O Canada, our worn and gritty land!

[SignalHillHiker]

O Canada, our worn and gritty land!

I apologize if this thread already exists and I'd be surprised if it doesn't - but I couldn't find it. (*Fingers crossed I didn't already start one just like it months ago... because I'm waiting for that to happen*)

Share your city's worn and gritty side, the types of views that your provincial tourism associations probably wouldn't print on postcards. :) I love those sorts of pictures - Andrew's overpass in the Your City, Set to Music thread is still a favourite.

*****

This morning I went to the grittiest part of St. John's that I know of - a place just about every gay man will recognize. It's McMurdo's Lane, between Duckworth and Water Street, and the alleys around it.

The old gay bar, Zone 216, used to have a back entrance here and it was a popular place to cool off after hitting the dance floor or, once it was banned inside the club, to smoke.

McMurdo's Lane also has back entrances to some of the most popular bars in the city in general, so it's a crowded place in the evenings - and, more importantly, a worn and gritty place during the day.

A welcome treat this morning: due to some ongoing work on the rooftop balcony of a nearby bar, an alley leading to several fire escapes that is usually locked was wide open. I was able to climb up and enjoy some rarely seen views of St. John's.

Hope you don't mind the dirty...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8210199959_ccaf8520c1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210199959/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210199959/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8210200287_0a009929d2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210200287/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210200287/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8210200633_d748193f27_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210200633/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210200633/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

With every step across the rooftop portion of that escape route, I felt like I was going to fall right through. It gives way SO much. I even cursed in my head, "**** off, building. You callin' me fat?"

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8487/8211272840_49bed120a0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211272840/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211272840/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8210183939_be6869be5f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210183939/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210183939/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8211273656_48288b44e0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211273656/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211273656/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8210184617_ff2b42df4e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210184617/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8210184617/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8211263892_b9a6230dfc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211263892/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211263892/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8211260714_3cf31f1df4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211260714/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211260714/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8211256380_b462d8c8cc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211256380/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8211256380/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

And a few older ones from earlier this fall/summer:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8127663905_b7c4d86c1e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8127663905/)
Lanes of St. John's (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8127663905/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8127740580_16c1b398b7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8127740580/)
Lanes of St. John's (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8127740580/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

[kwoldtimer]

I just happen to have one that I took a few weeks ago in Downtown Kitchener. This is of Hall's Lane, at the back of King St. The building with the new large windows in the centre of the shot is undergoing a $2 million renovation. It will house CBC Radio (finally!) and a Toronto development company that has moved to Kitchener.

http://i49.tinypic.com/2yy1749.jpg

[SignalHillHiker]

Beautiful bones, KW. I've been very impressed with Kitchener-Waterloo since Copes' thread about converting historic buildings into modern use.

[kwoldtimer]

Waterloo has seen amazing devleopment due to high tech and the universities and related institutes. Kitchener is like the poster child for hollowed out industrial towns rising from the ashes. Even Hall's Lane in my photo has undergone a multi million dollar infrastructure rebuilding in anticipation of future developments. They certainly haven't won the battle, but they seem to be on the right track in recent years.

[bolognium]

It's about time a thread like this was made. I'm sure flar will be able to contribute a gritty Hammer pic or two.

Crazy awesome St. John's shots as always, Signal. Love all the graffiti covered rooftops and alleys.

Also, I always enjoyed downtown Kitchener and went on many walks through its alleys during my 3 years in KW. Galt and Preston (my stomping grounds) also feel urban and gritty in a lot of places.


Here's some from London. These are just cherry picked out of my old shots, but I'll try to take a walk around and focus on grit a little more than graffiti. Although I do find grit, graffiti and urban landscapes usually go hand-in-hand.

http://i.imgur.com/kTzBI.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8210367825_e08be216d1_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8210368449_a0868d6aaf_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8211457034_c572470790_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8210368827_f9934ed3f7_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8211457206_4781129cfb_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8210369365_ee1b955e22_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8211457566_d979d0e576_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8207/8211456612_d0de328e0b_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8210368083_f46fb9b1a3_b.jpg

[SignalHillHiker]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8211457034_c572470790_b.jpg

Great shots - especially this one. This I'd frame and put on my wall, and I'm not entirely sure if I've ever even been to London.

