OT: Anchor baby birth center?!?

[jermfab]

As I’m covering in another thread, I recently sold my old building and am moving to a new property.

The new owner of my old building is a Chinese guy, 35-40 years old. I’m not certain of his status, resident, citizen, etc. He bought the building, sight unseen. The sale included a three-month leaseback period to allow me time to find a replacement property and vacate. I didn’t meet the new owner until a few weeks before the leaseback ended to give him keys and answer any questions he might have. Conversation was difficult as his English isn’t great and my mandarin is nonexistent. In any case he asked me what I knew of the building and history and and I asked him what his plans for it were.

His answer was textbook noncommittal...: “I’m gonna build offices”...

I really figured he would tear it down. I’ll miss the place, first and foremost the location and phenomenal access to the city. I’ve got a lot of hours invested there. I learned A LOT.

As cool and quirky and downright weird as the building is, I would NEVER buy it again. Not for a penny more than what I paid at the very least.

That place was built to last forever, so long as nothing ever broke, or wore out or needed to change. The building is entirely concrete and masonry. All the original mechanical stuff was cast into the building and buried in the blocks. 2” galvanized supply plumbing and cast iron drains. Same with the electrical. Rigid conduit cast into the floor and run through the block, or in lots of cases into the middle of the floor. There were no considerations made to access or modify or service ANY of the original mechanical services.

That’s fine, because at some point before I bought it, the building broke. Damn near in two. And somebody cut holes through the floor. They determined further damage wasn’t likely and installed monitors at the points they deemed critical. But there’s a section of floor with a distinct incline.

That building is HOT in the summer and COLD and DAMP in the winter.

Is any of this screaming office to you?

And then the two Chinese speaking workers showed up. And they started with this:

Seems rather small and why such big openings?!?

Then:

And:

I’m no expert on “offices” but a full bath as the centerpiece is new to me. Maybe it’s a cultural thing.

The offices are coming along nicely:

Must be a typo:

Check out the chandelier!!! Totally an office fixture.

Today though, I am really puzzled. These offices are starting to make ME want to work in an offices. THESE offices look like fun!:

I’ll admit, there’s a slight prison vibe, but I dig this bed office concept.

The workers took great care making a pile of rock wool on the floor:

It’s possible they used it on the interior walls. Maybe they’re keeping their cardboard box collection warm. They’re obviously fond of it as they can’t find time to carry them to the dumpster.

I know some of its cultural, but as well-rounded and FAST as these guys are, they keep a FILTHY job site and I cringe watching them squat to chop lumber. Especially when there’s THREE wooden tables that they’ve covered in cardboard.

Today takes the cake though! Aside from the irritation being hindered in my moving out, I got a chance to see some real office decorating masters at work.

They brought so much fantastic office furniture with them:

I’m starting to think offices in China must be very... homey?!?

See what I did there?

Why did this guy come from China, to spend a million dollars on a weird, BROKEN, old concrete pillbox? Why does he tell me he’s making what are demonstrably NOT offices?

You know what they say about real estate: location, location, LOCATION! Location in this case being almost equidistant between Hartsfield International Airport and the city’s largest public hospital.

I’m by no means a conspiracy theorist. As far as I’m concerned, Oswald killed Kennedy, bin Laden was behind 9/11 and COVID is real. Those things are a real to me as not having ever met a single person who would aspire to these “offices”. Or pay to use them.

Conversely, on the outside chance the writing in the panel board is correct and the “offices” are indeed bedrooms 1,2 and 3, with a fourth underway:

In that case, I’m certain I don’t know anyone who would want to LIVE in this space. Maybe there’s an Air-BnB trend he knows about but I’m looking at a HARD sell for apartments. Even worse for condos.

Even on a short term basis, I tend towards privacy instead of the “fishbowl” atmosphere. I’d just as soon not PAY to be OBSERVED. THAT is for sick people...

