The young professional age group is not coming to the city (Richmond: home, employment)

[roanoker 4]

I do agree young professionals are an important ingredient in a population. But realistically Roanoke City can't entice a major corporation to come here with its high paying jobs with no help from Roanoke County, Franklin, Botetourt, etc. We are being choked to death by the more affluent adjacent
jurisdictions. The people who live in those areas expect Roanoke City to do all of the work in economic development when the City is getting poorer. Of course, try to convince people in the County that this is "their" problem too!!
Its a nice dream but we've been down that road many many times!

[seanpecor]

Roanoker, no lie! I think that's why so much effort is being dedicated to The Roanoke Region of Virginia although I think all cities/counties should invest even more in the partnership.

Sean

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by seanpecor

Roanoker, no lie! I think that's why so much effort is being dedicated to The Roanoke Region of Virginia although I think all cities/counties should invest even more in the partnership.

Sean

Sean thanks for that link. I didnt even know that existed!

[540_804]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

I do agree young professionals are an important ingredient in a population. But realistically Roanoke City can't entice a major corporation to come here with its high paying jobs with no help from Roanoke County, Franklin, Botetourt, etc. We are being choked to death by the more affluent adjacent
jurisdictions. The people who live in those areas expect Roanoke City to do all of the work in economic development when the City is getting poorer. Of course, try to convince people in the County that this is "their" problem too!!
Its a nice dream but we've been down that road many many times!

Exactly....

It reminds me a lot of Richmond and Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, and other surrounding counties.....

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by 540_804

Exactly....

It reminds me a lot of Richmond and Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, and other surrounding counties.....

Unlike the counties around here I feel Henrico, Hanover, and Chesterfield contribute plenty to the city of Richmond in fact many major employers are in those three counties. Also they give millions to the city for several causes its the city that is corrupt and needs to do something meaningful with that money.

[PriceG]

Originally Posted by Watchful

I think a young entry-level professional would be inclined to get an apartment - and a huge # of the apt. units are located in Roanoke County rather than Roanoke City - but very very close to the city - like all the many apt. complexes near Tanglewood.

We are here for 2 months and needed a furnished apt. (corporate rental) and so we are in ROA county for those 2 months.

There are some awesome condos being done downtown - pretty nifty price per square foot also. Those are a great niche addition to the market - but are not so numerous as to affect the overall numbers.

IIRC there was also a caveat that the 2009 demographics were pretty well based on established trends and that the 2010 census would be the first opportunity to see if there were any new trends to add as corrective factors - if that is true, it is not surprising that there is no population upswing.

You nailed it. Also, most of the downtown living spaces are condos; but there are several neat buildings with cool apartments. They tend to be on the expensive side though. Outside of downtown, but in the city proper, a lot of the complexes are kind of hard to spot or don't look too lovely. The big apartment complexes are right outside the city; these places are nice, safe, attractive, and affordable. A lot of my friends live out there but work and hang out in the city.

I think with the new lofts at the Cotton Mill and a new bar next to the Jefferson Center, and also with the new medical school and research facilities in the area, you'll see some urban gentrification in Old Southwest in the coming years, being home to more and more young people.

[PriceG]

Originally Posted by Teebyrd86

Sean thanks for that link. I didnt even know that existed!

If it makes you feel any better, it just launched in January...

Also, check out this cool spread that is now on U.S. airways throughout the country! US Airways Magazine / City Profiles / Roanoke, Virginia

The U.S. Air people spent a few weeks in the area doing some undercover work; it's a really cool illustration of ol' roanoke.

[540_804]

Originally Posted by PriceG

If it makes you feel any better, it just launched in January...

Also, check out this cool spread that is now on U.S. airways throughout the country! US Airways Magazine / City Profiles / Roanoke, Virginia

The U.S. Air people spent a few weeks in the area doing some undercover work; it's a really cool illustration of ol' roanoke.

WOW, thats pretty cool...

A quote from the site:

What many of us do on vacation,
the residents of the Roanoke area do
every day — camping in the Blue
Ridge Mountains, hiking on the
Appalachian Trail, perusing worldclass
art museums, dining in fine restaurants.
Toss out any preconceived
notions about Roanoke — what you
don’t know about this mountain town
may surprise you.

And this picture is amazing: http://usairwaysmag.com/profile_seri...focalpoint.pdf


Now if only they would bring cheaper flights to Roanoke.

[OuttaFlorida]

Originally Posted by 540_804

=

Now if only they would bring cheaper flights to Roanoke.

2nd. That airport is really quite absurd. I've found flights to be on average $250 less expensive at Richmond or Greensboro. (Except allegiant air down to FL).

[richmondpics]

Originally Posted by Teebyrd86

Unlike the counties around here I feel Henrico, Hanover, and Chesterfield contribute plenty to the city of Richmond in fact many major employers are in those three counties. Also they give millions to the city for several causes its the city that is corrupt and needs to do something meaningful with that money.

How does the City receive millions of dollars from the adjacent counties?