[MolsonExport]

Montreal and Hamilton are tops in the grit department.

[SignalHillHiker]

It's not a competition. Unless St. John's is winning.

Kidding, I'm not that much of a Homer.

But I am cracking myself up... it's FRIDAY! :D

So glad I didn't name this The Great Canadian Grit Thread. But still cracking up at Vid's The Great Canadian Great Canadian Threads Thread.

[vanatox]

Montreal and Hamilton are tops in the grit department.

I would say all big cities in Quebec and Ontario have a lot of grit. Ottawa is surprisingly gritty/shabby in many area's around downtown. However, the city doesn't have the old factories and dilapidated industrial sites present in other cities being a government town.

[The_Architect]

Montreal and Hamilton are tops in the grit department.

Toronto's certainly no slouch in the grit department either.

[matthew6]

Montreal and Hamilton are tops in the grit department.

In Montreal - particularly the St Henri and Pt St Charles districts - they are like 95% grit.

Even the Plateau still has plenty of grit.... on St Dominique and Colonial in particular...


Great thread by the way... I will be following closely :cheers:

[SignalHillHiker]

A couple of gritty ones from rural Newfoundland - the town of Port Union. It was the only union-founded town in North America (Fishermen's Protective Union) and was supposed to be a workers' paradise. But those damn capitalists made sure it failed. :D More pics in the link in my sig.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8196351866_c51be7024b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8196351866/)
Port Union (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8196351866/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8195260243_e02a01c8d1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8195260243/)
Port Union (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8195260243/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8487/8197052222_7f5b053721_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8197052222/)
Port Union (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8197052222/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

[Marty_Mcfly]

Whew, Port Union's looking rough. If only you could get in to the old town of Davis Inlet. Though I'm not sure where the line is between grit and painfully third-world.

Great shots everyone. I love the contrast between the graffiti and beautiful skyline shots :P

[leftimage]

Select Montreal grit over the years.
Edit: by me



Taken around Bernard & Gaspe in the Mile end, an increasingly rare "abandoned-looking 40 year old car in alleyway" sighting for this area.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8061775707_ab06f17491_b.jpg


One of the giant cinder block buildings on Gaspe in Mile end. They're historical so we like them and launch web-based start-ups in them.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/8061788856_aff675d09b_b.jpg


One of many massive, decaying beauties in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. This one is particularly grand.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/8061808316_cf3e8907a0_b.jpg



Rusty old five roses.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8318/8061818289_530c5aba1e_b.jpg



Quartier Latin - around Ontario. Not it's finest moment, though fun to watch.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/7259105030_49a89df59e_b.jpg



High school on fairmount. College Francais if I'm not mistaken.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7258872126_ce4805ef84_b.jpg



I think this is a former Chinese hospital. Abandoned for many years now, on St-Denis.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7258896432_4f6b17e258_b.jpg



Nice graffitis on a nice abandoned building. Classic Homa.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7107/7061723155_587c834e07_b.jpg



Pointe Saint-Charles' irreversibly industrial skyline.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6809650288_d8fdb9c0e5_b.jpg


Thank god for graffiti artists.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6225/6363173341_4af0e57151_b.jpg


Interesting paint action on a former warehouse on Van Horn .

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6102/6222907518_f4328bfd92_b.jpg



Old, crazy car sighting.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6156/6196303168_2795df07b9_b.jpg




Alley way garages in Mile End.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6128/6195780077_de610751f6_b.jpg



100% gentrified water-front area on Canal Lachine.


http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6169/6186469250_e0a2b0da7d_b.jpg



100% original water-front area on Canal Lachine (4-5 minutes walk from site above)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2647/5725261335_20de0530dc_b.jpg



I don't think this one on Viger pulled through. Probably demolished.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5109/5652398018_b490deb4fa_b.jpg



the pylons supporting the 720 make for excellent graffiti canvas it seems. Besides they're ugly so it works out nicely.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5186/5639697096_88f327a559_b.jpg



The western end of Saint-Catherine has been losing it's grit at an alarming pace in recent years.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5132/5531573576_c3ae7c151e_b.jpg



Another industrial mammoth courtesy of Homa.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5093/5462530088_9928139195_b.jpg



Montreal looking like a small industrial town in Alberta.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5126/5345409353_c931598e46_b.jpg



The most vile vantage of Montreal I've ever photographed.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4145/5202283101_e586e9a8e4_b.jpg


Graffiti in the Plateau, yawn.

