Infrastructure of Norfolk/Portsmouth - Midatlantic, Southern (Fort Lee, Merrimac: real estate, hotel)

[tvpirate05]

The Virginian-Pilot recently uploaded some pictures of the "Atlantic City" neighborhood c. early-60s. It's the area over near Norfolk General Hospital. Now the Red Cross, channel 13, and PETA are over there. From what I read, both AC and Ghent were less-than-desirable at that time, but revitalization efforts focused more on Ghent in the 60s and 70s.

Would love to see how different downtown would be now...I'm thinking something close to what Richmond has, with the row houses and all.

[VaDogwood]

Originally Posted by ShadowBat

If you look at historic photos of Norfolk, before the '60s, it totally resembled northern cities. From the photos I saw, it looked like a flat coastal Pittsburgh. Then the city leaders in their infinite wisdom decided to level downtown except for Granby St. Just imagine Granby extended over the entire downtown and beyond. Not just one street. That's what Norfolk looked like. It makes me mad every time I look at those old pictures of the city.

Granby St. was full of taverns and hookers back then,

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by ShadowBat

If you look at historic photos of Norfolk, before the '60s, it totally resembled northern cities. From the photos I saw, it looked like a flat coastal Pittsburgh. Then the city leaders in their infinite wisdom decided to level downtown except for Granby St. Just imagine Granby extended over the entire downtown and beyond. Not just one street. That's what Norfolk looked like. It makes me mad every time I look at those old pictures of the city.

How did this come about? It seems as though the city is trying to stretch downtown further into the neighborhoods now.

[757Cities Southsider]

http://nrha.photoshelter.com/gallery...0000LTi3iKSgOM

....cant really post pictures but go to the gallery section of this site and scroll/stroll through how Nawfuk used to look...I suggest the "Historical" section pictures #214 and #270-275...and the "Church Street" section.

[Kbank007]

Originally Posted by 757Cities Southsider

http://nrha.photoshelter.com/gallery...0000LTi3iKSgOM

....cant really post pictures but go to the gallery section of this site and scroll/stroll through how Nawfuk used to look...I suggest the "Historical" section pictures #214 and #270-275...and the "Church Street" section.

Norfolk did resemble northern cities a lot after looking at many of the photos. Do you all believe that the city will ever get back to being as dense as it was in the 1950's era? I noticed that downtown appears to have expanded some in the past 5-10 years. Church Street looked drastically different in the old photos. It seemed about as dense as the downtown area at one time.

[roanoker 4]

I think it was a good move on Norfolks' part to put in the light rail from downtown to the major parts of the City. Can anyone imagine what Northern Virginia would look like now if the METRO was not built? I predict future generations will thank you guys for looking ahead instead of allowing developers the option of building
whatever they wish. Now, Virginia Beach is another story.

[757Cities Southsider]

Originally Posted by Kbank007

Norfolk did resemble northern cities a lot after looking at many of the photos. Do you all believe that the city will ever get back to being as dense as it was in the 1950's era? I noticed that downtown appears to have expanded some in the past 5-10 years. Church Street looked drastically different in the old photos. It seemed about as dense as the downtown area at one time.

I think it is important to understand the "history" of cities to understand why they are what they are and what makes them unique. For all intents and purposes Norfolk was/is a Mid-Atlantic city regionally and Mid-Atlanic/Southern by history/culture. I dont think it is so much that Norfolk looks like "northern" cities more than it is it just looks/looked like English-American-Colonial-Industrial era built cities...that is what Norfolk/Portsmouth/N.News/Richmond are. Notice some of the cobblestone laden streets with blocks and blocks of brick buildings with a HORSE and BUGGY riding down the main street. You would think that farm animals downtown was a rural thing (Southern?), yet NY had the same mode of transportation before and during the intro of the automobile. I had a friend from St. Louis tell me some parts of Norfolk remind him of St. Louis. Someone from Rocky Mount has told me it is like where shes from in Rocky Mount. Several places in Jersey look like VA, some can appear even MORE "rural/suburban" (Southern?) looking. When I went to Atlanta in 92 some of the brick buildings in Atlanta(the city) reminded me of Norfolk/HR with hills trees and no ocean. I think that the brick buildings stop when you get to Florida...I think they yield to/for a more "spanish" flair in architecture. I think that the different European ethnic group of influence, and ultimately the climate/weather, influenced places like Savannah, Charleston, and Florida.

