Heppenstall Sept 2005
by matt at 6:00 am on September 8th, 2005 in Photos
Another round of my photos from the Heppenstall Steel plant in Pittsburgh are up on Flickr. The more times I go there, the more it blows me away.
Previously: Breaking, Entering, and Trespassing and Heppenstall Round Two
.:Coil wrote:
Was wondering about taking pics at this location.. is it easily accessible? What about security or is it totally abandoned or did you just run the gamble not to get caught? I’m from the ‘burgh and looking for interesting places to capture a moment or two… any advice on locations to shoot, I’m all ears…
.:btw - excellent pics…
.:Coil
Posted 05 Oct 2005 at 7:31 pm ¶
isue 4ym wrote:
i was wondering if u could get some more pics my stuff is all over that place and security is alot tighter then it was then and it looks like it is just going to get tight so watch out
Posted 29 Oct 2005 at 6:30 pm ¶
Security wrote:
Hey Guys….
Just thought you would like to know I have been on to you for a while now…. Security? lets see…. 6 arrests since we took over June 05…. went to court twice…. oh a tip on that. Don’t cuss at the judge. Equaled 50 hrs community service just for that alone. The rest took it like men and didn’t ask for a hearing.
No breaks guys…. This place is a death trap now. Buildings are collapsing bricks falling. Simply I’ll happily send a few to jail if it keeps me from haveing to do a body recovery. One kid (about 16) told me he came close to falling though a roof, and would have if his bud hadn’t pulled him back up by his hoodie.
Oh there is a great incentive for me to catch folks too… Court time = Overtime pay. :)
R.I.D.C. presses charges and follows up on all trespassing violations. Oh and we would love to add you to our community service work crew. 1 hour community service means 1 hour of work. The last kid (24 years old) did a great job clearing weeds and vines from one of our lots. I also have a great photo of him in cuffs.
While I know you fellas are not the ones who painted the place up. Your photos will attract others to the site. You may find yourself in need of a lawyer should the family of some poor dead soul point to your work as being an inspiration to enter this place.
To sum it up… New fences, Lighting, Security alarms/cameras, Live patrols, Tennants in usable buildings, Hightend police awareness. Oh, and no catch and release. You have been warned.
:)
Security
Posted 08 Mar 2006 at 2:07 am ¶
matt wrote:
spoken like a true rent-a-cop. how many times do you think i’ve been there since june 05? hopefully you can come to the show opening when these go up in the gallery. keep up the great work, and i’ll see you (or more likely not) soon.
Posted 08 Mar 2006 at 6:30 am ¶
photosuperstar wrote:
Kinda funny how the first time we were there, security gave us permission to go in Yup, great work guys.
Oh, and love the emoticons ;-) in your little note.
Posted 08 Mar 2006 at 7:39 am ¶
Ohayo wrote:
[smile] I met “security” yesterday! Heard that very speech live and in person. No, we didn’t go in. Security, you’re just doing your job, I know. But it’s not a “cops vs photographers” thing. I do think the place needs to be better documented. Here’s good reading on the background story.
1105, your shots are beautiful.
Posted 07 May 2006 at 8:40 am ¶
sarabeth wrote:
As someone who went to Michigan in the days of my youth, you just pushed the button which makes me go: “Oh, how I hate Ohayo State!”
Posted 07 May 2006 at 1:02 pm ¶
jamie beth wrote:
would someone please tell me what the eff RIDC has to do with heppenstal? and, never thought i’d have an occasion to pull this story out, but i was asked to leave RIDC when i was 16 and my mom was trying to teach me how to drive, apparently RIDC probits anyone they want from driving in their g-d parking lots. nice.
Posted 07 May 2006 at 2:33 pm ¶
matt wrote:
RIDC owns the complex. Rather than do something productive, they’d rather hassle photographers.
Posted 07 May 2006 at 2:36 pm ¶
jamie beth wrote:
and drivers! i think it’s funny that for more than 10 years my uncle used RIDC as his own private road running training area, but the minute my mom takes me to an empty parking lot in the early evening we get kicked out. it is important to note that while the rent a cop above claims to be there to save small children from the evils for graffiti, it is obvious he is there to protect his company’s liability. i wonder if he knows that?
Posted 07 May 2006 at 3:48 pm ¶
sarabeth wrote:
for those who came in late, what’s RIDC?
Posted 07 May 2006 at 3:55 pm ¶
matt wrote:
Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Posted 07 May 2006 at 4:27 pm ¶
Security wrote:
All gone now! Bull dozers have just about finished taking down all the buildings. The Heppenstall sign will come down off the blue building when the building’s tennants give the all clear.
Nothing against photographers. I tell em all they can take all the photos they want from the outside. I liked the painting one guy did of the coal towers. He did it from 43rd street.
Frankly I’m honked off by the prostitutes and drug users who I have to frequently run off from the area. If decent folks would just respect the “No Tresspassing” signs we could all just get along.
30+ arrests or citations to date. I do take pride in that.
Posted 08 Jul 2007 at 9:08 pm ¶
matt wrote:
then how come you never caught me? i’ve been there 10-12 times, including last week. were you taking a nap or off getting donuts?
Posted 08 Jul 2007 at 9:20 pm ¶
Security wrote:
Matt,
Was that you they nailed for $250,000.00?
Oh and I do believe we caught you. I remember the one arogant punk (looked alot like you) who quiped to the cop he would just sell the photos to pay the fine. The cops made him erase all the images after he snapped one quick one of them as they left. It was that or go to jail as I remember.
I notice you didn’t fight the fine, as I was never called to court. At least you maned up with that.
Oh well, all the mills in the area are flat now as they are also taking down the 62nd street site.
Lastly just to clarify, I’m not actually security. I am maintenance. I take pride in my 20 acres of properties looking sharp and not rag tag run down. I’ve had alot of fun painting over or removing all the nasty tagging, and brightening up the area.
By the way. I also caught THOR another 20 something goofball with no life.
Anyways, don’t drop the soap.
Posted 06 Nov 2008 at 9:47 am ¶
matt wrote:
you didn’t and could never catch me. meanwhile my photos are in galleries and houses worldwide.
go back to picking up the trash.
Posted 06 Nov 2008 at 9:52 am ¶