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1254/5113060551_df251283bc_b.jpg

[SignalHillHiker]

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5126/5345409353_c931598e46_b.jpg

Awesome.

[Klazu]

Come one, somebody post some good Downtown Eastside photos on this thread! I don't have any, as I don't dare walking there with my DSLR. :D

[MolsonExport]

Love the grit and shit. Old photos of the Dow Brewery and the Drummond Court building (both Montreal) are required. Along Route 20, there are glorious semi-abandoned gigantic industrial mills. tons of stuff like this:
http://www.barraclou.com/rail/gotransit/go_transit535_531_523b.jpg
barraclou.com

Drummond Court will get you. Except it is now gone.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/67/218022789_6478cd3594.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Tour_Drummond.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/67/218022789_6478cd3594_b.jpg
guygromiland flikr, wikimedia

[Darkoshvilli]

Some of my gritty Mile-End photos from almost 3 years ago:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00274.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00275.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00278-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00252.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00256.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00257.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00262.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00248.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00239.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00242.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00267.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00266.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00272.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00280.jpg

This is in nearby Outremont

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00214.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00224.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00230.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00105.jpg

Back to Mile-End

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00180.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00182.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00172.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00177.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00127.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00178.jpg

[Darkoshvilli]

A few shots from around town: (mainly the Griffintown and Cite du Multimedia area)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00441.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00448.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00492.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00489.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00488.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00487.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/olegk/DSC00486.jpg

[MolsonExport]

^ah, the dow brewery finally makes an appearance.

[MonkeyRonin]

While we don't quite have the extreme grit of Hamilton (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=128954), pretty much the whole city is covered in a layer of filth and shabbiness. This thread gives a good picture of it: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=198528

[Townie709]

Whenever I think of gritty/dirty canadian cities, for some reason Moncton and Hamilton are the first two that pop into my mind!

[bulliver]

A bit of grit from Edmonton...

Cromdale Hotel, since demolished.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7759963620_0a0013c8c3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/7759963620/)

Inside the Ernest Brown Block
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6990750807_db27c98b09_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/6990750807/)

Refinery row:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6590902347_d38ac348e1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/6590902347/)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6569647351_347da2b72c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/6569647351/)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6576455639_0630f17d24_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/6576455639/)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5142/5622811303_0d5d107341_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5622811303/)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5027/5623399066_79c37e3dfc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5623399066/)
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3411/5843923049_294682c82d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5843923049/)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/8154440306_8c97a2d02d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/8154440306/)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/6936510890_a59207c5db_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/6936510890/)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5121/5239632417_898bf2dcaa_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5239632417/)

Inner-city streets and alleys:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6129/6204803065_cc318b4c19_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/6204803065/)
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6179/6204788641_c0da730683_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/6204788641/)
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6039/5910468007_6e175aa830_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5910468007/)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5160/5910466477_a342c6e518_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5910466477/)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5183/5644887513_a02a7d6a4e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5644887513/)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5188/5645204344_49c7e1cac8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5645204344/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8086912086_8219799f06_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/8086912086/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8086916741_c84c3cd024_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/8086916741/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8086903679_c44f8e5951_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/8086903679/)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5300/5397961389_606f05b56d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5397961389/)
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4050/5077016125_7a01e40214_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/5077016125/)

[SignalHillHiker]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6576455639_0630f17d24_b.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6129/6204803065_cc318b4c19_b.jpg

:cheers:

[Darkoshvilli]

Pictures by DubyDub2009 from flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8209312719_661343a14b_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/8209312719/in/set-72157628031481516

