Abandoned AmericaThe remains of the abandoned Palace Theatre in Gary, Indiana
Find out how Gary went from a thriving steel town to a city of ruins: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/gary-indiana
Adam Cook@AbandonedAmerica I was born in South Chicago, lived in Hammond, Indiana (neighboring city to Gary) at various points.
Even though I no longer live in the area, my mind still frequently struggles to understand the cities that border Lake Michigan in Indiana.
Undoubtedly, racism was the bedrock of decline for Hammond, Gary and East Chicago - and still infects them all significantly.
@AbandonedAmerica I had always thought (perhaps dreamed) there was a brief window (around 2000-2010) that they could come back in some fashion with the right investments.
I used to be casually involved with various economic development parties in and around that area.
pmroman@adamjcook @AbandonedAmerica
I recommend watching "The King of Steel Town" by director Chris Sautter. I am familiar with the area and its politics. #Gary, #Hammond, #EastChicago...very particular.
I recommend watching "The King of Steel Town" by director Chris Sautter. I am familiar with the area and its politics. #Gary, #Hammond, #EastChicago...very particular.
@pmroman @AbandonedAmerica Yup. I have seen that multiple times. 😉
I got it on VHS.
Hard to get a copy these days.
@adamjcook @AbandonedAmerica There were cd copies of this, and another couple of Indiana political history documentaries, by him.
@adamjcook I wish they could have made a comeback but it seems increasingly unlikely. I was told they have a new casino that is bringing jobs and tourists to the area but that hardly seems like a substitute for a solid economic foundation
@AbandonedAmerica And that lakeshore casino revenue that will likely substantially decrease now that, for the first time ever, a casino will be built in the heart of downtown Chicago.
Someone smarter than me probably wrote a book about the area and the missed opportunities in detail.
I mean... most of the white people moved out and the State of Indiana just gave up on it.
No surprises there, but it was palpable from my very simplistic perspective.
@AbandonedAmerica The best ideas that I ever heard is that the State of Indiana should have reached into the community and funded people directly to start businesses in the distressed, but still viable vacant properties (many now too far gone today).
And the community there did have great ideas!
Instead, whatever money was sent up or otherwise available was wasted on shallow corporate subsidies that did nothing or was simply stolen by just a few.