Or pregnant women.

Possibly people you want to keep an eye on, while keeping them just comfortable enough.

If you’ve made it this far I commend you.

I’d like to hear the community’s thoughts because none of this makes sense to me.

I’m fully aware that the building is his and as soon as my stuff is gone I don’t care. I’ll be damned if I’M the reason he gets code enforcement called and I’m not gonna call ICE either. Just because the guys doing the work can’t string together a sentence in English between them does not mean they’re not here legally.

It’s none of my business beyond the weird factor.

I was sure whoever I sold the building to would come driving a bulldozer. Despite never having worked in one, I thought I knew enough about offices to not confuse them with bedrooms.

I am pretty sure the new owner is gonna have trouble explaining all the new, never-permitted work when he goes for his occupancy certificate. The fire inspector may have some thoughts and ADA compliance may prove an issue as well.

In my opinion, marketing is gonna be the real struggle. Quite possibly the definition, in MY book, of a hard sell.

Niche market to say the least.

This guy has spent over a million dollars, $975k to purchase the property and whatever the material in the pictures above indicates. Last I saw the price of a 2x4, I shudder to think what he’s spending to build this... office, hotel,...


Anchor baby birthing center???






Be safe and stay healthy





Jeremy

 

[thermite]

As I’m covering in another thread, I recently sold my old building and am moving to a new property.

The new owner of my old building is a Chinese guy, 35-40 years old. I’m not certain of his status, resident, citizen, etc. He bought the building, sight unseen. The sale included a three-month leaseback period to allow me time to find a replacement property and vacate. I didn’t meet the new owner until a few weeks before the leaseback ended to give him keys and answer any questions he might have. Conversation was difficult as his English isn’t great and my mandarin is nonexistent. In any case he asked me what I knew of the building and history and and I asked him what his plans for it were.

His answer was textbook noncommittal...: “I’m gonna build offices”...

I really figured he would tear it down. I’ll miss the place, first and foremost the location and phenomenal access to the city. I’ve got a lot of hours invested there. I learned A LOT.

As cool and quirky and downright weird as the building is, I would NEVER buy it again. Not for a penny more than what I paid at the very least.

That place was built to last forever, so long as nothing ever broke, or wore out or needed to change. The building is entirely concrete and masonry. All the original mechanical stuff was cast into the building and buried in the blocks. 2” galvanized supply plumbing and cast iron drains. Same with the electrical. Rigid conduit cast into the floor and run through the block, or in lots of cases into the middle of the floor. There were no considerations made to access or modify or service ANY of the original mechanical services.

That’s fine, because at some point before I bought it, the building broke. Damn near in two. And somebody cut holes through the floor. They determined further damage wasn’t likely and installed monitors at the points they deemed critical. But there’s a section of floor with a distinct incline.

That building is HOT in the summer and COLD and DAMP in the winter.

Is any of this screaming office to you?

And then the two Chinese speaking workers showed up. And they started with this:

Seems rather small and why such big openings?!?

Then:

And:

I’m no expert on “offices” but a full bath as the centerpiece is new to me. Maybe it’s a cultural thing.

The offices are coming along nicely:

Must be a typo:

Check out the chandelier!!! Totally an office fixture.

Today though, I am really puzzled. These offices are starting to make ME want to work in an offices. THESE offices look like fun!:

I’ll admit, there’s a slight prison vibe, but I dig this bed office concept.

The workers took great care making a pile of rock wool on the floor:

It’s possible they used it on the interior walls. Maybe they’re keeping their cardboard box collection warm. They’re obviously fond of it as they can’t find time to carry them to the dumpster.

I know some of its cultural, but as well-rounded and FAST as these guys are, they keep a FILTHY job site and I cringe watching them squat to chop lumber. Especially when there’s THREE wooden tables that they’ve covered in cardboard.

Today takes the cake though! Aside from the irritation being hindered in my moving out, I got a chance to see some real office decorating masters at work.

