of asbestos use)? What do you notice about cultural differences of disaster proofing homes and buildings?

Jessica Schnaiter

My first ever Ologies question! How can locals help who are not involved in politics/building/etc? As a Philadelphian, the Deconstruction Insurance Policy seems amazing, but I’m not sure where I can start to get involved.

Sophie Fournier

(FTQA) I just recently drove by an old shop that had been abandoned with everything left inside! There were plants hanging in the windows and all the merchandise was left. Why would a building be abandoned so fast with everything left inside?

Quincey Robisheaux

if the surrounding area has existing buildings & one of those buildings is damaged as the result of demolishing the abandoned one, is that covered by insurance or something?

Quincey Robisheaux

why don't we fix up abandoned buildings and make them homeless shelters?

Michael MacLeod

What is your opinion on "ghost cities" that exist in China where dozens of large apartment buildings are built and then never lived in?

Ava Serra

Why is it that so many abandoned buildings get left standing around for so long in some cases? Are they actually serving a purpose? Is it a cultural thing? Or is it something as simple as not having time, money, permits, etc.?

Kerry Scannell

First time question asker!!! I went on a disaster tour during a service trip in New Orleans and saw absolutely tons of homes abandoned since Katrina. What are your thoughts on keeping abandoned buildings around for educational purposes (though I'm sure that wasn't the intention) versus demolishing them for new growth? (Last name pronounced scan-NELL)

Lindsay Mixer

…exactly how much trouble could one get in for exploring abandoned buildings/relics? Cause sometimes I see places and just wanna explore SO BAD, but I’m also terrified of getting in trouble with the law.

Becca Addison

The city I live in is in the rust belt and has both many abandoned buildings and many unhoused individuals. Is there a connection between those stats or is it just my imagination?

ConnieConnieBoBonnie

I live in a small but thriving town. However, there are several old turn of the century houses near our town center that have been left empty for decades and are falling apart. It’s so sad because they could have been saved. The lots alone are probably worth 1/2 million at this point. I heard the houses are tied up in some kind of estate dispute. Should there be laws in place that prevent people from letting properties fall apart? Why or why not?

Lizzy Martinez

Are there buildings that were able to be restored but initially thought to not be a possibility?

Rebecca Wolf

Can you talk to us about mold and indoor air pollution with aging infrastructure and climate change? What are the precursors to abandonment?

Jamie Quinn

Why are all abandoned buildings inherently spooky? How quickly do wildlife take over and what are the dominating animals found?

Shannon Siegel

I'm from Central Maryland and abandoned buildings are a big deal in our area but no one wants to put forth the money to do anything about them. What is the risk of just letting abandoned buildings stay where they are vs renovating or demolishing them?

Judith

What is the most interesting thing you've found in an abandoned house/building? (I'm assuming you've seen your fair share of them!)

M. Cerys Jenks

How much damage does a home incur by sitting empty without anybody maintaining it? Obviously it would vary depending on climate, but in general is there a predictable window of time after which an abandoned building becomes too damaged to repair?

Arson

thoughts on airbnb? buying flats just to rent them out on airbnb makes the housing market especially in cities worse and worse

Suzie Newby

If people stop using a building how long does it usually take before it’s too ruined to start using again? Anything that makes them last longer or fall down faster?

Petr Kubik

Just how much trouble can you get into for trespassing in abandoned buildings for the purposes of urban exploration and photography?

Trevor Durning

Yes! I have access through my school to a repository that holds a ton of his work and when doing research a lot of his houses are boarded up and sitting there. Did you know the Guggenheim was originally supposed to be painted like a sunset? They were going back and forth between orange and purple lol - wild stuff to see

Rob Montague

I have observed several nice houses over the years fall into decay because family members couldn't bear the thought of letting go of a family home. I'd be interested to hear an opinion on the psychology of how owning a home until it decays is more comforting than seeing in preserved under someone else's care.

Kendall Hargis

What happens to a house with termites or a lot of mold or something. Are they lost causes?

