Are People Friendly in Richmond's West End Area??

[mh7067]

MillHill,

You are right to be concerned. In fact, people from the West End are particularly unfriendly. If it is not too late you might reconsider your decision to relocate to Richmond!

[Richmond Commuter]

Originally Posted by pcdr

As a former Iowan who now lives in Richmond (Mechanicsville, actually), let me give you some examples of what we have experienced here:

[SNIP]

Well here's my take on it - unfortunately, you're comparing what Iowans understand as "friendly" to what most of the East Coast understands as "friendly."

In my former career, I traveled ALOT all over the continental U.S. The absolutely friendliest people I ever met were in central Iowa. My wife and I drove across the state and stopped in the Amana Colonies. We ate lunch at the Ox Yoke Inn and we were stunned with how incredibly nice and friendly EVERYbody was.

So yes, in comparison to that kind of atmosphere, I could understand how you would find people here to be more reserved. From my perspective though, coming from northern NJ down here was like a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively). I have neighbors here who I know better and have spoken to more after one year than the folks I lived right next door to in NJ for nine years!

As for the folks who say they feel unsafe in certain parts of the Richmond area - again, I think it's what you're used to. Some folks feel perfectly comfortable strolling around the VCU area - I feel like I need to keep my head on a swivel walking around down there. But that's just because of what I'm used to.

[tagyourit]

Downtown Richmond seems to be a blaring tribute to slavery and segregation. There is such thing as too much “in your face” history. There is a clear and distinct line between the races here in Richmond. If you live in the suburbs you are one kind of person and if you live in some parts of the city you are another kind of person. If you stray into a part of the city were “you do not belong” you will know it immediately. If your children go to school in the city then they will run the risk of being shot with pepper spray, and learn how to handle a lockdown situation when shootings start. The county schools are different they have more supplies. But if you are a minority in a county school you will be lonely and singled out. I have never seen such a sprawling network of rundown projects and subsidized housing. There are homeless people sleeping in abandoned cars and on sidewalks down town. During the short walk back to my car in the evenings after work I got stopped and asked for money on average twice a week. One of the most horrible experiences was giving money to one homeless man and then noticing that I was being watch by another who was clearly thinking about approaching me and also asking for money. I was a working college student at the time so I really did not have that much money to spare. The landscape is neglected in most areas. As you drive and visit places there are a few jewels from time to time. This place does not have universal appeal. Richmond is like a big museum. It is like Richmond doesn’t have enough money to build new so they keep the old things and call them landmarks and hope you don’t notice how rundown it really is. You have to be the kind of person who likes the smell of mothballs to live here. The people here are so busy trying to hold on to the past they are letting the present and future slide right by them. Richmond’s job market is a ghost town. These days, you would have to start your own business to open up the job market around here. The city is dirty and you don’t have to look far to find a building that has been boarded up. This city is only attractive when you are with friends and family because then it is about enjoying the experience, not the location.

[tagyourit]

[SIZE=3]Downtown Richmond seems to be a blaring tribute to slavery and segregation. There is such thing as too much “in your face” history. There is a clear and distinct line between the races here in Richmond. If you live in the suburbs you are “one” kind of person and if you live in some parts of the city you are “another” kind of person. If you stray into a part of the city were “you do not belong” you will know it immediately. If your children go to school in the city then they will run the risk of being shot with pepper spray, and learn how to handle a lockdown situation when shootings start. The county schools are different they have more supplies. But if you are a minority in a county school you will be lonely and singled out. I have never seen such a sprawling network of rundown projects and subsidized housing. There are homeless people sleeping in abandoned cars and on sidewalks down town. During the short walk back to my car in the evenings after work I got stopped and asked for money on average twice a week. One of the most horrible experiences was giving money to one homeless man and then noticing that I was being watch by another who was clearly thinking about approaching me and also asking for money. I was a working college student at the time so I really did not have that much money to spare. The landscape is neglected in most areas. As you drive and visit places there are a few jewels from time to time. This place does not have universal appeal. Richmond is like a big museum. It is like Richmond doesn’t have enough money to build new so they keep the old things and call them landmarks and hope you don’t notice how rundown it really is. You have to be the kind of person who likes the smell of mothballs to live here. The people here are so busy trying to hold on to the past they are letting the present and future slide right by them. Richmond’s job market is a ghost town. These days, you would have to start your own business to open up the job market around here. The city is dirty and you don’t have to look far to find a building that has been boarded up. This city is only attractive when you are with friends and family because then it is about enjoying the experience, not the location.[/SIZE]

[mrstewart]

Tagyourit,
I am not sure if you realize but you are describing every major city in America. Detroit has Southfield and ONLY Caldeans live there but in Dearborn, only Arabs live there. Boston...China Town, well thats not too hard to figure out the Asians congregate in that area and in Beacon Hill, the up and coming caucasians live there. Baltimore, DC, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Houston Dallas, LA...the story is not new nor exclusive to Richmond.
There are homeless people all over and get ready, it will be getting worse as the economy gets worse.
While Richmond is not perfect, why tear down the old when it can be salvaged? Just to build some cookie cutter city like Atlanta where they give all the buildings dryvit and a Starbucks? No thanks.
By the way, ALL schools should be learning about lock down since most of the school shootings happen in rural and suburban schools.

[Teebyrd86]

Do what I did.. Move to Roanoke

[UberGroovyChick]

I moved here about 15 years ago. I really can't say the people here are friendly.

[ARLewis1]

I've lived in Virginia for over 20 years. People here are extremelly friendly. Sure if you are in the city then "Rubbers" might take your floor?!?! But isnt that the case in most downtowns? If you live in live in one of the many great suburbs that Richmond has to offer you will see that the people are extremelly friendly.

[Familyheart]

Well I've been here for over 10 years and have never had a problem. The only negative attidtudes I've experienced are from young punks (but that's everywhere) and from the few blacks and whites who are still living in the civil war. Most people are very friendly and laid back. There are some pretentious "Richmonders" out there who come from a long lineage of well to do "Richmonders", but who cares. You will be fine and you will love it. There are rude people everywhere. Virginia is one out of four states I've lived in and is the most casual and family friendly place I've been.

[Familyheart]

By the way, to those people who live in the city and are complaining about crime...... well, it's the city, nothing like the area asked about in this forum.