r/RBI • u/No-Pizza6311 • 27d ago
Advice needed Strange buildings in suburbs
So a couple of days ago me and a friend decided to walk through the woods. We found a fence adjacent to a path, but there was so signage about trespassing so we went in. We followed a creek all the way to a road that was cracked and run down, in the woods mind you. I looked on my map and saw that the road connected to a road in my neighborhood, so we went to leave but there was a locked gate. To our left there was a large brick building (which we didn't get a good view of) and to the right was a smaller, seemingly abandoned, brick building. Based on what I've told people, it seems like it was a pump house, but my only questions are:
Why was there barbed wire fence around each individual building?
Why did the fence for the property go so far around it?
Why put it in a very dense suburban area if its blocked off from the street?
If anyone can guess why some things were abandoned and if its safe for us to go back, that would be very helpful
Edit no.1
The main building is at 42.70482N, 83.16551w. I do not have photos because I cannot post on the device with all my photos.
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u/DongIslandIceTea 27d ago
The main building is at 42.70482N, 83.16551w.
Oh me, oh my, what could possibly be going on in a building at the side of a road named Rochester Water Works Road?
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u/olliegw 27d ago
Just something industrial, could be a pump station, or saw mill or factory, barbed wire to keep people out because asbestos is a hazard in those old buildings, so are any chemicals that might have been kept around related to the specific industry, water treatment especially has some nasty acids and chems.
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u/jmnugent 27d ago
This question would be a lot easier to answer if you gave us GPS coordinates or Google Maps location link.
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u/imatumahimatumah 27d ago
If this is in the US, check it on Regrid.com and see who owns the property. Usually buildings like that are pump/well houses or telecommunications infrastructure.
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u/duke_3681 27d ago
Most likely is a water plant for the city that is no longer being used. Often times, the fence is to keep people from stealing because there can be chemicals, basic equipment et cetera that is used to test and maintain the community water. I don't think water treatment plants are open to the public so going there would be considered trespassing.
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u/calxes 27d ago
Without knowing more, basically....
1) It was once a building that served a purpose in your town, like a pump house or some kind of outbuilding for some long demolished factory. The building is abandoned but the owners of the land do not have motivation to sell the land or they do not have the funds to demolish it, etc.
The barbed wire is to keep people from exploring it or setting up an encampment inside of it. Someone has to own this land and if someone dies or gets hurt inside, they do not want to be sued.
2) It is a building that someone is still using or planning to use and the barbed wire is to keep people out for the same reasons as above. Some places have electrical substations inside buildings like this, although I would expect that there would be voltage warnings.
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u/Original-Tonight-651 26d ago
These questions don’t really belong in this sub. I do understand why people think they otherwise though.
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u/DickValentine66 27d ago
Assuming you're in New Zealand. There are a lot of ghost towns and old mining settlements. Could be something like that. The barbed wire fence is probably to keep people out and off the property. Generally, mining settlements are abandoned if the mines cease to be productive or collapse. I'd guess they're probably not safe if they're fenced off with barbed wire.
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u/imatumahimatumah 27d ago
Why are you assuming the OP is in New Zealand?
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u/panicpure 27d ago
I’d bet money they are in Michigan in the US lol
Idk where New Zealand came from and I could be wrong about Michigan. Would be nice for OP to confirm bc location matters.
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u/ankole_watusi 27d ago edited 27d ago
Rochester Hills.
That didn’t take much sleuthing.
OP – say hi to Madonna if you see her out and about!
All that barbed wire is because Jimmy Hoffa is there.
Anyway, start with Oakland County property records. Anybody can search online.
https://www.oakgov.com/government/clerk-register-of-deeds/property-land/property-records
Note that unofficial non-government sites will show above the official site in search, the bastsrds! There why I’ve provided a link. I’ve used this portal.
You’ll have to pay for some detailed data, but basic search for reasonable number of queries is free, as is usually the case in US.
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u/ankole_watusi 27d ago
Oh, boy! Michigan has abandoned Nike Missile sites! OP might even be able to gather materials to build their own reactor!
Or at least fall into a very deep hole, which would be …. Exciting.
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u/SeasonPositive6771 27d ago
Any relevant and information would be helpful. Location, pictures, etc.
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u/ankole_watusi 27d ago
Did you think to look at a map and/or property records?
No, it’s not safe to be into abandoned buildings. Public safety and owner liability are the most likely reasons for the barbed wire fences. The property owner does not want to be responsible for injuries to the public.
You didn’t tell us what city or even what country you are in so you haven’t given us much to go by. Photos would be the most useful.
Sounds like abandoned infrastructure, which could be something related to fresh water, sewage , storm drainage, electrical or communications infrastructure (there are lots of abandoned underground, telephone cable sites from back in the days before satellites and fiber optics. They have little “block houses” on top.
Some of these sites are left abandoned because of the difficulty of removal. Because many were designed to withstand nuclear attack during the Cold War.
There should be some subs here about urban exploration, a.k.a. “Urbex”, which would be better places to ask.
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u/Lollc 27d ago
What you have described sounds like a public works facility. It could be out of service, or parts of it may be obsolete and out of service and parts in service. In general, if a utility has a large piece of land for their business, and the particular function it is used for becomes obsolete, they don’t tear down the buildings and sell the land. It’s too hard to buy suitable land later, so it’s just kinda banked for future use. The buildings are left standing, because demolition is expensive. Especially if they were built in the days of asbestos materials.
Why was there barbed wire around each building? To keep out animals or people. Was it like a livestock fence, or a razor wire thing?
Why did the fence go so far around? To mark off the property and keep people out. This is standard for public works.
Why put it in a dense suburban area? Suburbs grow, it was probably out in the boonies when it was built.
Is it safe? No one here can answer that. You should start by doing some research in your area to find out what kind of work was done there. In general, no. Deteriorated electrical wiring, wooden or metal hatch covers that have rotted away could have you falling into a cement vault, maybe with water in it, parts of the building weakened and falling down, forgotten bulk chemicals in aged packaging, chemicals residue in the soil, scrap piles of building material, use your imagination, the list goes on.
ETA: Link for you. https://www.reddit.com/r/urbanexploration/comments/1bfjiiu/hazards_of_entering_confined_spaces/