Richmond vs. “its rivals”

[Silicon Francisco]

Originally Posted by wrldcoupe4

It's cool to hear perspectives of Richmond from non-Richmonders.

The thing about Richmond is that it never really booms or busts. Growth is always not too fast, not too slow, and the economy is diverse enough that it is largely unaffected by economic downturn. It doesn't make a lot of noise and news like other metros do, but it is quietly prosperous.

How's the old guard doing? I've lived all over the Commonwealth, but hardly ever seen Richmond LOL

Originally Posted by krazeeboi

From demographia.com; this is for MSA populations:

Atlanta
2000: 4,247,981
2005: 4,917,717
Rate: 15.8%

Charlotte
2000: 1,330,448
2005: 1,521,278
Rate: 14.3%

Louisville
2000: 1,161,975
2005: 1,208,452
Rate: 4.0%

Memphis
2000: 1,205,204
2005: 1,260,905
Rate: 4.6%

Richmond
2000: 1,096,957
2005: 1,175,654
Rate: 7.2%

So people are moving there, but why? What do people do in Richmond? Forbes named it one of the best cities to do business a while back, citing cheap/educated labor and low business cost.

[Plasticman]

Originally Posted by Cashville

Why are Louisville forumers so uber sensitive?

Because after living in North Central KY for three years in early 80s, I found the city to be always trying to prove itself in the sense of "Hey, don't forget about us, we're a real city, too". And usually they would compare themselves with Nashville which at the time was not any more impressive than Louisville. Twenty four years later, Nashville at least appears to be moving and growing at a faster pace than L'ville having been to both. Louisville is one of those cities that is on the verge of substantial growth but always seems to be just a step or two behind the other players like Nashville, Charlotte, and yes Richmond.

[eweezerinc]

I actually really agree that Louisville is under Nashville and Charlotte. We really have some catch up to do, but no, not to Richmond. Richmond and Louisville are very on par with one another.

[Jeff_in_Dayton]

I suspect Richmond is probably pretty underrated. It sort of draws a blank, and I suspect people dont know it is a large city. Certainly in the same league as Lousiville and Memphis, based on the stats posted.

[Jeff_in_Dayton]

Why are Louisville forumers so uber sensitive?

LOL..the Cincinnati posters are even worse (here, SSP, Urban Ohio)!

[krazeeboi]

Originally Posted by Jeff_in_Dayton

I suspect Richmond is probably pretty underrated. It sort of draws a blank, and I suspect people dont know it is a large city. Certainly in the same league as Lousiville and Memphis, based on the stats posted.

I agree 100%.

[LouisvilleJake]

I won't get too involved in the discussion, but about Louisvillians being "sensitive", this is what I think is some of what is going on:

Louisville, long before any of us posters were born, (or our parents for that matter!) was a preeminant city of the South...and we can still see the ghosts of that past today in our city's architecture. However, for the past several decades, we have watched as cities that were once our economic underlings race past us as we has stagnanted.

For the first time in 40 years (or more) we are watching a new rebirth of Louisville before our own eyes...and not just in our downtown. We are watching as we gain population at a rate unheard of in recent Louisville history, our neighborhoods are being reinvigerated, education rates are higher than ever before for Louisville...you get the idea.

Well, for the first time EVER, we can look to our beautiful past AND our hopeful future and we seriously cannot scream load enough about what we are doing here in Louisville. We are ready to be recognized, once again, in the same breath as many of our boomtown neighbors to our south...and I think you're seeing a wave of people from Louisville excited about the future of their city for the first time in generations.

With this pride and sense of optimism we want to make everyone see that Louisville is no longer a city that is parked in neutral, unsure of itself...but that we really are progressing at a rate that is in sync with cities like Richmond and Memphis...yet we have our eyes set on an explosion akin to our growth in the early 20th century again. You have a very vocal and prideful group of Louisvillians who (sometime for better or WORSE) are trying their best to shatter the ideas of the "old" Louisville stereotypes.

[Raleigh-NC]

This is a very nice post

[scraperboy]

I keep saying this, but this RiverParkPlace project ALONE proves Louisville has turned a new corner. We aren't sensitive, just don't like to be pigeon-holed or stereotyped. Fringe growth and small towns gaining Walmarts and population to increase your metro arent everything. Thats why some "small towns" like Athens, GA are much cooler than metros 5 times their size. Would you rather live with the arts and culture of Athens or the depressing economy of Akron, OH, even though it is 5 times bigger?

www.riverparkplace.net

Riverparkplace is probably the most ambitious urban development in the entire SE right now (yes, in some ways even more ambitious than Nashville's wonderful Sig Tower bc it is so many more units in one prokject!). In River Park's master plan, it will add up to 10 15-20 story condo towers to our waterfront downtown in 1500 units! You really need to look at the rendering sto believe it. This doesn't include the 61 story Museum Plaza that is about to break ground, the arena, and tons of other infill all over the metro.

