Downtown Richmond incredibly depressing (Blue Ridge, Washington: neighborhood, theater, construction)

[Pogo1288]

It's not so much what the downtown is like now...it's where it's going. Within the last 5 years, many people (of all races) are moving into the downtown area. Many new restaurants have opened. First Friday is not to be missed, as many art galleries, coffee shops and restaurants say open very late and streets are filled with the young and young at heart. Take a second look and see the potential that is finally being realized.

[richmondpics]

Well said... even in the last 5 years there has been major improvement.

[wmd2875]

As a former RIC resident, I have to say that the bottom is one place I ALWAYS avoided. It used to be a fun place to hang out at about 10 years ago, but it went down hill. After a shooting outside that BW3s there, I hardly ever went down that way. The fan was decent, aside from the compact bars with too much smoke and people in them. The thing that always bothered me was that you would see the same people at the same "new spots" all the time. Maybe that's b/c it's a small city or maybe I went out all the time... or maybe just both.

[rharriston]

IMO, the down town area west of the I95 corridor is pretty impressive. Of course there are its rough parts, but it has some really nice areas too, especially by the canal and river. There are new condos and apartments going up as well. Some of the neighborhoods are also quite nice (shockoe slip and bottom, the fan, monument ave areas). The neighborhoods and areas downtown that are south of broadstreet in my opinion are in better condition than that of those north. Even driving on broad street (from 1st st east) is rather depressing. But once you get past the I95 corrider its just straight up creepy (with the exception of parts of Church Hill, old churches, and Chimborazo Park) There are all sorts of creepy decreped buildings with graffitied boards that look there about the fall down. Main street/ cary street/ grace street area has a lot of cool bars, restaurants and cafes. and belle isle is a popular hangout for the west end kids

[Paul Hammond]

As a seven year resident of downtown Richmond I can affirm that it is quite a depressing place, but with several caveats. West Broad from 1st to Belvidere is developing into a fine restaurant/arts district. Jackson Ward is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Once totally depressed and dangerous it is home to new condos, restored historic homes and several new restaurants. The business district is strictly a daytime affair and you can shoot a cannon down Franklin Street on a Sunday without doing much damage. I've encountered visitors on the sidewalk with no clue as to where to go or how to get there. Explaining that is not an easy task.

The original post accurately describes downtown, especially on a Saturday. Spefically pointing out race does not make one a racist, merely an honest observer. The white middle class still largely avoids downtown, once a thriving retail district for all races and street corners are filled with vagrants, panhandlers and hoodlums. Non of this passes the loved one test meaning would you send your mother, sister, daughter or visiting relative loose on downtown streets without an escort? I wouldn't.

All this being said, I love my city and downtown. It's on the verge of overcoming many obstable and is in the process of a great transformation. I urge everyone to come visit Richmond. There are dozens of historic and wonderful places to go, just get a local guide to show you around.

[CNI]

It's always funny to me how the main Richmonders who created the "depressing" situation downtown and in the city as a whole (those who fled the city in the late 1960s and 1970s for more homogenized surroundings) love to complain about the state of Richmond today.
If the only way you will feel happy and safe in an area is that you do not see people who fit your stereotype of "dangerous" (unless they area cutting your grass or performing other stereotypical services) then...why not stay in suburbia?
Specifically noting discomfort with seeing certain groups of people makes my definition of racists.
Many of those people you saw "hanging out", "aimless and bored" were likely waiting at bus stops. Some may have stepped outside of a barber shop to make a cell phone call. Some may have been dropped-off to pay a bill and could have been waiting for a driver to circle back around the block. Endless possibilities.
And even some of those people may have been homeless, mentally ill, etc. There are places downtown that provide services for the people whom some in our community some choose to ignore.
Sorry you had to be exposed to real, urban life. Maybe you would find "downtown Short Pump" more to your liking?

[Paul Hammond]

Specifically noting discomfort with seeing certain groups of people makes my definition of racists.

Then you live amongst a small collection of people who have no apparent concsiousness of their surrounds, mostly blind and deaf I guess, surrounded by a sea of "racists".

The definition of prejudice is judging people knowing nothing about them. It's a common trait.

If the only way you will feel happy and safe in an area is that you do not see people who fit your stereotype of "dangerous" (unless they area cutting your grass or performing other stereotypical services) then...why not stay in suburbia?

Now there's a constructive opinion. Sometimes people who do fit the stereotype of being dangerous, actually are. You know if it walks like a gangster, talks like a gangster and dresses like a gangster, it might just be a gangster.

My advice is please come and visit us downtown. I'd be glad to show you around. I'd also advise you not wander the streets alone after dark. We're coming along, but we're not quite there yet.

[CNI]

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What? Please clarify...the majority of your response made very little sense to me.

[Patsfan20]

Richmond is like Cleveland, but without pro sports or the waterfront. I think that makes it pretty damn depressing.

[New Hampshire]

Was in Richmond for the first time for a day a couple of days ago and had a great time at the Edgar Allen Poe Museum and the Science Museum/Planetarium. Tomato soup and French Dip sandwich at Zappa was the best as was the service.

By the way, what is that architectually-stunning building next to the Science Museum?