Confused about cost of living in Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Chesapeake: flat fee, 2009)

[GoPhils]

The San Francisco Bay Area and Miami Metropolitan area are the 6th and 7th largest metropolitan areas in the country, respectively. There are plenty of qualified people there or willing to move there, as again many people would probably rather live in warmer climates (although I'm not really a huge fan of the San Francisco climate) than in the midwest. All of Hampton Roads is only the 33rd largest metropolitan area in the country, and yes although there is no one central hub for most of the jobs, there are several different cities with some different things to offer.

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by GoPhils

The San Francisco Bay Area and Miami Metropolitan area are the 6th and 7th largest metropolitan areas in the country, respectively. There are plenty of qualified people there or willing to move there, as again many people would probably rather live in warmer climates (although I'm not really a huge fan of the San Francisco climate) than in the midwest. All of Hampton Roads is only the 33rd largest metropolitan area in the country, and yes although there is no one central hub for most of the jobs, there are several different cities with some different things to offer.

Keep in mind Oakland and Miami are NOT the San Francisco Bay area and the Miami metro area, nor do the statistics for those cities reflect the whole of the metro areas.

[GoPhils]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

Keep in mind Oakland and Miami are NOT the San Francisco Bay area and the Miami metro area, nor do the statistics for those cities reflect the whole of the metro areas.

I know, I was merely pointing out that the metro areas were very large, meaning that there were a lot of people competing for the jobs that are actually in the cities of Miami and Oakland.

[telemonster]

As things cool down (suckers loose) we will see that other regions that are near the ocean become less expensive than Hampton Roads. For all I know San Diego already is (I know it's still got more pain on the way). At the end of the day there is no escape from the actual incomes of the people. Sure credit can make up for some of the lack of income, but once the consumers are totally maxed out growth will halt.

No, we really don't have the jobs here. I know a few people that are here, but have decided that if housing prices don't crumble they will leave. There isn't much that Hampton Roads has to offer that can't be found elsewhere. I think a chunk of our growth was people cashing out of more expensive markets and moving here, to take advantage of our lower (to them) costs. Now that their homes aren't appreciating at high rates I wonder if they will still like the area? Really it's pretty much repetitive hoods and strip malls.

[damian]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

1. Cities that are similiar in size to Virginia Beach

Atlanta, Kansas City, Cleveland, Miami, Minneapolis, Raleigh, Oakland, Omaha.......is it just me, or does Virginia Beach not even belong in the same discussion as these cities. These are major corporate centers with bustling down town business districts. Some have highly developed public transportation, major international airports, and are regional hubs or commerce and research.

What is Virginia Beach? A giant tourist trap filled with Mom and Pops.

As for your comparison of beach cities, you are comparing small tourist destinations along the coast, to the largest city, in a top 15 largest state in the country. How exactly is that a good comparison?


2. Unemployment is subjective. Not only is it not standardized, but what would you rather have, an affordable place who has a larger unemployment rate amongst unskilled labor, or an unaffordable place who has a terrible problem with underemployment because of lack of mid and high level jobs?

Your analogy with VB is a moot point. Virginia Beach is, whether its residents agree or not, still primarily a suburban bedroom community, not the central city of HR. Had the annexations and locality conversions of the 60s, and 70s not happened, then we would be talking about Princess Anne county not VB city. In fact, the only two localities that did not have any locality conversions are Portsmouth and Norfolk; all the other "cities" were counties in the past. Thus, do not compare VB to Atlanta, Miami etc

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by damian

Your analogy with VB is a moot point. Virginia Beach is, whether its residents agree or not, still primarily a suburban bedroom community, not the central city of HR. Had the annexations and locality conversions of the 60s, and 70s not happened, then we would be talking about Princess Anne county not VB city. In fact, the only two localities that did not have any locality conversions are Portsmouth and Norfolk; all the other "cities" were counties in the past. Thus, do not compare VB to Atlanta, Miami etc

Riddle me this.....why, exactly, could Virginia Beach NOT be the central city of HR? Is it somehow, physically incapable of this? Or is it that its leaders have neglected to pursue any viable avenues to create the type of infrastructure and corporate presence that most cities Virginia Beach's size did?

Do not tell me that VB cannot be compared to Atlanta and Miami or other such cities. VB has just as many people, and in most cases, more land, and a better geographic area to boot. The problem is that it is completely content on being a "bedroom" community, while other young cities actually did something to become great. The leadership has been largely incompetent, the urban planning a joke, and the citizeny are pretty consistent in their opposition to everything that could possibly help create a real city.

