Visiting abandoned buildings, and places, in Phoenix, Arizona


I've always enjoyed visiting abandoned buildings, and places. It's been a quirk of my personality since I was a kid - just looking at an old empty building, or maybe just the remains of a foundation. It has always fired up my imagination, wondering about the people who were once there.

I'm sure that you understand, but of course most people don't. When I see an abandoned building, or place, I know that there are people who are watching me, wondering what I'm doing. I pride myself on looking respectable, and maybe even businesslike, looking over the property with the thought of possibly investing, taking photos so that my business partners can see the property when I get back to my office. Or maybe I'm a city inspector, or something like that. If anyone were to walk up to me and ask me I'd be honest with them, and just say that I have a fascination with old buildings, and I'd try to talk to them about the history of the area. I find that most people just smile politely, give me "that look", and edge away.

Yesterday I was looking at what I call the old Ballys building in the Glendale Galleria on Peoria Avenue in Glendale. I was waiting for my haircut appointment, and it was such a beautiful day that I had no intention of sitting in their little waiting area.

When I look at abandoned buildings, I try to picture in my imagination what it was like when there was a flurry of activity. I see people walking in and out, and since this was a gym, maybe carrying their gym bags, and dressed in workout clothes. I myself was a member during the 1990s, and I like to picture a younger me going over there to use the pool, which I did very often, up until about the turn of the century.

It wasn't until this morning when I downloaded the pics from my phone that I even realized that the graphic there was a young woman maybe hitting a punching bag. Now I can see her bellybutton, but yesterday all I could see were the cracks on the panels, and some graffiti. The desert sun is hard on buildings, and while this neighborhood is good about covering up graffiti quickly, I'd imagine that even the fussiest of "graffiti busters" haven't noticed the small amount up there. And someone climbed up there to do it! Athleticism always impresses me.

The landscaping is still cared for around this building, as it's part of the overall look of the area, and there's even a possibility that another tenant will move in. There are a couple of really nice gyms nearby, so I can't imagine that it would be a good investment do have a third gym in the area. But it's a nice big building, and maybe there's a way to put it to use.

In the meantime, this abandoned building sits there, watches the world go by, and nods and dreams.
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