[pdxtp]

Originally Posted by 757Cities Southsider

I think it is important to understand the "history" of cities to understand why they are what they are and what makes them unique. For all intents and purposes Norfolk was/is a Mid-Atlantic city regionally and Mid-Atlanic/Southern by history/culture. I dont think it is so much that Norfolk looks like "northern" cities more than it is it just looks/looked like English-American-Colonial-Industrial era built cities...that is what Norfolk/Portsmouth/N.News/Richmond are. Notice some of the cobblestone laden streets with blocks and blocks of brick buildings with a HORSE and BUGGY riding down the main street. You would think that farm animals downtown was a rural thing (Southern?), yet NY had the same mode of transportation before and during the intro of the automobile. I had a friend from St. Louis tell me some parts of Norfolk remind him of St. Louis. Someone from Rocky Mount has told me it is like where shes from in Rocky Mount. Several places in Jersey look like VA, some can appear even MORE "rural/suburban" (Southern?) looking. When I went to Atlanta in 92 some of the brick buildings in Atlanta(the city) reminded me of Norfolk/HR with hills trees and no ocean. I think that the brick buildings stop when you get to Florida...I think they yield to/for a more "spanish" flair in architecture. I think that the different European ethnic group of influence, and ultimately the climate/weather, influenced places like Savannah, Charleston, and Florida.

Very true!

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by 757Cities Southsider

I think it is important to understand the "history" of cities to understand why they are what they are and what makes them unique. For all intents and purposes Norfolk was/is a Mid-Atlantic city regionally and Mid-Atlanic/Southern by history/culture. I dont think it is so much that Norfolk looks like "northern" cities more than it is it just looks/looked like English-American-Colonial-Industrial era built cities...that is what Norfolk/Portsmouth/N.News/Richmond are. Notice some of the cobblestone laden streets with blocks and blocks of brick buildings with a HORSE and BUGGY riding down the main street. You would think that farm animals downtown was a rural thing (Southern?), yet NY had the same mode of transportation before and during the intro of the automobile. I had a friend from St. Louis tell me some parts of Norfolk remind him of St. Louis. Someone from Rocky Mount has told me it is like where shes from in Rocky Mount. Several places in Jersey look like VA, some can appear even MORE "rural/suburban" (Southern?) looking. When I went to Atlanta in 92 some of the brick buildings in Atlanta(the city) reminded me of Norfolk/HR with hills trees and no ocean. I think that the brick buildings stop when you get to Florida...I think they yield to/for a more "spanish" flair in architecture. I think that the different European ethnic group of influence, and ultimately the climate/weather, influenced places like Savannah, Charleston, and Florida.

True of a lot of cities in America. But for the purpose of C-D, "Northern" is just short hand for dense construction, dense infrastructure, and densely populated. Which it is clear, Norfolk/Portsmouth/Richmond were/are all of the above. Not to discount what you're saying, but we're just fighting the ignorance that there are indeed some Southern cities that share those same traits, just that your average person may not realize this.

[757Cities Southsider]

Originally Posted by goofy328

True of a lot of cities in America. But for the purpose of C-D, "Northern" is just short hand for dense construction, dense infrastructure, and densely populated. Which it is clear, Norfolk/Portsmouth/Richmond were/are all of the above. Not to discount what you're saying, but we're just fighting the ignorance that there are indeed some Southern cities that share those same traits, just that your average person may not realize this.

Oh I get what you are saying about what people are "meaning to say" by saying "Northern", thats the problem. The average person doesnt really know what they are talking about. You are right, we ARE fighting ignorance. Generalizations and stigma clouds peoples judgement of reality.