Morgan Lane

Such a cool topic! Can you talk about the redevelopment of abandoned buildings into affordable housing? That's a big topic in Atlanta right now! Also, totally unrelated, but would love to hear some talk about the creepy abandoned Soviet Era buildings in Whittier, Alaska!

Savannah Glenn

has anything spooky happened to you while in an abandoned building?

Matt Jolliff

I've heard that sky scrapers have a 100 year limit. Is that true? And how would that look like since we have so many reaching that age now?

Hazel

Why are they so tempting to explore?

Sonja Rossow

I see a lot of YouTube video of people visiting abandon buildings. Is it illegal to go into abandon buildings to look around or just visitor beware of being safe?

Emmett M Wald

I’m interested in botany. In long-abandoned buildings, what does ecological succession look like? How does that process vary depending on the type of structure and the materials it’s built from?

Jasmine Liu

Whenever I see videos of people exploring abandoned buildings, there's beds, dressers, clothes, dishes, etc. that are still there. Is it legal to take things from abandoned places? Why are those things just there anyway?

Courtney Eschbach Wells

With an affordable housing crisis in most parts of the US right now, what kind of programs or policies are there (or could there be) that encouraged the reuse of abandoned buildings for housing?

FerretFace

If you just randomly see an abandoned building, how do you judge whether it's safe to enter? Do you disregard the "abandoned - do not enter" signs and go in for a nose around, and just hope the floor isn't going to cave in?

Amanda Ramirez

I grew up in Traverse City, MI and throughout my life I’ve seen the renovation at the grounds of the “Old State Hospital” and been fascinated as it has gone from year round spooky Halloween village a little town center with residential, commercial and retail spaces that draw in locals and tourists alike. How can the caretakers of sites like this keep the history intact and teach about it, while still reviving the buildings into a modern mixed use site?

Courtney Eschbach Wells

And for rural areas, what kind of programs or policy incentives could be used to encourage abandoned buildings and properties to be returned to green space to further conservation efforts?

Jasmine Liu

What is the likelihood of running into persons experiencing homelessness when exploring abandoned buildings? They are already going through enough without me traipsing around like a privileged house tourist. Is there a better time of day or type of location to avoid that?

MN_09

Hi!! I have a few questions: Does this Ology have its roots in the "riuso" custom that existed during the European Renaissance or not? How long does it take after a building becomes uninhabited for it to be considered abandoned? Is there a minimum number of years? Who gets to decide if and when certain building materials can be reused? Thanks and all the best from Romania!

Sam Nelson

So what about squatters?

Amber McIntyre

Can you talk about blighted zoning and what that can mean for abandoned buildings? What happens to a building when a zone receives this designation? Restoration? demolition?

Rebecca Shay

Welcome to Lansing! Happy to point you towards recommendations if need be. Question for the ologist: is fixing abandoned buildings much more difficult than new builds? Are they so rife with structural issues it's hard to refurbish, and that's why we don't do it everywhere?

Abby Cox

What percentage of homes are abandoned in the world?

Rachael Ward

How much of a house needs to be deteriorating before you decide to demolish it versus repair? What about historical homes?

Nathalie Jones

Why do developers like to plop ugly big modern looking buildings in areas that still have older buildings? Why is neighborhood cohesion not the priority? And did people in the 1920s ish feel the same way about the the beautiful old apartment buildings we cherish now 100s of years ago?

E.G. Gidner

What is the creepiest abandoned building you have been in?

Super_Sara

I’ve seen whole neighborhoods become abandoned. What prevents these large parcels of land from being purchased? Why do some people abandon their homes and everything inside them (outside of a disaster and being evacuated)?

Lucy Geese Gold

Old asylums in the UK and France were specifically designed as a tool to rehabilitate patients. Are there any buildings you have visited where you felt like the architecture was making you feel a certain way?

Kylie M Smith

What kinds of building materials are the best for the environment?