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8133901162_430ed39a2d_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/8133901162/in/set-72157628031481516

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5050/5242229264_985b66ef82_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/5242229264/in/set-72157628031481516

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4066/4583012472_e9541227d9_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4583012472/in/set-72157628031481516

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4067/4582414927_5198c170d8_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4582414927/in/set-72157628031481516

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4014/4583012732_ca7f3b40f8_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4583012732/in/set-72157628031481516

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5008/5337398644_08388f6173_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/5337398644/in/set-72157628031481516

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1323/4610373929_3e4b4843c2_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4610373929/in/set-72157628031481516

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6177/6187579408_8235f00a42_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/6187579408/in/set-72157628031481516

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5050/5369228726_7b8ee45848_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/5369228726/in/set-72157629417864372

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4065/4415437823_2d6a4ec9c1_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4415437823/in/set-72157629417864372

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6664929157_e146c218fc_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/6664929157/in/set-72157629417864372

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4058/4416203964_c8b4de57b7_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4416203964/in/set-72157629417864372

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4043/4399914371_4b1de017c8_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4399914371/in/set-72157629417864372

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3132/5871838664_abf76a0541_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/5871838664/in/set-72157626932018035

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6138/6206239548_d52ebd52c1_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/6206239548/in/set-72157626932018035

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4117/4790704482_cf08e25444_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4790704482/in/set-72157626932018035

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4035/4710451219_832840bbc9_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4710451219/in/set-72157626932018035

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2763/4503669153_948a5b4efd_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4503669153/in/set-72157626932018035

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6873613733_94619e67ee_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/6873613733/in/set-72157626932018035

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4108/5070488848_d31e00b4e8_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/5070488848/in/set-72157625049761876

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4131/5074013906_b00efde8c3_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/5074013906/in/set-72157625049761876

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4021/4374293307_79c5a4541e_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4374293307/in/set-72157625049761876

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2757/5862415632_af688bd519_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/5862415632/in/set-72157625049761876

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5108/5862416002_5eae021539_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/5862416002/in/set-72157625049761876

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2752/4315473146_132f55d288_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4315473146/in/set-72157625049761876

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8145851164_5299140e52_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/8145851164/in/set-72157625049761876

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2730/4310142444_0d2ac6b3c9_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4310142444/in/set-72157625179696528

[Wishblade]

Whenever I think of gritty/dirty canadian cities, for some reason Moncton and Hamilton are the first two that pop into my mind!

lol Moncton? Moncton has got to be one of the least gritty cities in the country. For me, Montreal, Hamilton and Winnipeg are what I think of when I think of grit cities.

As for the maritimes, Saint John and Halifax have this atmosphere the most imo.

[Beedok]

lol Moncton? Moncton has got to be one of the least gritty cities in the country. For me, Montreal, Hamilton and Winnipeg are what I think of when I think of grit cities.

As for the maritimes, Saint John and Halifax have this atmosphere the most imo.

Thunder Bay definitely has some.

[SignalHillHiker]

Great shots, everyone. I love this thread so much. It kind of makes me feel like a soccer Mom getting a full-back tattoo, though, because I usually try to take the most attractive city scenes, ha!

Here are a few more I took during yesterday's Santa Claus parade:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8219570087_8a369fec20_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8219570087/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8219570087/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8220652574_3a613a772e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8220652574/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8220652574/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8219570799_d3fc8f67e3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8219570799/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8219570799/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8220653152_eee0f77868_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8220653152/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8220653152/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

[Chris BIGDoer]

Post your pics of interesting abandoned buildings, places and things.

To start, Sharples Alberta, an old grain elevator along and abandoned rail line.

More here....
http://www.bigdoer.com/461/exploring-history/sharples-alberta-ghost-town/

http://www.bigdoer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSCF3040-640x479.jpg

http://www.bigdoer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSCF3060-640x479.jpg

A phone I found in the collapsed remains of a house. Rebuilt by yours truly and used every day in my office.
http://www.bigdoer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSCF3221-640x479.jpg

[Xelebes]

Chris, I merged your thread with this thread because I felt it was appropriate and felt that you might appreciate it too. I hope you don't mind.

