richmond..not on my mind (Mechanicsville, Glen Allen: travel, salary, jobs)

[Georgia]

Don't get to excited about Charlotte, Atlanta is heading that way at a record pace and I'm not talking about good things. Charlotte likes to boast about being the next Atlanta and trust me, the last thing you want to be is the "Next Atlanta"

The City of Richmond may have issues, but in comparison you cannot compare it to Charlotte as the City of Charlotte has close to 700,000 people alone excluding the burbs.
Actually, I like both towns but if Charlotte does become the "next Atlanta" then God help Charlotte!

[CNI]

I can't speak for all, but I don't think anybody is saying that Charlotte is the shinning exampe of perfection or that Richmond should be like Charlotte. But what most people can agree on is that Charlotte appears to regularly set progressive targets and goals for improving itself plus...it achieves those targets/goals. It appears to be maximizing its potential...overachieving.
In a nutshell, I THINK that the gist of people's issue with Richmond is that it appears to be incapable of living up to its potential (for whatever reasons you wish to assign). It appears to be a perpetual underachiever. And that is not an insult. That is just the perception of those who know Richmond and know that - given its natural gifts, its location on the East Coast, its past position of significance, etc. - it could be so much more.
Richmond is like an underachieving son or daughter. You can't help but be frustrated because you care and want to see it do better.

[Optimistic]

Wow and to think I wanted to move to the Richmond area from Atlanta. I am just not sure now. I am from NYC originally. I have been in Atlanta for almost 7.5yrs. I need to be able to get to NY quicker since my grandmother is 81yrs young and needs more help now.

I am always optimistic and I believe that where you live is what you make it. I just want to be able to drive to NY without the hassle and I want my teens in a decent high school. I am not asking for much and our family is a good stable one just trying to find its special place in a community.

[richmondpics]

You have the right attitude!

[Georgia]

My opinion in regard to Richmond is simple.
A great place for married couples and families, not so fun for single folks.
I lived there in 1994-1997, in Glen Allen. At that time I was not married and rather bored.
With this said I liked the area overall, I enjoyed the people, the history, and just about everything else outside of the dreaded vehicle tax, which we have in Georgia.

How about this for a question to all the current residents:

Richmond, if your moving there today (Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover county) where are nice places to live in regard to safety, schools, etc., and where, today, do you stay away from?

What is the overall issues in the Richmond area?

Some folks say Richmond is not progressing like Charlotte for example, progressing how. Living in Atlanta and being in Charlotte much of the time I sometimes wonder if Richmond should not progress as much. Granted, Charlotte is better than Atlanta, but treading Atlanta's way fast. And if you want to experience what not to do Atlanta is a great example. Frankly, I always thought the Richmond area handled it's growth smartly.

Would be good to get some updated opinions on present day Richmond and the surrounding area.

[metro.m]

Charlotte is nowhere near the size of Atlanta. You're talking 1.6mill vs 5.6mill. Two completely different leagues. A hand full of high rises does not qualify you as Atlanta.

The only reason Charlotte appears to be growing so fast is the fact, they have grossly lenient annexation laws. 60 sq miles have been annexed in the past 8 years! That's equal to the entire city of Richmond! Charlotte is 300 square miles!

The personality of both cities is also polar opposites.

Atlanta= Fun,young,diverse, and full of culture
Charlotte= Conservative, squeaky clean, not much soul, small town mindset (which isn't a bad thing)

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by metro.m

Charlotte is nowhere near the size of Atlanta. You're talking 1.6mill vs 5.6mill. Two completely different leagues. A hand full of high rises does not qualify you as Atlanta.

The only reason Charlotte appears to be growing so fast is the fact, they have grossly lenient annexation laws. 60 sq miles have been annexed in the past 8 years! That's equal to the entire city of Richmond! Charlotte is 300 square miles!

The personality of both cities is also polar opposites.

Atlanta= Fun,young,diverse, and full of culture
Charlotte= Conservative, squeaky clean, not much soul, small town mindset (which isn't a bad thing)

True, but what I am saying is Charlotte may be the "next" Atlanta.
The main issue in Atlanta is many companies are looking into performing market scenario's to leave Atlanta for Charlotte. Coca Cola was one and if it wasn't for Bernie Marcus they probably would have.

Atlanta is at a crossroad, to either turn left or right and currently they just want to spin in circles with bad city leadership, bad traffic, high crime, etc., this is my point about Charlotte.

