What's bad about Richmond?

[QuarlesLT]

If you don't mind being around 45 min. from downtown Richmond, 25 min. from Short Pump and 20 min. from Charlottesville, and love country living, Louisa County is the place for you! It is right off I-64, almost equally between Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg. Homes are in the 150-250k range for the most part.

There has never been much shopping in the county, but that is changing very soon. In the Zion Crossroads area (also right off I-64), Lowe's is almost completed and is opening in May, and a new Walmart (supposedly the most attractive-looking Walmart on the East Coast, uses their newest design), outlet mall, shopping centers, and restaurants are hopefully going to be open by the end of the year!

Growing up in the county, I never appreciated it much because there wasn't much to do, but now I appreciate how beautiful and peaceful it is, since I'm living at VCU now. They are also building a new park in the town of Louisa, and Lake Anna is a beautiful lake on the border of Louisa and Spotsylvania Counties that has a state park. I believe Louisa's population is around 31,000 right now, and is expected to hit 45,000 around 2020. I think people are finally realizing how nice it is to live there and are trying to get out of the burbs like NoVa.

So if you don't mind driving not too far at all to the amenities of Charlottesville, Richmond, and Fredericksburg, while having the amenities and lower cost of living of the country, give Louisa a try. It's up and coming!

[Phebe]

Check out Powhatan County for the best school system and low crime. Just don't move into a neighborhood right off of Rt. 60. The traffic is ok now, but Powhatan is growing very quickly. You are less than 20 mins. from Walmart, and 25 mins. from about 3 malls; soon to be 4. Really wonderful area, but if you are a gardener, bring your own soil! Clay and rocks is all I've found!

[anothertequilasunrise]

Everything from the homeless to the Negro black panther and or ms13 gangs running around. Gee I dunno?

Infrastructure's a rusted up dump friends. And that's the best part perhaps when someone not pouring toxic waste on someone's head or hitting them up for drug money.

Awful large amount of strip clubs and crack heads all with no self esteem or direction are at every angle of the area. The music stations all suck, I don't understand how they even keep those jobs when the talk radio hosts suck that bad.

Mosquitoes are still awful at Henrico and on everywhere depending on the warm season and the humidity. [same as Georgia]
A shocker be that Henrico be a separate county but so listed at Richmond. That's technically incorrect friends. A shocker be that nothing but Negroes run the entire city council of Richmond and they don't appear all that bright. [Don't dare refer to me a supremacist as I am none of sort.]

If you even refer to that newer mall that doesn't even belong there as one of the" decent Infrastructures" I'll barf. As that has been a poorly planned nuisance and the reason to build some huge overpass for everyone to get stuck on and fall from and lead to more congestion. The main ones who prey on that mall are from Charlottesville. Energy parasites from Charlottesville must shop at cheapskate Nordstrom etc.. Thats who they built that for and not for others.

Originally Posted by Jennifer Parschauer

OK - considering a move to the suburbs of Richmond, either the west or south side. Have heard loads of good stuff, and the infastructure looks decent (you have to know, I'm near the sticks in the Alps) and the only bad being mosquitos. Can anyone else tell me what they hate about this city - not downtown, not where gangs are - I know any city can have crime spots and traffic, but in general, is there something I don't know yet? My husband will have a home office, so no commute, and we have 3 young kids in school. So, those things considered. Any shockers?

[anothertequilasunrise]

Nothing of the sort. Certainly not up and coming. One crummy edge of the town building a Walmart and you say "up and coming". That's a trip. The other end Lake Anna seeks and wins hiking and spiking the land taxes to all with raise each year so they get to look big and good and get the most profit. A truly pathetic system they're all running.

Originally Posted by QuarlesLT

If you don't mind being around 45 min. from downtown Richmond, 25 min. from Short Pump and 20 min. from Charlottesville, and love country living, Louisa County is the place for you! It is right off I-64, almost equally between Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg. Homes are in the 150-250k range for the most part.

There has never been much shopping in the county, but that is changing very soon. In the Zion Crossroads area (also right off I-64), Lowe's is almost completed and is opening in May, and a new Walmart (supposedly the most attractive-looking Walmart on the East Coast, uses their newest design), outlet mall, shopping centers, and restaurants are hopefully going to be open by the end of the year!

Growing up in the county, I never appreciated it much because there wasn't much to do, but now I appreciate how beautiful and peaceful it is, since I'm living at VCU now. They are also building a new park in the town of Louisa, and Lake Anna is a beautiful lake on the border of Louisa and Spotsylvania Counties that has a state park. I believe Louisa's population is around 31,000 right now, and is expected to hit 45,000 around 2020. I think people are finally realizing how nice it is to live there and are trying to get out of the burbs like NoVa.

So if you don't mind driving not too far at all to the amenities of Charlottesville, Richmond, and Fredericksburg, while having the amenities and lower cost of living of the country, give Louisa a try. It's up and coming!

[anothertequilasunrise]

Like Louisa's trying to win some sort of a sellout award.

[anothertequilasunrise]

And my freaking point. Exactly. They don't fix anything. That which could be nicer won't be fixed. They think they can build on top of stuff quickly to maintain growth but this will be dangerously unsafe. Fearsome how neglectful they are.
The place has the appearance of a bowel.

Originally Posted by treena

Richmond is about as charming as a rattlesnake and there are too many broken down areas for me to stomach. I have lived in other major cities in my life but this one is a dump in too many parts.

This one's ripe.

Originally Posted by vasinger

Its a misconception that the downtown area has gangs. It doesn't. The place where all the crime is is along Jeff Davis HWY, Northeast Richmond, and some areas of east Henrico. Downtown Richmond is probably the safest area of the city!

I don't think you do. The wealthy only have a select few restaurants at "the fan". The rest theaters or something correct. unsafe to hang around however outside for even a few minutes.

Originally Posted by vasinger

You're joking right?

The Fan? Monument Ave? Shockoe Slip? If those are "dumpy areas" then I don't know whats nice anymore.

[Phebe]

Just west of Richmond, on the southside of the James River is Powhatan. It is a rapidly expanding county, with the best public schools that you can find anywhere. Unfortunately, developers are making decisions that are in their best, short term interests. So be careful, if you decide to buy here, that someone isn't trying to rezone your area to commercial, or multi-family. Powhatan is still great, with almost no crime. A recent shooting was very tragic, and unusual for the area. Still a country feel here, with easy access to the rest of the area, via Route 288. As with everywhere, some terrific real estate deals available now, but here, you can still buy a home with acreage and privacy. With sensible, long term urban planning, Powhatan may stay a great place to raise a family. Like I said: you can't beat the county schools.