[Chris BIGDoer]

Next, the abandoned Tent Mountain coal mine in the Crowsnest Pass of Alberta.

Read more...
http://www.bigdoer.com/705/hikes/tent-mountain-mine/

http://www.bigdoer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/125-2549_IMG-640x480.jpg

http://www.bigdoer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/125-2557_IMG-640x480.jpg

[1ajs]

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/7360/fox.jpg

[Darkoshvilli]

I love urban grit

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8474/8107125640_2e28f90a7e_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/8107125640/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8114526665_127916a702_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/8114526665/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/7932536114_540443ebd8_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/7932536114/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6159/6186899477_24e9ff1bcf_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/6186899477/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6584980505_a7d49e64a9_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/6584980505/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8183399237_5677536609_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/8183399237/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8183442411_b1b21c2c50_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/8183442411/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8070/8198597510_829d4b81c8_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/8198597510/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8201499200_6493cf5f20_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/8201499200/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8201836690_04491fb43e_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/8201836690/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8201914340_a35533d2c4_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/8201914340/in/set-72157623073052370

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8206348265_5367715d51_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/8206348265/in/set-72157623073052370

[bolognium]

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6159/6186899477_24e9ff1bcf_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriousvintage/6186899477/in/set-72157623073052370

This is great. Love the dude who ventured up the pipe on the right.

[SignalHillHiker]

The weird thing is... why wait? The cliff face there is every bit as visible as this platform. They could have started tagging it centuries ago...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2012/12/03/nl-graffiti-signal-hill-deadman-1203.html

[SignalHillHiker]

It's still possible to find a few isolated remnants of the Central Slum in St. John's, which was probably the only true slum to have ever existed in Canada.

It was a dense maze of houses and lanes constructed largely of scrap wood and crammed with so many people it had a population density several times what was recommended for London, England.

The Central Slum was only bulldozed and built over in the 1950s. Only its nicest areas (which, in turn, are still today the poorest parts of old St. John's) remain.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8244886784_6f337bfa71_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8244886784/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8244886784/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

For reference:

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/slum_houses1.html

[Dr Nevergold]

St John's has a gay bar? Next question, does it have more than one?

[SignalHillHiker]

St John's has a gay bar? Next question, does it have more than one?

I don't believe it does have more than one, officially, at the moment. That would be Velvet - but Liquid Ice clientelle is basically all gay as well.

However, the gay community here doesn't self-segregate as much you might expect because the city is very passionately tolerant. There are gay-friendly cafes, book stores, B&Bs, etc. - with pride flags hanging in their windows or outside their entrances - even a gay travel agency on Water Street. But most people just go wherever with their friends.

[Denscity]

I like this thread a lot too. Was just hoping someone from Vancouver would post some pictures of the alleys near Main and Hastings. The definition of grit in Canada i'd say. Although i would argue Vancouver also has the least grittiest parts of Canada as well. And i also think that in most of the previous pictures that the graffiti is the best part of those buildings. Graffiti does not equal grit.

[Dr Nevergold]

I don't believe it does have more than one, officially, at the moment. That would be Velvet - but Liquid Ice clientelle is basically all gay as well.

However, the gay community here doesn't self-segregate as much you might expect because the city is very passionately tolerant. There are gay-friendly cafes, book stores, B&Bs, etc. - with pride flags hanging in their windows or outside their entrances - even a gay travel agency on Water Street. But most people just go wherever with their friends.

I've always wanted to see St John's and Newfoundland. Would love to come up, even maybe go out to a bar and see the local men for a night.