Alex

Super interesting topic, can't wait! Now, the city I live in has loads of abandoned buildings, and quite a few have been turned into tourist attractions where people can take guided tours. But this city is also in the midst of a serious housing crisis. I'd love to know the Ologist's thoughts on the ethics of this. When is it worth maintaining old/otherwise unusable structures for the sake of historical preservation, and when is it better to clear out the space for more practical uses?

Abby Grieb

Omg Just wanted to say welcome to Lansing! I’m at Michigan State! You picked a beautiful day to be here!! 🍁

Joel Henderson

Does this field include study of the different rules around the country/world for squatting? "Adverse possession" as the lawyers call it. Are there some notable cases of squatters acquiring abandoned property?

Kelsey fant

First time question asker, long time listener; how do you feel about youtubers who urban explore abandoned structures/cities/places?

Rebecca Shay

Lol hi Abby! I agree with this - all the trees on campus are glorious today!

Cate Muenker

How long does it take nature to devour/cover up an abandoned building? What is the 1st plant that starts to cover these buildings? Is it Ivy or moss? Has anyone studied the progression of decomposition of different materials in different climates? Would love to see that! What movie has the most accurate depiction of building decay?

Morgan Casey

How common is it for asbestos or other hazardous materials to be the reason places are abandoned?

Julia Vollmer

There are many shows like ghost adventures that go into these buildings. Is that legit? Is there anything else about the structure or condition of the buildings that could also explain what they find?

Megan Burnett Tarasiewicz

Why does it seem like abandoned buildings decay so much faster than normal buildings? I feel like i dont do THAT much upkeep on my house... but other houses that have no one in them just seem to crumble so fast. is it because they are sad?

Megan Duffy

From my sister Brianna: For zoning laws, how can we push to have more apartments that (i) are safe and affordable, and (ii) erase the stigma that only single 20-something’s live in apartments? Is this a local issue or a federal issue, or both? #marriedanddontwantahouse

Chandler Witherington

I read an article the other week about a company in the Netherlands (I think??) that is deconstructing buildings set for demolition piece by piece in order to reuse them for future buildings. I love this idea and am wondering if you are seeing this type of thinking/approach grow? In the article it also talked about how the EU tends to recycle demolition waste into other things (mostly roads) to divert it from the landfill. Why doesn't the US take this approach?

Matt Ceccato

A movie theater in my neighborhood closed in 1997 and was demolished in 2014. The reasoning was because the building had asbestos among its components. Does demolishing an abandoned building add those items to the atmosphere? Is it ever safe to just abandon a building and leave it there to rot?

Dawn Zwart

I love the idea of reusing building materials from abandoned buildings. What material are most conducive to recycling and what are the barriers to repurposing building materials?

Sarah Meaden

What is the protocol/process for buildings abandoned because they were meth labs? I had a friend who was forced to leave her house because it was an undeclared meth lab and I'm curious how they go about dealing with them since I know they're dangerous.

Allison D

Since you mentioned Detroit, this reminds me of the photosets of abandoned Detroit buildings that made the Internet rounds about a decade ago, especially the libraries and theaters and places that looked like they were once beautiful, vibrant community centers. They seemed horribly sad to look at, but it also felt like rubbernecking, especially since these are modern buildings that people used within the past decades. I worked in libraries at the time and I can remember seeing other libraries repost those pictures with captions like, "Don't worry, we'd never let this happen in OUR city to OUR libraries." Which seems like a really reductive take on how these buildings wound up in this state! Can you talk about why people have such a fascination with images like this, and maybe how we use other people's abandoned places to make ourselves feel better about our own situations? (Also Alie omg, I know this is a long question, so if you ask it, please feel free to edit it down! <3)

Diana Teeter

If what Roman Mars says is true (shout out to 99% Invisible) that the greenest building is the one that is already there- why are so many great old buildings torn down instead of repurposed? (Thinking of what keeps happening in NYC-specifically on my mind is the Hotel Pennsylvania ) are they really that difficult/expensive to retrofit and repurpose?