They brought so much fantastic office furniture with them:

I’m starting to think offices in China must be very... homey?!?

See what I did there?

Why did this guy come from China, to spend a million dollars on a weird, BROKEN, old concrete pillbox? Why does he tell me he’s making what are demonstrably NOT offices?

You know what they say about real estate: location, location, LOCATION! Location in this case being almost equidistant between Hartsfield International Airport and the city’s largest public hospital.

I’m by no means a conspiracy theorist. As far as I’m concerned, Oswald killed Kennedy, bin Laden was behind 9/11 and COVID is real. Those things are a real to me as not having ever met a single person who would aspire to these “offices”. Or pay to use them.

Conversely, on the outside chance the writing in the panel board is correct and the “offices” are indeed bedrooms 1,2 and 3, with a fourth underway:

In that case, I’m certain I don’t know anyone who would want to LIVE in this space. Maybe there’s an Air-BnB trend he knows about but I’m looking at a HARD sell for apartments. Even worse for condos.

Even on a short term basis, I tend towards privacy instead of the “fishbowl” atmosphere. I’d just as soon not PAY to be OBSERVED. THAT is for sick people...

Or pregnant women.

Possibly people you want to keep an eye on, while keeping them just comfortable enough.

If you’ve made it this far I commend you.

I’d like to hear the community’s thoughts because none of this makes sense to me.

I’m fully aware that the building is his and as soon as my stuff is gone I don’t care. I’ll be damned if I’M the reason he gets code enforcement called and I’m not gonna call ICE either. Just because the guys doing the work can’t string together a sentence in English between them does not mean they’re not here legally.

It’s none of my business beyond the weird factor.

I was sure whoever I sold the building to would come driving a bulldozer. Despite never having worked in one, I thought I knew enough about offices to not confuse them with bedrooms.

I am pretty sure the new owner is gonna have trouble explaining all the new, never-permitted work when he goes for his occupancy certificate. The fire inspector may have some thoughts and ADA compliance may prove an issue as well.

In my opinion, marketing is gonna be the real struggle. Quite possibly the definition, in MY book, of a hard sell.

Niche market to say the least.

This guy has spent over a million dollars, $975k to purchase the property and whatever the material in the pictures above indicates. Last I saw the price of a 2x4, I shudder to think what he’s spending to build this... office, hotel,...


Anchor baby birthing center???






Be safe and stay healthy





Jeremy

Should be up and running as Quid-Pro-Beijing-Joe takes up the stolen election Emperor Xi bought for him.

Along with all the other facilities like it. "Left coast" & New York, mostly.

They'll get their money's worth off the "investment" in Beijing-Joe. With interest. Bigtime.

That triad guy / PLA Officer (a Major, or Lt. Colonel, usually.. ) that you met won't be operating in "Mandarin", either.

May as well get used to that. Just one more colony now.

 

[john.k]

Not uncommon with Chinese here too,buy property ,do building work,then discover all about town planning,development approval,planning variations,consent usages,fire codes,etc etc.........Not restricted to Chinese either,Afgans I sold out to had a visit from the councils "Rapid Response Unit" second day after deciding a D6 dozer was the best option to trim some protected vegetation.

 

[john.k]

Theres another funny thing....Asians are supposed to low ball,offer& negotiate endlessly ,be inscrutable etc......Yet so far in three sales Ive made ,Asians just paid the asking price,never made counter offers.....just pay the money...........Im thinking land must be ridiculously cheap here ,so cheap the money means nothing.

 

[GregSY]

The Chinese are big on multi-purposing. It's probably a legitimate anchor baby operation that will also act as a front for dry cleaning, drug money laundering, white slavery, and the Biden Family Foundation for Graft. They will also set aside a portion of that 12,000sq-ft as an intensive research facility to try their best to explain how Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama are still classified as female. The sun is rising on the Chinese Empire. Come on, man!