[Trevor3]

This American Air Force Base shut down in 1966 and was later incorporated into the adjacent town of Stephenville. In the mid 1970's, the population here reached almost 14,000 before falling on hard times after a series of manufacturing facilties closed up shop. Today we have a shade under 7,000 people.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8253779224_156e428593.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8253779224/)
100_1873 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8253779224/) - Aircraft Hangar, Boat Construction Facility, Peat Moss Pellet Plant, Abandoned.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8253779830_437be67e7f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8253779830/)
007 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8253779830/) - Military Warehouse, Recycling Centre, Abandoned (Next 2 photos of same)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8252709171_358f27e8eb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8252709171/)
013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8252709171/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8252712027_bfb8f224cc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8252712027/)
016 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8252712027/) The quality in this one is quite poor, I admit. However, in my defence it was snowing inside and I wasn't taking a good camera into a condemned building.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8076/8253799512_b2f4007a0e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8253799512/)
100_1388 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8253799512/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8253796748_700d44e5c7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8253796748/)
100_1370 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8253796748/) - Aircraft Hangar, Municipal Arena, Oil Rig Refabrication Facility, Demolished.

I've got a few more to add to this when I get the chance, or maybe I'll just make a thread in one of the photography sections.

[SignalHillHiker]

Great pics from Stephenville. I went to college there. Driving around the old base was fun.

[Trevor3]

Great pics from Stephenville. I went to college there. Driving around the old base was fun.

Thanks! I used to work a summer job with public works here when I first finished high school, mainly cleaning up different areas of the base, maintaining walkways, gardens etc... Tourists would always get sucked into the maze of streets that never seem to lead anywhere and end up going in circles before finally asking directions, all they ever wanted to do was get to Wal-Mart, haha.

[AmericanGuy]

http://i49.tinypic.com/5d8arq.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/2yxiu02.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/919qms.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/xd8idd.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/71nr45.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/149p5at.jpg

:sly:

[SignalHillHiker]

December 13, 2012

Even the areas of St. John's that do typically end up on postcards can be worn and gritty if you know where to look. Take this street, for example. It's a typical residential street in Old St. John's. The houses are relatively well maintained and things look pleasant:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8269891086_ac973bcfd3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8269891086/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8269891086/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

But journey around to the lane behind these houses and what you see is quite different. Here, for example, is the back of the brown house at centre above. The cellar door is missing and the space is wide open to anything and anyone who wants to get in. The back deck is missing or, perhaps, was never built. And the whole things looks grittier than it did from the front:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8269891442_1177909b3f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8269891442/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8269891442/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

And the rest of the back lane isn't much better. The houses on the next street downhill all have little hobbit-like entrances. While these entrances are on the ground floor on this side of the house, that floor is actually the third or fourth floor on the opposite side of the house.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8268825983_23e210a274_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8268825983/)
St. John's Grit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalhillhiker/8268825983/) by Signal Hill Hiker Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/signalhillhiker/), on Flickr

[Symz]

http://i49.tinypic.com/5d8arq.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/2yxiu02.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/919qms.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/xd8idd.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/71nr45.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/149p5at.jpg

:sly:

Do you even know why this is like this in Windsor?

Matty Maroun, the american bridge tycoon bought up these properties immediately adjacent to the existing Ambassador Bridge so as to eventually twin his existing bridge. The city of Windsor, nor the Canadian government does not want a twinned bridge in this location so the city of Windsor gave these houses in this area a heritage designation to obstruct Matty Maroun. The bridge company then boarded up the houses and let them rot and ever since then it's been an old fashioned Mexican stand off between the city of Windsor and the Ambassador Bridge company.

The homes are now derelict, property values in the area have plummeted and recently a coalition group headed by the Ambassador Bridge company that tried to sue the city of Windsor lost it's court case and now has to pay the city's legal expenses accrued during the litigation.

It's unfortunate that the neighbourhood has to suffer and that it ever got to this point, but this neighbourhood represents a much bigger picture of a small city standing up against a billionaire with a monopoly and a desire to do whatever he wants. He had already built portions of his unapproved bridge on both sides of the border and we all know now that he lost his case in the city of Detroit and they made him tear it all down on that side.

[Waterlooson]

^ Good information...

[matt602]

I was going to post some Hamilton grit photos but then realized Hamilton has cleaned itself up so much in the last 5 years that I don't even think I HAVE any photos to post. I think Montreal has stolen our grit crown.

[SignalHillHiker]

http://ryancrocker.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v85/p1481319414-6.jpg (http://ryancrocker.zenfolio.com/p815087224/e584b23f6)

[Trevor3]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8567264094_40049e68ca_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8567264094/)

Took this on Saturday. Myself and two friends all have birthdays within a week of each other in March, so we usually get together for St. Patrick's Day. This year we chose, St. John's. Great concept, not so great aftermath.