Shantzz

Are abandoned buildings too difficult to renovate and repurpose? Or are there ways to save the history and beauty of some of the old structures?

Adam Foote

How long does it take for different kinds of structures to "look" or "feel" abandoned? I'm thinking about farm buildings around where I grew up. You'd see a barn that was falling over and covered in ivy and think that it was abandoned a hundred years ago but then there's a power pole right outside. Maybe my question is more like "how long does it take nature to reclaim a building after it's abandoned?" Also I'm sure there's a government definition of what "abandoned" means. How is that different from "derelict"? Other synonyms? Finally: my well-meaning parents often complain that "this house pays less in property taxes because it looks terrible so it has a lower assessment than my well-kept house". Is there any truth in that statement? Thanks for reading my question on the Metropolitan Tombology episode! You made my month

flowermoonfaerie

What safety precautions do you typically take when entering abandoned properties? Are you weary of animals, chemicals, humans, debris?

Sarah Mathew

Historically building materials get re-used like the stone from the pyramids. Do you have a favorite story of re-use?

Pascal Perron

What is your take on urban exploration?

Kai Kishimoto

How can abandoned houses be used to help the housing crisis?

Grandma Theresa

We live in an old abandoned building now restored and brought back to its original Design and foot print. That cost substantially. How do you fight gentrification while keeping the historical integrity of a place. Just fixing working and plumbing alone is cost prohibitive

MissKitti

This subject is near and dear to my heart! I can’t pass an abandoned building without considering its use during the apocalypse. So so excited for this episode.

Timothy Klein

What are cities like Detroit doing with their abandoned buildings and showing some pride in their city?

Taylor Jacot

What are the weirdest occurrences of people leaving towns that ultimately turn them into ghost towns?

Cheryl Kent

What defines "abandoned"? I feel like I see the term only used to describe structures that have been vacant/derelict for some "n" number of years greater than like, 5? There's a little house up by where I live, I noticed it about 3 years ago, first it was the mailbox overflowing with mailers and then I started to notice the yard was neglected and before long the mailbox itself was gone. I wondered for a time if something happened to the occupant, but then, why is it still sitting there unused? PS - this is my first time posting a question, yay I did it!

Adrien WikiSleep Sala

I've always been curious about how entire collections of buildings, like Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat can wind up being completely lost? If, say, the Mall of America were to be shut down, how long would it take for us to all forget it ever existed in the first place?

Ira Gray

Whats up with squating? Is it illegal? Can you take ownership of a residence by squating?

Kristy Lowrey

What are some “rules” of what you can or shouldn’t take?

Megan Duffy

Added on to my question from earlier

Breeana Cazel

What are the reasons for buildings getting abandoned?

Hannah Matousek

What is the main cause of abandonment? Are there different causes for inner-city abandonments than there are for ghost-town abandonments?

Tracy DeGarmo

What's up with all the parkour and drones that go through abandoned buildings? I love watching those videos. Are they violating any laws by being there? Will it ever be an actual "sport?"

Ted Vician

Laws and money. Assume someone buys a house with a mortgage. They disappear. The bank forecloses, or at least has the right to do so. The city/county/state all might have property taxes that will pile up unpaid. Those things have to be resolved, plus maybe probate, if the resident died. All that costs money and takes time. Lawyers don’t work for free. Meanwhile, it’s sat empty. Could be water damaged, damaged/looted, full of vermin, etc. All of those things need to be inspected and fixed. If it’s a really old place, might need asbestos or lead removal/mitigation. More money. Could easily be talking tens of thousands of dollars to renovate a single property.

Ellie

I did a project on Detroit's abandoned buildings in college! So excited for this episode. In your opinion, what is the best thing to put in an abandoned building? I know I always joked with my brother when we were young about turning old Kmarts into laser tag arenas but as I'm older I wonder about homeless shelters.

Taryn Selch

Please tell us about the coolest abandoned building you have ever been in. Also, have you ever seen anything you couldn't explain--I'm thinking about potentially supernatural occurances. [Also Alie is it dishonest to call myself a first time question-asker if I have asked questions, but they've never been asked? Inquiring philosophers want to know.]

