Views of London you never normally see - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Vladamir · #1 09-08-2007, 04:14 PM

Here's a link for all of you on that side of the Pond that may or maynot be of interest, especially if you have a vacation planned!!

http://www.derelictlondon.com/derelict_london_com.htm

Jim B. · #2 09-08-2007, 04:25 PM

Amazing photos and links.

Certainly not the London I saw as a tourist when I was there. Covent Garden and Goodge St. suited me better. It is a fabulous city, and the people are great.

I really hope you will hang onto that Hammer and never sell it especially after you brought it back to its original splendour.

Vladamir · #3 09-08-2007, 04:33 PM

Its just been sold and is being picked up tomorrow by its new owner!!!...going to a good home though.

Chris Bell · #4 09-08-2007, 05:38 PM

Does'nt look all that different from some of America's decaying cities.
Sadly enough. See some photos of Detroit.
http://www.seedetroit.com/pictures/urbandecay/

Hatterasguy · #5 09-08-2007, 06:18 PM

We have Bridgeport CT. Its Fairfield counties own third world country.

LUVMBDiesels · #6 09-08-2007, 06:22 PM

I am amazed at the derelict buildings in London. If you follow BBC America, you know the price of even grotty flats in London. All those buildings are worth a fortune in real estate.

Makes me want to fly over and try to pick something up. I wonder if the Tax office over there has auctions like we do...

kerry · #7 09-08-2007, 11:09 PM

Cool photos. Seen some of those kinds of cityscapes while wandering around London.

What's the deal with burning stolen cars in the UK? I was taking a taxi to Heathrow, travelling thru a scenic woods, and there was a burning van on the side of the road. Taxidriver paid no attention, and said 'Just another stolen car." Just trying to get rid of fingerprints?

Hatterasguy · #8 09-08-2007, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

I am amazed at the derelict buildings in London. If you follow BBC America, you know the price of even grotty flats in London. All those buildings are worth a fortune in real estate.

Makes me want to fly over and try to pick something up. I wonder if the Tax office over there has auctions like we do...

Don't count on it. You can buy a total dump in Bridgeport for $100k. Drive 10 minutes down I95 and be outside a $10m house.

London is probably the same way.

Jim B. · #9 09-09-2007, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

London is probably the same way.

Only as to high real estate values.

The concepts regarding property ownership are not all the same as they are in the USA. Estates can be freehold or leasehold, and some 100 year leaseholds with 15 years left on them, in good neighborhoods are quite pricey.

Some land also belongs to the Crown. They have bed sitters over there in some cases, sometimes.

A good "Estate Agent" in London can explain all of it, or maybe one of the UK brethren of the Benz can.

raymr · #10 09-09-2007, 12:46 AM

He must hate London.

Larry Delor · #11 09-09-2007, 01:01 AM

I thought some of the graffitti was pretty artistic, and had some thought put into it.
It's a shame that the people don't care enough to keep things in good order. This goes for London, as well as Detroit (I followed the link above).

Hatterasguy · #12 09-09-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Only as to high real estate values.

The concepts regarding property ownership are not all the same as they are in the USA. Estates can be freehold or leasehold, and some 100 year leaseholds with 15 years left on them, in good neighborhoods are quite pricey.

Some land also belongs to the Crown. They have bed sitters over there in some cases, sometimes.

A good "Estate Agent" in London can explain all of it, or maybe one of the UK brethren of the Benz can.

I'm going to a boat show with an agent who used to sell in London next weekend. I'll pick his brain now I'm interested.

Medmech · #13 09-09-2007, 11:26 AM

Looks like the good part of Detroit to me.

Vladamir · #14 09-09-2007, 11:37 AM

Re the derelict land that you see on the London site...as has been stated land prices in London and most of the Southern UK are very high.

A lot of the land you see in the pictures has probably been purchased by large development companies and they are just sitting on it...ie, they have just added it to their landbank. Planning permission in the UK is very long winded and can take years to obtain, especially if the planned re-development is contentious and or there is a lot of local objection....you can therefore see some properties boarded up for years before anything happens.

The other issue may be that the Landlord is just sitting on a property waiting for prices to move even higher before they decide to sell...another reason why you see boarded up properties.

The property may also be disputed in terms of ownership...until thats resolved you can't sell the property or if somebody dies and does not leave a Will, then it can also delay selling the property, especially if the parties who stand to gain from the sale can not agree amongst themselves.

In terms of London as an investment, believe me when I say that if a property has potential its already been or will be subject to furious bidding when it comes up for sale.

The area where the Olympics is going to be held is a huge wasteland in a deprived area. The whole site is going to be redeveloped, including the numerous waterways/canals that surround the site. As soon as London found out they were getting the Olympics, property prices in that area shot up.

Due to shortage of land/price of land, where a developer may have built houses, their only option now is to build appartments to maximise their return on capital.

Monomer · #15 09-09-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

Looks like the good part of Detroit to me.

Their nothing wrong with Detroit. I like it just how it is. The outskirts (hamtramik and whatnot) I wouldnt go near.

www.detroityes.com is a better site that shows the urban decay that is detroit.