Originally Posted by LouisvilleJake

I won't get too involved in the discussion, but about Louisvillians being "sensitive", this is what I think is some of what is going on:

Louisville, long before any of us posters were born, (or our parents for that matter!) was a preeminant city of the South...and we can still see the ghosts of that past today in our city's architecture. However, for the past several decades, we have watched as cities that were once our economic underlings race past us as we has stagnanted.

For the first time in 40 years (or more) we are watching a new rebirth of Louisville before our own eyes...and not just in our downtown. We are watching as we gain population at a rate unheard of in recent Louisville history, our neighborhoods are being reinvigerated, education rates are higher than ever before for Louisville...you get the idea.

Well, for the first time EVER, we can look to our beautiful past AND our hopeful future and we seriously cannot scream load enough about what we are doing here in Louisville. We are ready to be recognized, once again, in the same breath as many of our boomtown neighbors to our south...and I think you're seeing a wave of people from Louisville excited about the future of their city for the first time in generations.

With this pride and sense of optimism we want to make everyone see that Louisville is no longer a city that is parked in neutral, unsure of itself...but that we really are progressing at a rate that is in sync with cities like Richmond and Memphis...yet we have our eyes set on an explosion akin to our growth in the early 20th century again. You have a very vocal and prideful group of Louisvillians who (sometime for better or WORSE) are trying their best to shatter the ideas of the "old" Louisville stereotypes.

[krazeeboi]

That Riverpark Place development will be VERY nice. Can't wait to see some dirt turned.

[Burt]

The Capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia is an understated but surprisingly exciting city. Some, including Mayor Doug Wilder, say its population has grown in the half decade since 2000 despite the official census figures suggesting otherwise. Petersburg, Hopewell and Colonial Heights are in Metro Richmond and that includes Ft. Lee. 8000 military and civilian personnel are being added to the army post which translates into double that number when dependents and ancillary persons are included. Culturally, it has a world class ranked fine arts museum, excellent science museum and planetarium, a symphony, as well as the highly respected Richmond Ballet and Virginia Opera (based in Norfolk). And it has a remarkable number of quality theatre companies.

The restaurant scene in Richmond flourishes in ways that would surprise gourmands.

It also has an impressive number of Fortune 500 company headquarters. While CSX used to be one of them, it had very few (less than 100) people in its downtown office. When it moved to Jacksonville which has been home to its general railroad functions for years, all Richmond really lost was prestige. A number of highly ranked Fortune companies have arrived since, the latest being Mead Westvaco from Stamford, Ct.

I hope that some of our wonderful photographers like Wrldcoupe4 post more pictures of the beautiful city on The James.

[Lexy]

Originally Posted by scraperboy

Riverparkplace is probably the most ambitious urban development in the entire SE right now (yes, in some ways even more ambitious than Nashville's wonderful Sig Tower bc it is so many more units in one prokject!). .

That's a rather bold statement. And one that certainly could be debated.

[eweezerinc]

One that really shouldn't be debated. This thread WLL NOT turn into a RiverPark Place vs Signature Tower...

I think they are both very ambitious, risky projects that will no doubt be huge successes.

[Lexy]

Originally Posted by eweezerinc

One that really shouldn't be debated. This thread WLL NOT turn into a RiverPark Place vs Signature Tower...

I think they are both very ambitious, risky projects that will no doubt be huge successes.

I agree. But that statement is inviting one to debate it. LOL!!!

[scraperboy]

Originally Posted by Lexy

That's a rather bold statement. And one that certainly could be debated.

Lexy, certainly Sig Tower is the PREMIERE developent in the SE right now with regards to height and beauty. However, I just don't think it is as "ambitious" as RiverPark. I really can't believe what they have proposed for River Park. Essentially, River Park is nearly 100 STORIES of high rise living--its just that that it is spread in ten different 15-20 story buildings. I really hope all 1500 units get built out. Phase one calls for two towers and several 5 story lofts, and it will break ground by Winter and be complete by 2009. Many others would say Museum Plaza is more "bold" than Sig Tower. After all, its an oil rig

To me, Sig Tower is a no brainer. It is ambitious, but I really think adding 1500 units of high rise living is more ambitious than adding 400 units of high rise living, even if Sig Tower is 1,000 feet. Just look how Sig is selling, that thing is awesome. Even NYC would jizz over it. Congrats to both cities for really embracing urban development.

[AndySocks]

Originally Posted by scraperboy

Even NYC would jizz over it.

Oh, we already did. Multiple times.

[AndySocks]

Originally Posted by LouisvilleJake

However, for the past several decades, we have watched as cities that were once our economic underlings race past us as we has stagnanted.

This sentence is eerily similar to us northeasterners bitching about the southwest...