[telemonster]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

Do not tell me that VB cannot be compared to Atlanta and Miami or other such cities. VB has just as many people, and in most cases, more land, and a better geographic area to boot.

Norfolk is very historical. It's been around forever (and looks it, lol).

Also, don't forget as a whole Hampton Roads is off the beaten path. I mean, i95. i95 goes from DC to Richmond (skipping Homicide Roads) and going down to Raleigh or whatever. We're a cul-de-sac.

You can see that the drivers get dumber when you get on i64 from i95. Kind of like at the airport you see a lower class of people on the flights at Norfolk Airport versus when you are in other regions (not trying to be a snob as I don't tuck my shirt in either, but I noticed this).

[damian]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

Riddle me this.....why, exactly, could Virginia Beach NOT be the central city of HR? Is it somehow, physically incapable of this? Or is it that its leaders have neglected to pursue any viable avenues to create the type of infrastructure and corporate presence that most cities Virginia Beach's size did?

Do not tell me that VB cannot be compared to Atlanta and Miami or other such cities. VB has just as many people, and in most cases, more land, and a better geographic area to boot. The problem is that it is completely content on being a "bedroom" community, while other young cities actually did something to become great. The leadership has been largely incompetent, the urban planning a joke, and the citizeny are pretty consistent in their opposition to everything that could possibly help create a real city.

If that is the case, then throw in Fairfax county(DC), Cook county (chicago), Orange county (LA), Fulton county (Atlanta), Virginia beach aka Princess Anne county (Norfolk). That is a more reasonable comparison, not a hybrid county-city like VB against Miami, etc

[damian]

Originally Posted by telemonster

Norfolk is very historical. It's been around forever (and looks it, lol).

Also, don't forget as a whole Hampton Roads is off the beaten path. I mean, i95. i95 goes from DC to Richmond (skipping Homicide Roads) and going down to Raleigh or whatever. We're a cul-de-sac.

You can see that the drivers get dumber when you get on i64 from i95. Kind of like at the airport you see a lower class of people on the flights at Norfolk Airport versus when you are in other regions (not trying to be a snob as I don't tuck my shirt in either, but I noticed this).

Well, your only valid points are 1. Norfolk is very historical, and 2. HR in on a cul-de sac. The rest of your post reeks of ignorance, and pretentiousness. Calling HR "Homicide Roads" in the same sentence as Richmond and DC (both one time murder capitals in the country) is ridiculous. And "judging" people by how they look or drive is stupid.. Get over yourself

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by damian

If that is the case, then throw in Fairfax county(DC), Cook county (chicago), Orange county (LA), Fulton county (Atlanta), Virginia beach aka Princess Anne county (Norfolk). That is a more reasonable comparison, not a hybrid county-city like VB against Miami, etc

VB is not a hybrid anything, its a city, period, just like Miami. The fact that some large cities are sitting in counties such as Atlanta, and Virginia Beach is an independent city are meaningless. Unless you are insinuating that Atlanta, as a city, is benefiting disproportionatley from the counties tax dollars, while the rest of the county is neglected, I dont see the argument.

Norfolk, also an independent city, has built an arena, a major entertainment hall, two professional baseball stadiums, now a light rail line, an ok down town which is home to almost every decent corporate job in the area, the regions best airport, and the southsides best shopping mall.

What has Virginia Beach been doing while this has been happening? If you guessed, absolutely nothing, you are right. They just started building a "downtown" which has been a colossal failure in attracting high paying jobs, becoming filled mostly with private practice law firms, retail, and overpriced condos. Their best attempt at a sports field is the Soccer Complex, which has been a failure since it was built. They have openly protested public transportation, thrown spikes in regional cooperation projects, and have refused to stamp yes on anything outside of developers McMansion plans, and projects that attract more tourists to the ocean front.


Virginia Beach has had a bigger tax base then Norfolk since the early 80's, and since then Norfolk has done twice as much to better itself. Virginia Beach has nobody but itself to blame for the condition it is in. While other young cities did what they needed to do in order to build themselves in to a real city, Virginia Beach continued to sit on its thumb. While other young cities attracted legit major business, Virginia Beach sold pictures of its ocean front. While they worked on their infrastructure, Virginia Beach stretched its substandard infrustructure on runaway developments. While they dumped money in to education and transportation, Virginia Beach dumped money in to sand replacement.