Earl of Greymalkin

1) Are squatters' rights a real thing? 2) Are abandoned buildings truly abandoned or is somebody somewhere paying property tax on them? What are the legalities of just leaving a building to rot? 3) How dangerous can they get? If they start falling apart is the local government supposed to take them down completely or is there no obligation to do anything beyond putting up a fence? Is this different in earthquake prone areas versus not? 4) What kind of wildlife moves into abandoned buildings and how are they evicted before demo? 5) Do people ever do things like rip out copper wiring in the night to turn a profit? Is there a black market for reclaimed hardware like sinks? 6) When someone knows that they will abandon a building, is there a protocol to gut the interior before doing so or do they just leave whatever? 7) How expensive is it to 'flip' a lot with an abandoned building? Does there need to be a critical mass of pressure to gentrify first? 8) When a building is demo'd, how much of the foundation has to be dug out? What happens to the connections for utilities like water and sewage? 9) If the walls could talk, would they insult us for leaving them to decay alone and get peed on by trash pandas? 10) Got any good ghost stories about abandoned buildings?

Ted Vician

First step might be to check with the city or county to see if someone is paying property taxes on it.

McKenna Speed

Why are there so many abandoned buildings in Detroit? How many do you think there are? In your opinion, what is the best use of these abandoned structures?

Katie Munoz

How common is it for abandoned buildings to be hoarded full of someone's "treasures?"

Shawna Lee

Why are abandoned malls so appealing? How do abandoned malls come to be? If they're sitting around abandoned does a company still own it? (I think they're beautiful)

Sarah Endres

What’s the safest way to demolish an abandoned building when it’s in the middle of a city compared to one that’s more remote. This includes safety of humans and environment. Is it better to just let them kind of decay and fall apart?

Mx. Artemisia

Can you talk about Druid Heights please please pleeeease?

Stephanie Leské

What's the weirdest or funniest thing you've encountered that you can't explain?

Rachel M

1. How much material can be reused from demolition of a building vs how much actually is? 2. Is it a more sustainable option, environmentally, to try to repair and renovate existing buildings? 3. Is there a point/what is the point where it no longer would make sense to renovate and demolition is the best option?

Euan Munro

A question on the biology if it's possible to answer. Are there any plants, animals or other living things that eat the materials of buildings or do they just use them as substrate?

Cyntia B

Some countries have a lot of abandoned buildings. What are the laws and policies or culture traits which promote / deter the presence of abandoned buildings? Which countries are the best / the worst regarding the number of abandoned buildings per capita and why?

Megan Younce

Who decides what happens to a building once it's abandoned?

Kelsey Caudebec

Affordable housing (or lack thereof) is becoming more and more of a crisis in many cities and towns across America. For example, I live in a small, picturesque seaport community in Washington State that is so dreamy that over the years (especially covid) wealthy retirees and newly-remote workers have bought up so much of our housing that there is a severe housing shortage and the average home price is 2x-3x what the average local household can afford. Additionally, many houses sit vacant because they are someone's second or third home and they don't bother to rent it out, even though the local workforce desperately needs housing. So basically...can you connect this topic to our nationwide housing crisis?

Kat Sherrell

What kinds of policies have you seen be effective at creating affordable housing in booming cities or neighborhoods?

Connor Hopkins

What kinds of decisions can someone building a house make to help the building last as long as possible, while remaining environmentally friendly?

BolognaShoes

Lets talk about restoring abandoned buildings, what do *we* have to do to make this a thing that happens more often?? There is a huge old state hospital where I live that has been restored into shops and condos and restaurants and it's all absolutely magical https://www.thevillagetc.com/tour/

Delaney

It's always shocking to me how quickly a building/man made thing deteriorates once it's not in use. What is going on there? How!?

Brita Goldstein

First time question asker, long time listener; what about historical buildings? At what point does a building become historical and protected? Or at what point does it become "ok" to tear down?