Of course, our problem is that most of our cities really haven't caught up with where they were over half a century ago, and the majority of them are still in decline, or at least sprawl w/o growth... and yet we STILL claim that Newburgh, NY is 10x the city San Antonio is. Not to mention the "West Virgina is actually more urban than Arizona" theory. What balls we have!

Good to hear you Louisville folks actually have justification for your unabashedly proud statements.

[wrldcoupe4]

Originally Posted by scraperboy

Lexy, certainly Sig Tower is the PREMIERE developent in the SE right now with regards to height and beauty. However, I just don't think it is as "ambitious" as RiverPark. I really can't believe what they have proposed for River Park. Essentially, River Park is nearly 100 STORIES of high rise living--its just that that it is spread in ten different 15-20 story buildings. I really hope all 1500 units get built out. Phase one calls for two towers and several 5 story lofts, and it will break ground by Winter and be complete by 2009. Many others would say Museum Plaza is more "bold" than Sig Tower. After all, its an oil rig

To me, Sig Tower is a no brainer. It is ambitious, but I really think adding 1500 units of high rise living is more ambitious than adding 400 units of high rise living, even if Sig Tower is 1,000 feet. Just look how Sig is selling, that thing is awesome. Even NYC would jizz over it. Congrats to both cities for really embracing urban development.

Just as a comparison, along Richmond's riverfront ground has broken on a massive development called Rockett's Landing. It's a $500+ million project that will transform over a mile of riverfront into urban living. 2000 residential units, close to 1 million sf of commercial space, hotel(S), and a large marina are all in the works. Plus, the riverfront will be public park space which will link with Richmond's Canal Walk. Phase 1 consists of 3 midrise condo towers, an old cedarworks converted to condos, and 3-4 story rowhouses adding up to about 250 units. It's about 70-80% sold out.... none of the buildings are complete yet and only 1 midrise has topped out. Much of the design is reminiscent of Richmond's Fan District, so while it probably won't have a bunch of highrises stretching down the riverfront, it will have a dense thriving addition to the city. Pretty cool development IMO.

[Burt]

How about at least a few of your latest set of Richmond pictures, Coupe?

Does everyone know that Virginia Commonwealth University with 30,000 students is one of the largest in-town educational institutions in the Country? Its Fine Arts Department ranks among the top five Nationally and its Advertising School consistently wins top honors. A new campus expansion, called Monroe Park Addition is moving it even closer to the City's heart and will include a second building for the School of Engineering and a brand new Business College building. Conference centers, new dorms and parking garages are rising east of Belvidere Street. This student population growth is spurring Bowtie Company's plans for a multiplex cinema, retail and residential in Jefferson Square within three blocks of the Financial District.

Two old movie palaces downtown are about to begin reconstruction to house a first-class performance center of 2000 seats in the larger one and a flashy concert/music/dance/nightclub in the other which will accommodate 1500 swinging youth. Famous Toad's Place of New Haven is about to open a club featuring a 2-story indoor waterfall. It will accommodate 1200 in the historic old Lady Bird Hat Factory on the canal near Shockoe Slip. A few blocks east of The Slip is Shockoe Bottom with dozens of clubs and some excellent restaurants such as Old City Bar, Julep's, Havana 59, Jacquemo's and Rosie Connelly's. The recently refurbished Main Street Station with its distinctive tower offers Amtrak service once again to downtown. And east of The Bottom is the staggering and stunning Tobacco Row. Late 19th and early 20th Century tobacco factories have been converted into condos and apartments offering more than 600 residential units by Forest City Development. Upscale Sensi Restaurant packs 'em in as does Old Original Bookbinders which is the only affiliate of the famous Philadelphia operation, and there is also World famous Millie's Diner in Cutter's Ridge which is the newest part of Tobacco Row. Other warehouse conversions in The Bottom have added at least another 600 housing units and occupancy rates are running in the high 90% range.

Educationally, don't forget the much sought after University of Richmond on probably one of the most beautiful campuses in the Country; the downtown Medical campus of VCU; Virginia Union University and Virginia State University.

For shoppers, the City has Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Brooks Brothers, Bass Pro Shop, West Elm, Crate and Barrel and the usual assortment of upscale shops. PLUS the unique and exciting Carytown with over 200 elegant local stores, plenty of restaurants including the new Can Can Brasserie,and The Byrd Theater, one of the few remaining single-screen movie palaces with a working Wurlitzer. The Byrd is home to the World famous VCU French Film Festival every spring which attracts SRO crowds of more than 20,000 viewers to 17 different new French films over a three-day weekend in the 1300 seat theater. Directors and actors in the movies appear on stage during the Festival.

Yep! Richmond is a comer.

[Jeff_in_Dayton]

I think the neat thing in Richmond is that Monument Boulevard or Parkway or whatever its called. That street looks like something from a European capital.

Speaking of urban Richmond, what can you tell me about "Oregon Hill". Its the subject of a Cowboy Junkies song.