Now, since this is a Richmond thread I will leave Atlanta alone. Richmond is basically a small scale Charlotte, but offers more for young, single, folks like the person authoring this thread. Of the three I think Richmond offers much more due to it's overall size and family mindset than most southern city areas.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by metro.m

Charlotte is nowhere near the size of Atlanta. You're talking 1.6mill vs 5.6mill. Two completely different leagues. A hand full of high rises does not qualify you as Atlanta.

The only reason Charlotte appears to be growing so fast is the fact, they have grossly lenient annexation laws. 60 sq miles have been annexed in the past 8 years! That's equal to the entire city of Richmond! Charlotte is 300 square miles!

The personality of both cities is also polar opposites.

Atlanta= Fun,young,diverse, and full of culture
Charlotte= Conservative, squeaky clean, not much soul, small town mindset (which isn't a bad thing)

True, but what I am saying is Charlotte may be the "next" Atlanta.
The main issue in Atlanta is many companies are looking into performing market scenario's to leave Atlanta for Charlotte. Coca Cola was one and if it wasn't for Bernie Marcus they probably would have.

Atlanta is at a crossroad, to either turn left or right and currently they just want to spin in circles with bad city leadership, bad traffic, high crime, etc., this is my point about Charlotte.

Now, since this is a Richmond thread I will leave Atlanta alone. Richmond is basically a small scale Charlotte, but offers less for young, single, folks like the person authoring this thread. Of the three I think Richmond offers much more for couples and families with children due to it's overall size and family value mindset than most southern city areas.

[CNI]

Originally Posted by Georgia

Now, since this is a Richmond thread I will leave Atlanta alone. Richmond is basically a small scale Charlotte, but offers less for young, single, folks like the person authoring this thread. Of the three I think Richmond offers much more for couples and families with children due to it's overall size and family value mindset than most southern city areas.

It seems the fundamental problems the opposing sides have w/ regards to Richmond (whether it is "fine as is" or "needs improvement") come down to a few things.
1st, some see cities as competitors. Competing for businesses/jobs, desirable residents, media attention, etc. Others do not see the need to compete.
Personally, I think cities have to compete - whether they want to or not. Many Richmonders (and Virginians) do not think they have to compete (for some reason). They rest on past laurels (many of debatable significance).
My belief - compete or die. Compete or be left behind.
Richmond needs to adopt a more competitive attitude and a desire to be "best".
2nd, some see cities as places that should be frozen in a state/time which they find to be acceptable. Others see cities as dynamic, frequently changing places. These people want the changes to be improvements.
Many Richmonders always look back to some past time when things were "better". The few Richmonders who bring about the positive changes look forward, plan, & enact changes for the better.
There are not enough people from the 2nd group in Richmond.
Change to cities will come - whether you usher them in or they break down the door.
3rd, some see cities as needing to provide opportunities for diverse groups of people - from minimum wage up to corporate execs, strip club entertainment to opera, community college education to law schools, toddlers, teenagers, to retirees, etc. Others see cities as places for only certain types of opportunities for certain people.
Richmond needs to diversify. It provides some opportunities (as you mentioned, "...Richmond offers much more for couples and families with children due to it's overall size and family value mindset...").
What about the other % of singles, young adults, etc?
If you are willing to let significant percentages of your residents go unserved then you stand to loose significant #s of productive citizens to other competing cities.
Like it or not, cities are in the business of competing to meet the needs of their constituents, providing opportunities, and changing (progressing) responsibly.

[dvcgal]

I'm not trying to get totally involved with this debate, but will say this, I grew up in Atlanta and lived there until I was in my 20's. Left and went to Houston. Left and went back to Atlanta and now live in Virginia. Atlanta, where I lived, was one of the best areas to live in. We had the best public schools in the state (actually ranked nationally and statewide) and had more humble, hard working people than I have come across anywhere else. There are many negatives to the city as with any city, but overall, Atlanta is a great place to grow up and live. As far as Charlotte goes, I have not lived there personally but know many people who do and they love it!!! As with any growing city there are going to be problems that come about...just like in Richmond. But... that does not mean that you should write off the efforts that are being made to improve all these areas. That said, Richmond lacks the diversity, racially and culturally, that Atlanta has. And...someone mentioned morals and values....last time I checked Atlanta was located in Georgia...the south. Just because we allow different types of people and embrace them does not mean that we do not have morals and values. Our morals and values have evolved with time...something that people in Virginia need to do...evolve. Good luck debating...just thought I would add my 2 cents! GO DAWGS!!!!