Doing some urban exploring yesterday - trying to wind back down from a visit to the VA Clinic. Yee Haw! Anyway I stopped on Clay, between State and Union. There is a strange "railcar like" alleyway that goes between the large red building and a small bluish Beautyshop buiklding. Still wondering why that weird angled alley and it's apparent railroad/roadway was there. Who did that cut through the buildings, (in reality it's two sepperate buildings). The old road bed is quite visible.
I went upstairs at 818 North Clay, and knocked on the door. Lots of noise was noise was coming out and floating on the air. A young carpenter came up and we small talked the old alley. He didn't really know but he did show me some other places to the West/Southwest where you can see it cutting into the distant intersection. I asked him what was going on since I didn't see a sign, and no sign of life, but plenty of noise.
My tour guide smiled and said, "SHANTY TOWN", the owners are working on a new place here, Don't know if it's a new location for the old location or if this is "Shanty Town II". Either way its great to see a local business expand in these hard times.
OCKLAWAHA
Ock, that area had a different street grid at one point. That block is about all that's left of it. The rest was ripped to shreds during the urban renewal happy years a few decades back. Check out the old Sanborn maps in the library.
I too have heard... um... er... rumors. They have been outed by Ock! :)
Yes, that building will EVENTUALLY, hopefully, keep fingers crossed, oneday will be Shantytown part 2. The old man we bought the building from told us that used to be a service alley, but when they re did the sidewalks the city closed it off. No big deal to me, but he seemed pretty pissed about it still.
But yeah, basically we are working on it but but dont have the budget to finish, as of now! Any angel investors out there reading, lemme know!
Ian
I remember that place. That was that Dr's office that was basically a pill mill at one point. I remember the huge story on the news when the guy got busted.
Nice to see get put to good use!
Good luck Ian. I hope the magical money fairy comes and makes this possible!