Celeste

Ok there is a psych episode about an arson inspector looking at old buildings that needed to be torn down due to unsafety and there ended up being dead bodies in the walls - with that being said, any wild what's found in walls story or crime stories with abandoned buildings?

Celeste

A lot of my area has been converting old factory buildings into apartments (hosieries, tobacco buildings). Do you think this is a good form of repurposing older buildings whose industry they supported no longer exists?

Mark Knight

What are the leading causes of buildings deteriorating so quickly once abandoned? What can be done to slow the process while they are trying to be saved?

Kleargle

So you find most abandoned/deteriorated buildings are modern? Old? Is there a decade that dominates?

Kleargle

Do you find**

Karter

The Weather Channel website used to have galleries of abandoned buildings, amusement parks, and Olympic parks. Why are they so beautifully creepy?? How long does it take nature to repurpose these structures?

Scott Pilkington

+1 ALSO, aren't palimpsets just the coolist things?

Emily Hoban

OMG IM FROM LANSING!! with Michigan State in east Lansing, how do college campuses impact lifecycles of buildings/land to renovate/add buildings for student housing?

Alexander Kidd

Opinion on urban exploration? Tips on how to do so safely? I've always wanted to explore some abandoned buildings, but I am terrified of getting in trouble for trespassing.

Little Hound, Big Sound

Adding onto this- there was an old Ford Motor Plant in Pittsburgh that was vacant for decades but still named a historical landmark, despite being in disrepair for a looooong time. Only recently did a developer dump a ton of money into it to make it usable again (renamed The Assembly). How/why name a dilapidated building a historical landmark? Is it to try and entice someone with money to invest in it?

Scott Duncan

Do reasons for abandonment vary by state/province?

Aoife Holmes

Hi is there anything in particular that someone should look for in an abandoned building for signs of usable material or where to gain the knowledge of how to know what I am looking at haha 😅 I would love to see the full value or work to be done when I look at a possible property

Patrick Foye

These turned out to be a bit off topic as they aren’t in regards to abandoned buildings. And they kind of the same question written differently: 1) How do you think the modern nation wide planned neighborhoods and cookie cutter identical houses, with little planning by the architects for customization and/or uniqueness affect the inhabitants (individuals and families) and communities as a whole (positively or negatiy)? 2) Is the lack of region specific architecture (Adirondack style roofs with skylights, Cape Cod bungalows, SW USA adobe style stucco, stilt homes near beaches and flood plains) affecting individuals and communities cultures? Making a less distinct cultures across America?

Elizabeth Reed

How quickly to buildings disintegrate that were build 100 years ago vs. within the last 20 years?

Elizabeth Reed

Why are there random stone walls that were built 100s of years ago still intact? It seems like a simple structure, without much evidence of binding materials. How do they weather storms and animals and general degradation?

Rachel von Morrigan

Can you explore if there aren’t signs? What are dangers other than structural decay? It there a website listing abandoned places to explore? I love abandoned buildings, but I’m always scared I’ll get in trouble if I just go in all willy nilly.

Kendall M

How do you feel about urban exploring? Is it a good or bad thing for abandoned buildings?

Sutton Moore

Are abandoned buildings treated differently in non-Western cultures (besides sacred spaces)? I'm very interested to see if they have a significance culturally or are simply discarded structures to be reclaimed by nature.

Will Clark

What is the relationship between mismanagement, rent control, and corporate greed to the abandonments?

Joe Wilkie

what’s the pervading squatter law in the united states and does it vary much by state? asking for a friend

Cole

Why can't we just give abandoned buildings to people who will use them?

Bethany Barlow

Has a specific ecosystem been observed around/inside abandoned buildings? What about the abandoned buildings in hazardous sites, such as the city of Pripyat in Ukraine that was abandoned after Chernobyl? (Side note - an episode on nuclear disasters would be interesting!)

Joe Wilkie

also, is it substantially illegal to do the dirty in abandoned buildings?