 

[michiganbuck]

Could be a stop-over place for China people who don't trust USA hotels but need a place to stay until they decide where to go.?????

Making a living area out of an old building would not be allowed except people from other countries often are allowed to bring a lot of their own rules.

We had a fellow from China looking at the deer bling company (to perhaps buy)..He said that if he brought a certain number of people and maintained a certain number of jobs he would get assistance from the (our) government.

He passed on our company but it seemed he was out to buy a company that fit his criteria.

Actually, it is not fair if we allow everybody from South America, we should allow everybody from China to come here also.

 

[michiganbuck]

QT: {I am pretty sure the new owner is gonna have trouble explaining all the new, never-permitted work when he goes for his occupancy certificate. The fire inspector may have some thoughts and ADA compliance may prove an issue as well.}

Seems that some want places to become No Go Zones and USA rules keep Out.

 

[GregSY]

Maybe it's a new Chop-Chop Zone

 

[CORONA VIRUS]

Don't worry until they bring in the gun racks.

 

[jermfab]

Wow! I was expecting a degree of push-back. I was starting to think I was crazy... or possibly an anti-Chinese racist. Or even just missing something obvious.

To address some of the points:

This guy did negotiate in what others have said is typical in the East. He was negotiating, practically until the closing papers got signed. It was obvious the term “contract” was far more fluid to him than to me.

My guess is there was a grandfather, or great-uncle who got in on the ground floor. Maybe did a little re-educating for Mao. The guy has money for sure, but proves that money doesn’t buy class. Look at the furniture... or the chandelier.

A friend of mine stopped by during the initial meeting and was most offended by the new owners automobile: a Bentley SUV, long past needing washed. As my friend put it: “that car makes me hate him on levels”.

Anyhow. Happy holidays to all.



Be safe and stay healthy





Jeremy

 

[thermite]

Theres another funny thing....Asians are supposed to low ball,offer& negotiate endlessly ,be inscrutable etc......Yet so far in three sales Ive made ,Asians just paid the asking price,never made counter offers.....just pay the money...........Im thinking land must be ridiculously cheap here ,so cheap the money means nothing.

No, they are just conditioned that real estate, long term, goes up, not down.

As Will Rodgers put it: "Land is always a good deal. They have quit making it."

Whilst living in Blackheath, another C&W veteran from HKG Telecom visited. As I had a company 5-series BMW sedan issued, I took him to a new development at Enfield Lock he had already researched thoroughly. He bought a brick home, still under construction.

Then other C&W Hong Kong staff made the same pilgrimage. Visit me, enjoy a Chinese meal at the "Laughing Buddha", overnight at my place, drive out Saturday, meet the same Realtor, fly back to Hong Kong Monday.

And bought six more homes, same development. Cash, mostly. Little or no mortgage.

Around home number five, my having turned down a share of "commission", the realtor said:

"You can tell me, I'll keep the secret. It's DRUG MONEY, isn't it?"

I had to laugh!

"No. It's 'telephone' money!"


These guys were all middle-managers, tech supervisors, mostly, and former subordinate staff of my wife. That's how I knew them.

But a phone company supervisor at their level is paid more than Brits or Americans. The wives work as well. Taxes are among the lowest in the entire world. And then they have bought flats in Hong Kong for under $200,000 US that have appreciated to around 2 million US.

Retirement was a one-time lump sum. For these folks that was around 1.2 million, USD$. They had to put the money SOMEWHERE. Those homes were priced at less than 1/4 of it. So most were also buying another house in Canada.

All those homes appreciated handsomely. Of course.

And that is just the "clean" side of Asia's economy.

Hiring an election stolen by US "local experts" for Quid-Pro-Beijing-Joe was mere "pocket money" by the standards of China's "dark side" accounting.

The Chinese won't get caught, either.

