Chicago Area Urban Location Photography Question

[Discov3ry]

I'm looking for a grudgy, old, abandoned-factory like location accessible without breaking the law in the North/Northwest Chicago area.

Any of fellow Chicagoans know of any?

There is a very interesting area around the south-west corner of O'Hare Airport in Bensenville where many blocks of a residential neighborhood have been forced to move out due to airport expansion. It's all deserted and spooky but also all of the area is plastered with no traspassing signs.
My friend actually wanted to take a reroute through that nighbourhood to avoid being stuck waiting for a train to pass and just a moment after she pulled into that area she was stopped by the cops and asked to turn around and leave. So I doubt a guy with a mobile photo/lighting set, and a model would be welcomed there :)

[-g-]

Can you ask for permission somewhere?

[Moonsilk]

There's a group of people on the chicago area that do that alot. I've been out a few times with them. Check out the website:
http://www.meetup.com/urb-ex/

[airfrogusmc]

I'm looking for a grudgy, old, abandoned-factory like location accessible without breaking the law in the North/Northwest Chicago area.

Any of fellow Chicagoans know of any?

There is a very interesting area around the south-west corner of O'Hare Airport in Bensenville where many blocks of a residential neighborhood have been forced to move out due to airport expansion. It's all deserted and spooky but also all of the area is plastered with no traspassing signs.
My friend actually wanted to take a reroute through that nighbourhood to avoid being stuck waiting for a train to pass and just a moment after she pulled into that area she was stopped by the cops and asked to turn around and leave. So I doubt a guy with a mobile photo/lighting set, and a model would be welcomed there :)

Have ya been to Gary Ind lately?
http://www.forbidden-places.net/urban-exploration-gary-indiana-ghost-town

[Discov3ry]

There's a group of people on the chicago area that do that alot. I've been out a few times with them. Check out the website:
http://www.meetup.com/urb-ex/

Thank you very much. It looks like a good step towards what I was looking for. Are you in it as well?

Have ya been to Gary Ind lately?
http://www.forbidden-places.net/urban-exploration-gary-indiana-ghost-town

Good idea. I haven't been to Gary, IN but I saw it on the "Life After People" show, and actually thought about going there someday. But I did go to Rhyolite, NV, which was on that show as well :)

[Moonsilk]

Thank you very much. It looks like a good step towards what I was looking for. Are you in it as well?

Yes, they're a good bunch of people. I try and get out with them as often as time allows. They've done several trips to Gary, In., parts of Chicago and other locations.

Use the buddy system, don't go alone, you never know who you might come across or what type of structural damage a building might have. I haven't run into any problems as of yet but you never know. GL and maybe I'll see you out with them sometime. :D

[samurairx7]

sweet that is an awesome site.

discovery the last thing i would be worry about in chicago or around chicago would be the cops, if you get pulled over just say it's for a school project or photography class and ur'll be fine... that's what i usually do lol

just don't come back afterwards

[Mrslinger85]

I'm gonna change the subject a bit, but there is a really cool old Brach's Candy Factory just hanging out I used to see when riding the green line west. its on the north side of the tracks and hard to miss. They're also tearing down the old Cabrini Green housing complex on Division st. Might make some good photos.

[SkedAddled]

There's a group of people on the chicago area that do that alot. I've been out a few times with them. Check out the website:
http://www.meetup.com/urb-ex/

First time for me in the "discussion" section, and I land on this thread, which is already
quite old. Small world...

A friend of mine is the organizer and creator of the above meetup group.
She's a smart cookie, with a great sense of humor. She'll never jeopardize anyone's safety during an outing. She's also done some fine work with her retro-style model photography.

[kjonnnn]

The stocking factory here in Gary, on 21st avenue right off of I94 might be what you're looking for.