Elizabeth Bos-Mar

Why can’t we just build buildings to last. My neighborhood is only 75 yo & it’s being slowly replaced with new houses that won’t last longer. Most houses here are abandoned because they are not safe anymore.

Some Random Frog

Do you believe in ghosts, if so, how does that influence your work?

Kasey Carrick

OMG I did a photo project of abandoned buildings in Detroit and now i work throughout the city guest teaching in gorgeous old (non-abandoned) schools — where i frequently squeeze ologies facts into my lessons ;) I fricken love all of the Detroit architecture 😍 I’m so excited for this episode. PS let’s hang out while you’re here please

Kasey Carrick

Also thru my job I’ve participated in projects cleaning up abandoned lots in residential neighborhoods. So question — is doing exterior clean up like that actually beneficial (economically or otherwise) for the neighborhood/residents in the neighborhood?

Specs Owl

I explore abandoned buildings (castles, houses, waterworks, etc) a lot. But the one downside is, whenever I do so, I get the Mariko Aoki phenomenon (which I also get whenever I'm in a bookshop or library). Why is this?!

Shannon O'Grady

Are abandoned buildings generally destroyed by vandals, or have you found pristine ones?

Lisa St

Have you seen the book "Asylum" by Christopher Payne? If not, OMG go look-he has some of the photos from the book online. He captures the architectural beauty of these old buildings along with their current state of decrepitude, the hope that the best of these places tried to offer, and the despair that many of them did. I work in old state hospital bdgs in Augusta ME, and we used to be able to go into the basements/tunnels. Talk about O-M-G.

Lisa St

I was fascinated to find some mosses growing in cracks in the tunnel floors under the old state hospital where I work. There was only artificial light there...

Lisa St

asbestos and lead removal are reportedly the things keeping the restoration of the old original building at the Augusta Mental Health Institute (a gorgeous old granite structure) from being done.

Jessie Pearce

Is there a responsibility (of anyone, state/owner) to leave the abandoned building in safe conditions? With environmental hazards used in buildings(abandoned gas stations tanks, asbestos), how can we ensure a place is safe to critters and people over time?

Alex Glow

Why are abandoned buildings so enchanting? It feels like a group project between humanity and nature.

Elijah

How can we reframe old, refurbished houses in the public mind? They tend to sell for less and/or are harder to sell than cookie cutter homes

Aubrey Dunn

Why are old abandoned buildings so creepy?

Leslie Chu

As an architecture student, I have always loved the pictures of architecture being retaken by nature. Why do abandoned buildings give off such an ethereal feeling, and is there any way they could contribute to society without functioning how they were originally intended to?

Carson Soukup

Are you familiar with The Backrooms and Liminal Spaces? When you're in an abandoned building does it feel like that?

Rachel Ambrose

Is there a way to responsibly/safely/ethically explore abandoned buildings without feeling like you're trespassing? If so, how?

Maisie Lopez

how long does it take for plants and animals to reclaim abandoned buildings? does new shelter affect the ecology?

Ben Golder

How has the culture of "squatting" abandoned buildings changed over time? Has it always been a thing? Was it just a thing for punk kids in the 90s? Were there community rules about taking over structures before cadastral maps & modern real estate were a thing? Do you have any advice or warnings for partygoers and artists who stage secret events in abandoned buildings?

Gabrielle

Is there a way to restore old buildings in a sustainable way or are there some buildings that are too far gone to restore.

Jessie Pearce

FTQA: what is the relationship between abandoned housing and the current limited housing, mainly limited affordable housing? What can we learn to better navigate abandoned housing to make it usable, for anything?

Malorie Albee

How to know if an abandoned house is worth being a fixer upper? Why do some stay standing for so long only to be torn down? Rules on trespassing since so many vloggers/photographers do.

Anna Eeeee

Can you talk about the abandonment of Chernobyl and how it’s progression is different than what was anticipated?

anthony willis

How long is the process when it comes to trying to restore an old building?