It's US Democrats as are being caught. And the turmoil over that also weakens the USA. Win-win, no downside for China.

They don't need to run the USA, ruin it, rather. Having it run itself into the ground requires less money and near-zero management effort.

As to US "fake news' media looking stupid-blind and biased?
Not even aware their "minders" had been hired to BE stupid-blind and biased! And/or simply "volunteered" their teams of sheeple.



Careless sheeple, the majority of gullible "instant gratification" no long-term memory 'mericans. Attention-span about the length of a TV commercial, if-even.

Trump was "only one guy", and max 8 years after all.

China operates in whole clans, team players.. looong memories.. and has for thousands of years.

Clever people, these orientals. And patient. VERY!

Why would it NOT go their way?

Darwin's ghost is laughing again...

 

[reggie_obe]

Get the town inspection people on the phone quick. Call ICE and Homeland Security as well.

 

[thermite]

Get the town inspection people on the phone quick. Call ICE and Homeland Security as well.

Won't help. Site isn't active. Could claim it was a showroom for examples of a contractor selling the service of remodeling bed & bath. Or cheap - even "rental" - furniture.

I'd bet the partial lease-back runs past Quid-Pro-Beijing-Joe taking possession of the "stolen goods"? Also awaits the Chinese purchase - already underway - of Georgia's Senate seats?

Then the board is flipped over and they have whatever they want.

No further interference from the crude barbarian Gweilo.

US "voters", dead or alive, real or virtual, will have lost interest in the political s**t show, gone complacently back to "recreational drugs", who has the tallest truck/bigger non-functional dick, looting stores, praising the stupidest of the liars on TV "news", trying to figure out which Kardashian gal has a glorified ass bigger than a Dexter horse, (all of them, dummy!) ...and playing video games.

"We have met the enemy, and they are us."

Walt Kelly. Pogo comic strip. It WOULD be a "comic strip" and a talking possum, wouldn't it? That's our level of sophistication!

 

[1dogandnoexes]

Don't overcomplicate it

They're avoiding code enforcement and it's that simple. Whether they are going to live there, rent it, do illegal stuff there doesn't really matter. I worked legally as a residential contractor in Arlington Virginia for many years and I shouldn't have. Over the course of 20 years, the demands of code enforcement grew exponentially from the plans the county, the permit costs, the application paperwork, environmental protection demands etc.... Adherence to the codes became "stricter" , yes the very same building codes which trades people often can't figure out. I still remember watching a zoning official's face go blank as I pointed out to her that the zoning setbacks for a below grade basement entrance failed to take into account the thickness of the foundation wall.

I can't tell you how many people I encountered who wanted something built, and who then thought I was trying to trick them when I told them that the process starts with a survey (a what? OH NO!). Then try to explain to those same people that yes, buildings are built with plans (No they're not, your just trying to trick me), and that yes (OH NO!)the structural members need to be specified and located in the plans so that they can be sized(That's completely ridiculous). And around my neck of the woods, just outside the nation's capital, the white collared community is so brazenly arrogant, they think any work other than theirs is something to scoff at. The fact that there is an enormous illegal labor force in this area fuels their arrogance even more. Contrast this with the Arlington's expectation that a set of plans for a residence or addition be comprehensive. Now imagine watching one of your projects going down the pooper because a plumbing inspector (who speaks more Korean than English) fails you, refuses to cite any code provisions, and laughs and walks off.

The regulatory environment in Virginia, especially in Arlington County, together with the U.S. Government's lack of immigration enforcement ABSOLUTELY CRUSHED ME. I wish I had possessed the common sense to NOT have a license, to NOT have employees, to NOT follow codes, to NOT pull permits...... Get the idea?

I will never incorporate a business again, I will never have employees again, I will never run a business where I have to interact with the government, and at every opportunity I will conceal my activities from all levels of government.

What are these people doing? Whatever their ultimate activity is, they are defending themselves from government.

