Imagine the possibilities

Last week we looked at several vacant buildings here in Downey. We showed how they can invite non-owners to use the property for purposes other than what the owner had intended.

Today I wanted to show you that a vacant building can be changed into a beautiful place of business given the right person with a little imagination. Uyuky is just such a person. She has taken an empty shell of a building and transformed it into an inviting retreat.

The POSH hair and makeup studio is lined with comfortable chairs for its customers and a makeup studio complete with right angle mirrors.

"They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea."
~Francis Bacon

Taking advantage

I showed you yesterday a vacant building on Firestone that used to be used as an Arby's fast food restaurant. The thing about vacant buildings is that the owners usually do not have an incentive to keep up the property. Thus the "abandoned" look of the property.

Because it does look abandoned, some people will take advantage of the situation and use the property for their own purposes without fear of being caught. Above I see a blanket in an alcove of the building, probably used for sleeping quarters during the night. It allows for some privacy and limited exposure to the elements.

Others will use the property for a wide open trash can.

Rancho ruins

This is a view of some of the buildings on the back side of Rancho Los Amigos - more of the abandoned area south of Imperial. This area is bordered by both old railroad tracks and barbed wired topped fencing. One of the reasons I keep photographing this area is because I'm afraid that one day it will just be bulldozed with no warning and then there will be nothing left from the legacy of the poor farm and polio wards that helped so many over the years.