Anyway, I went for a walk Saturday afternoon and decided to take some pictures. Ended up finding this little sidewalk that goes under the off-ramp coming down onto Water Street and thought it was kind of cool, especially with 351 and the tower crane right there in the background.

[SignalHillHiker]

I've walked there trying to find a safe way up onto the overpass to take a few close-ups of Fortis Place without having to stand in traffic.

Never worked. So I just walked out onto the overpass on a Sunday. Got honked at a lot. But it was worth it. :D

[Trevor3]

I've walked there trying to find a safe way up onto the overpass to take a few close-ups of Fortis Place without having to stand in traffic.

Never worked. So I just walked out onto the overpass on a Sunday. Got honked at a lot. But it was worth it. :D

HA, I actually thought about doing the same thing. Literally stood there looking up and staring at the overpass and then thought "nah, not worth it". So I tried to get a wide angle of Fortis and 351 from the other side of the ramp instead. Thought I had it too, but I wasn't wearing my glasses and it turned out to be blurry...

[Marty_Mcfly]

I've walked there trying to find a safe way up onto the overpass to take a few close-ups of Fortis Place without having to stand in traffic.

Never worked. So I just walked out onto the overpass on a Sunday. Got honked at a lot. But it was worth it. :D

Myself and a few random people I barely knew ordered a pizza and ate it under that overpass at like 4am after leaving George Street. I to this day can't remember how we got under there, and if I could remember I'd let you guys know.

There were homeless people staring at us from across the street under the other side of the overpass. I remember it being awkward.

[SignalHillHiker]

They probably wanted a slice.

[Marty_Mcfly]

They probably wanted a slice.

I probably would have given them some :drunk:

[SignalHillHiker]

March 23, 2013

http://ryancrocker.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v64/p1495036382-6.jpg (http://ryancrocker.zenfolio.com/p815087224/e591c71de)

[MolsonExport]

Great thread. Nothing beats solid grit. Montreal has it in spades.

[Trevor3]

Some more from the former Ernest Harmon U.S. Air Force Base, Stephenville, NL:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8413/8706058966_68e071c489_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8706058966/)
100_2426 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8706058966/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8539/8704932263_97b4d1b268_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704932263/)
100_2445 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704932263/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8140/8704933923_3756bbf557_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704933923/)
100_2439 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704933923/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8552/8704934431_ea585e52c0_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704934431/)
100_2437 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704934431/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8542/8704936403_55baae4129_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704936403/)
100_2436 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704936403/)

Yeah, I see you hiding in there:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8543/8704940405_a3ba471121_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704940405/)
100_2417 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8704940405/)

Climbed a hill, turned out to be the floor of a long demolished building:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/8706065024_2e5a4a63e9_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8706065024/)
100_2414 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90875770@N03/8706065024/)

[bartlebooth]

Some more from the former Ernest Harmon U.S. Air Force Base, Stephenville, NL:

I love Stephenville! Some of my greatest memories are of that place, walking around the base, wandering into those air plane hangers and exploring the bunkers littered around town. Some of the richest and most unique spaces I've ever come across in Canada or the world for that matter. You are lucky to have them. Thanks for sharing the pictures, they are great!

[SignalHillHiker]

A back lane between Water and Duckworth, about half-way from McMurdo's Lane to the Supreme Court.

http://www.newfoundland-photos.com/StJohnsScenes/Spring-Sunsets-in-the-City-of/i-CMwqrDQ/0/XXXL/IMG_5651_edited_2-L.jpg (http://www.newfoundland-photos.com/StJohnsScenes/Spring-Sunsets-in-the-City-of/29306061_M2MWhg#!i=2523117430&k=CMwqrDQ&lb=1&s=A)

[Richlord11]

I would say that most of this stuff is suitable into video games. On the first page, most of the photos reminded me of Mirror Edge, then GTA III and finally I can imagine them as location in an Assassin's Creed game set in the present day.