What Kinds of Changes Would You Like to See in Richmond? (apartments, crime)

[richmondpics]

90% of yards in Chesterfield with "weed lots and dirt driveways." Are you kidding me? That's totally inaccurate.

[ClarkStreetKid]

One change I'd like to see in Richmond is less focus on image and more focus on substance. For example, better schools and better salaries for the City of Richmond police rather than money leaking baseball teams.

[540_804]

Originally Posted by CNI

[SIZE=2]All of these changes require REGIONAL efforts (not just City of Richmond efforts)
1) Identification of a more nationally acceptable calling card then "former capital of the Confederacy"
2) Replace Confederate glorification with balanced Civil War focus emphasizing Union, Confederate, slave, Native American, etc. perspectives.
3) Better balance between recognition of the past and need for future progression (e.g., Boston, Philadelphia, etc.).
4) Be the 1st region in the state to eliminate the present separate city-county locality structure (if for no other reason than being seen as a larger "Richmond" on national rankings & being able to benefit from that fact). (NOTE: I recognize that this is a Virginia...not just Richmond...problem)
5) Establish a public transportation system (beyond GRTC if necessary) for the entire region (from Petersburg to Hanover) that focuses on linking employers and employees, service providers and service seekers no matter their location. Advantages: Increase employment opportunities for residents, larger work pool for employers, less regional dysfunction.
6) Pledge and actions to do all within reason to never let any part of the region's homicide and crime rates exceed those of comparably sized cities by more than X%. Equal outrage at the violent and senseless death of all the region's residents.
7) Pledge and actions to do all within reason to provide school options that meet all of the region's children's needs (not be happy with the current situation where there are some exceptional and some miserable schools)
8) Have one of the best venues for entertainment in Virginia (i.e., replace the Richmond Coliseum)
9) Have one of the best venues for AAA baseball in the nation (i.e, replace the Diamond)
10) Work with Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell to strengthen their view of themselves as part of the Richmond region and include them on regional development matters.
11) Incorporation of more younger leadership
12) Seek to establish systems that retains average to high performing talent (whether in sports or academics, grade school or college) within the region by providing opportunities - where possible - for this talent to advance in their chosen field within the region (no matter race, family ties, etc).
13) Work with Hampton Roads, Fredericksburg, NOVA, DC, and Maryland to establish a stronger Mid-Atlantic region (Not viewing anything to the North as evil...the civil War is over)
14) Greater willingness to compete on national level (not just with Southern states)
15) Commitment to investing more in things that will ensure jobs and better standard of living for next generation of Richmonders and investing less in divisive things that do not.
16) No longer resting on past laurels. Measuring Richmond's progress with a modern yardstick. If Richmond WAS a leader and great (to some) at one point in history then why accept being 2nd rate and mediocre now? Strive to compete and accomplish as much if not more than your peer cities.
[/SIZE]

ABSOLUTELY YES @ 3, 4 and 12. For Richmond and my hometown of Roanoke. I think those 3 things could greatly help both of these areas (though im aware we were just talking about Richmond)

[roanoker 4]

The last thing downtown Richmond needs is a skyscraper. It will scare even more people from going downtown. The area needs to really focus on its "livability". Visit Greenville SC and see what they have done downtown like
waterfalls, elevated walkways, sculpture, etc. Its too bad something like Short Pump was not built downtown like MacArthur Mall in Norfolk(which rejuvenated downtown). Until Richmond area residents start to like their downtown nothing will ever happen.

[richmondpics]

Tearing up the street grid and plopping a suburban mall in the middle of downtown would be terrible, but I do agree that having a destination "district" like that downtown would be a great amenity. If a master developer could come in and unify the use of buildings along say Grace Street or on the surface lots of Monroe Ward for retail uses, they could create the authentic urban shopping district that a place like Short Pump can only try to replicate in its own disneyfied way...

[Teebyrd86]

I agree.. remember sixth street market place? What a flop that was! I hope that Richmond does fix its inner city up.. I remember going to the colliseam with family from out town and they wonder.. Is this area safe? ;-(

Originally Posted by richmondpics

Tearing up the street grid and plopping a suburban mall in the middle of downtown would be terrible, but I do agree that having a destination "district" like that downtown would be a great amenity. If a master developer could come in and unify the use of buildings along say Grace Street or on the surface lots of Monroe Ward for retail uses, they could create the authentic urban shopping district that a place like Short Pump can only try to replicate in its own disneyfied way...

[roanoker 4]

Its a tough city to introduce new plans in my opinon. With all of the historical designations and societies I am sure any new plans would be quickly turned down. Here in Roanoke, which doesn't have the rich history as Richmond, there are certain districts where no buildings can be changed without strict
approval from the historical society folks. I think Sixth Street Marketplace was a good idea but it was in the wrong spot. In my opinion, Richmond has such great potential downtown but sadly it seems to be stuck in yesterday.

[ClarkStreetKid]

Less 6th Street Market Place type projects and more like what Ed Eck did on Main. Before kids my wife and I would eat lunch and dinner at a different restaurant along or right off of Main.

Big Changes for Cary St. « Urban Richmond~

[VA Yankee]

Mac Arthur mall succeeded because Norfolk unlike Richmond had a plan. Over 18 years there I saw it come together piece by piece, sometimes it stalled but it was never abandoned. The mall is in an area that went from old rail yards and warehouses to what we see today. The warehouses are now condos & apts that sit next to Waterside and Nauticus with the ball stadium all within walking distance. The area is safe and well lit. They also created the shopping and stores needed to support a community. Even older less desirable areas have been revamped making them better to live in.

Richmond has alot of assetts but no long term commitment. Although people are moving in there is no sizable middle class.

[NJRAMAL]

Richmond's NUMBER ONE problem is that it is sandwiched between Henrico and Chesterfield and nobody wants anything to do with it! White flight took all the money out of the city into the counties. In other states, this wouldnt be an issue because the money in the county still supports the city because the city lies within the county! In Virginia as we all know, when successful money leaves the city it is gone forever and leaves the city with a population of less fortunate people who do not contribute to the city but instead TAKE from the city in the form of public assistance. Richmond has NO TAX BASE to maintain the city. This is the reason for the substandard school system and the city streets that resemble New York of the 1980's.

The counties REFUSE to give up land to the city whcih would increase their tax base, and as a result the City suffocates and becomes irrelivant while the counties become wealthy and affluent (by Richmond standards). What the counties fail to realize is that Richmond is the anchor of the reigon. Without a strong anchor the surrounding areas will not thrive as they should. Petersburg suffers because it's anchor is not strong enough to trickle economy a mere 20 minutes down interstate 95. If the seperate city laws are never reversed Richmond will remain a poor crime ridden city with a 2nd rate metro and never realize it's full potential.

Other cities in Virginia have not been hurt as much by this law because their metro areas are self sufficient ie: NOVA, TIDEWATER. Richmond is an island uneffected by the prosperity of NOVA and Tidewater. We dont have the nation's capital or the nation's largest naval base to boost our economy. All we have is US! Reigonal cooperation will be the only saving grace for Richmond. The counties need to realize that and lift Richmond up and put it on their shoulders! Without a healthy anchor there can be no healthy reigon.