 

[wippin' boy]

seems like the donald was president when this all went down
but its joes fault


riiight
how about the russian hack?
yeah
joe all the way

Wow! I was expecting a degree of push-back

a couple known kooks chiming in aint exactly the Tabernacle choir

if you sold to someone who you have a high suspicion of doing something illegal and do or say nothing just to make sure your check clears you're part of the problem

the guy is prbly a slum lord, just like Jarad Kushner

 

[jermfab]

I am on the fence... from a moral perspective... and I’m considering dropping a dime to homeland security. Just as soon as my gear is no longer on the premises.

As “live and let live” as I try to be, there’s the other possibility that the “fishbowl” aesthetic isn’t to keep eyes on expectant mothers, but instead to keep tabs on and observe people held against their will.

The anchor baby birthing center isn’t exactly savory to me, but it doesn’t directly impinge on any part of my moral code. Human trafficking is not something I can support.

The biggest problem is, until something like that happens, I’m just a crank with too much time on my hands bothering federal law enforcement. The only “crime” I’m positive of is the lack of permitting. That’s a local infraction and primarily a municipal revenue generator. Dropping a dime on that infraction would make me a rank hypocrite and may damage my karma, as I rewired the entirety of that building and plan to do so again in the new shop.





Be safe and stay healthy





Jeremy

 

[triumph406]

I am on the fence... from a moral perspective... and I’m considering dropping a dime to homeland security. Just as soon as my gear is no longer on the premises.

As “live and let live” as I try to be, there’s the other possibility that the “fishbowl” aesthetic isn’t to keep eyes on expectant mothers, but instead to keep tabs on and observe people held against their will.

The anchor baby birthing center isn’t exactly savory to me, but it doesn’t directly impinge on any part of my moral code. Human trafficking is not something I can support.

The biggest problem is, until something like that happens, I’m just a crank with too much time on my hands bothering federal law enforcement. The only “crime” I’m positive of is the lack of permitting. That’s a local infraction and primarily a municipal revenue generator. Dropping a dime on that infraction would make me a rank hypocrite and may damage my karma, as I rewired the entirety of that building and plan to do so again in the new shop.





Be safe and stay healthy





Jeremy

I would guess it's not a place to house Chinese women so they can give birth at a US hospital. Pregnant women coming in/out of an industrial building might arouse some attention, especially if it seems there no other activity at the site.

Around here they buy houses and keep the women there, much less likely to attract attention than an industrial building.

I wouldn't turn them in, be glad you got out of the building and move on with your life.

When your wife/gf/bf etc kick you out of the house, you can always knock on the door "remember me, I need somewhere to stay for a few days"

 

[wippin' boy]

so if it burns to the ground with illegal woman and babies in the place who's fault will it be?

 

[thermite]

so if it burns to the ground with illegal woman and babies in the place who's fault will it be?

LoL!

Why .. "wippin' boy"'s fault, of course. Or any of several of the other Marxist Sputniki who have loudly "outted" their Chicom-serf selves!



"Incremental Payback" thing.

Puttin' a bounty on looter-lie-bore-all careers is just easier than stealing back a whole dam' stolen election in one go.

Should be a right INTERESTING four years?

"Check Six"!! a new "sport" has come into fashion.

... sumthin' vengeful may be gainin' on yah!

 

[Scottl]

One of the fastest growing trends in recent years is illegal immigrants from China.

I forget the name the "importers" are called, something like dragons or other creature. Comparable to the Coyotes who smuggle migrants across our southern border. It is a lucrative business and the new arrivals are willing to live in cramped squalor after paying big money to get here.

As most of them don't speak English, they will be contracted out as labor to other Chinese who are here legally. Most of them probably hope to save enough money to have relatives brought over the same way. One huge draw is the promise of amnesty made during recent political campaigns.

Around here Chinese nationals are on a real estate buying spree, everything from commercial properties to multi million dollar homes.