Hampton Roads run down? (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: home, neighborhood, construction)

[xGrendelx]

701Rachel's "bitter billy" comment was hilarious. Can't wait to use that, haha.

Anyway, as far as HR being nice/not nice, I tend to agree with VA7cities. HR is a huge area, geographically. It's basically ALL of Southeast Virginia. This means that it has a very diverse make-up of space, some of them are generally accepted by the population as nice or not nice, but most fall somewhere in between the two extremes. It's up to the person moving there to decide if it fits for them. However, I'm sure that most people can find something they enjoy. There's urban, suburban, and rural areas in HR. Some of them are gritty, and some are quite manicured.

HR may not be the most ethnically diverse area, but I will say it is economically diverse. Having spent a year in a place that has two classes (rich or poor), I miss that about HR. It's a place where all income levels mix. If you're working class, there's places for you. Same goes for the extremely wealthy. And there's cultural/social activities available for both.

Also, to 701Rachel, please don't think the CD forums are in anyway an accurate representation of the people living in HR and their feelings toward the area. I grew up there and know MANY people who love it. If you find yourself developing opinions based on what people say here, I'd recommend leaving this forum for awhile. You can take advice, but realize this is an incredibly informal source of info and most of the people here are nothing close to experts. And the people with negative views tend to be louder.

[froggin4colorado]

I took no offense. My circle of friends are mostly teacher friends of mine so we aren't lavish at all. I know several people who have grown up here and have always lived on the east coast who really like it here. Coming from the midwest, it has been a culture shock because you don't expect it. But so many who are used to it like to laugh at me when I tell them what a student told me regarding racial issues and something political that totally leaves me dumbfounded. I am so used to mankind supporting mankind and a handshake and someone's word meaning something.

So ya, no offense. Everyone has bad days and I have discovered that several can quickly snap at you here. I know I didn't do anything personally, so I just make sure that I smile and say a little prayer that God helps support you through this difficult adventure of yours and hope not to have anything horrible happen to me because of your (in general your, not yours specific) bad mood. God always provides us opportunities to grow and just doesn't grand us patience, discipline, grace, etc.

[Upsilon]

Not sure if anyone took offense as much as it is that they're kind of tired of you being a downer all the time. Maybe you aren't but you really come across as someone who is sometimes. People aren't anymore stuck up here or whatever than anywhere else and I've been on both coasts.

[froggin4colorado]

Thanks Upsilon, nicely put.

[nc919va757sc803]

Ok start with 7 cities hampton/newport news 50% are pretty rough. Norfolk and portsmouth about 70 % is rough. Chesapeake and suffolk about 25 % is rough and va beach is about 5 % rough. Than yorktown williamsburg smithfield surry ivor and windsor are all a little rougher than va beach but way less rough than any of the other 7 cities. There are very nice neighborhoods in each city though.

[Poquoson7]

What are you talkng about? What is "rough" and how do you calculate the percentages of "rough"? Seriously, this is one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever read on these threads.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by 701RachelT123

We recently visited the Hampton Roads area, we stayed in Norfolk at the Best Western Holiday Sands Inn & Suite, and it all appeared to be run down, old, and unkempt. I am not implying that if a home is old it equals trashy. Did we just go to the wrong places? We did the whole tourist thing in Va beach and went up to Williamsburg. So we were primarily on the interstates. We could potentially be moving to the area next August so I am hoping that we just coincidently hit all the run down areas of the towns.

Of course it is run down. I don't' necessarily see that as a bad thing but it is a blue collar working class area. Not to say that there aren't any working professionals here but this isn't Northern Virginia. Probably never will be, and I'm not even sure if I want it to be.

[jasperjames7]

I recently stayed on oceanview blvd in norfolk,va What a blighted area! I was shocked! Here you have the beautiful atlantic ocean as a backdrop and the whole area is like a slum.. WHY?

[jasperjames7]

What a complete disappointment to vacation in norfolk,va near the ocean . Why haven't they made this a desirable tourist attraction? You have the gem of the atlantic coastline and it has been literally destroyed with run down houses, no restaurants to speak of. So blighted! WHAT HAPPENED/ I'm from southern california and our coastlines have been developed into lovely tourist areas. WHAT A SHAME. From extremely disappointed traveler.

[VBeachChick]

Originally Posted by jasperjames7

What a complete disappointment to vacation in norfolk,va near the ocean . Why haven't they made this a desirable tourist attraction? You have the gem of the atlantic coastline and it has been literally destroyed with run down houses, no restaurants to speak of. So blighted! WHAT HAPPENED/ I'm from southern california and our coastlines have been developed into lovely tourist areas. WHAT A SHAME. From extremely disappointed traveler.

Norfolk is next to the Chesapeake Bay, not the Atlantic Ocean. The neighborhood name "Ocean View" is a misnomer. Ocean View used to be a big resort area from the early 20th century until the 1970s. Competition from Williamsburg theme parks and the Virginia Beach Oceanfront pretty much killed it, and the blight set in. It's a mostly a working class community, though there are now some gentrified, affluent parts (like East Beach). Ocean View's main road, Route 60, runs east to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, which has the attractions you're looking for.