Charleston, WV Among the Fastest Dying Cities in the US? (South Charleston: how much, houses)

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by hollergurl

I visit Charleston regularly (2-4x month) Charleston reminds me of a Stephen King novel town. The UGLIEST, Grittiest, Grimley, Poorest looking town EVER. The Capitol Buildings are Awfull, the Dome is nice but the archetecture abve the dome is pathetic. Looks like its going to collapse any minute. I was in a parade there 10-15 yrs ago and driving through downtown slowly disgusted me. Seems everything in WV is old and abandoned. I wonder when the capitol complex will be abondanded?

Oh come on, it isn't that bad.
Want some real beaut's? Try Trenton, NJ, Atlanta, GA, and Columbia,SC to name a few. Now if you want to drive slowly, come on down to the capitol of Georgia. Driving slowly will provide panhandling with a possible car jack

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Georgia

Oh come on, it isn't that bad.
Want some real beaut's? Try Trenton, NJ, Atlanta, GA, and Columbia,SC to name a few. Now if you want to drive slowly, come on down to the capitol of Georgia. Driving slowly will provide panhandling with a possible car jack

Add Wash DC to that list as well....................

[atlantagreg30127]

The only thing Charleston needs to tweak in terms of the way they think, is "landscaping". The word doesn't exist with most city planners and business owners.

When I moved to Atlanta, that was the one thing I noticed about most businesses both large and small, as well as many of the home owners in decent to nice neighborhoods - everyone invests in landscaping. The fronts of businesses have lawns with flowers, trees, and shrubs. When there's just a sidewalk, there will be planters filled with flowers or small shrubs. Likewise even modest homes have some landscaping around the base of their mailboxes. By comparison, Charleston does resemble a typical Northern city in that you have concrete, a business building, and a sidewalk with more concrete. The Clay Center's basic landscaping stands out as something elaborate in comparison to most other places there, and by Atlanta standards it would be considered "sparse" for such a facility.

That being said, Atlanta has a LOT more ghettoized areas than Charleston does, and even in the nicer areas you have so many bums sleeping on the grass and sidewalks that it takes away from any of the land and streetscaping that many of places downtown invest in. If you go north to areas we call Midtown and Buckhead, things are better controlled though, and much nicer looking.

What hurts Charleston's view the most is when people are coming in on Interstates 77/64 and turn the curve where you begin to see the Charleston downtown area - yeah, it's ugly. Mainly because you see a lot of the industrial areas that are in-between downtown and the interstate, making the whole are look rundown. If they ever redevelope that area it will greatly improve the "look" people get of Charleston when driving into/through the city.

[NOVAmtneer82]

I've personally never called Charleston ugly, but to imply that Atlanta and DC are entirely ghetto is obnoxious. Their city populations alone are both about 10x the size of Charleston so they will naturally have more crime ridden areas. If DC and Atlanta are so unsafe then why are they both seeing their inner city populations grow? Compare that to Charleston which is seeing its population continue to drop.

Both cities blow Charleston and anything in WV out of the water in terms of job market, urban amenities, cultural diversity, population growth, nightlife, etc...Of course they also have off the charts traffic congestion, housing costs (at least in the case of DC), urban sprawl..the list goes on.

I guess it depends all on what one is interested in. If you want major metropolitan area living then DC, Atlanta and others are your forte. If you want small city living where things are laid back and quiet then go on down to Charleston, you will definitely find what you are looking for.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by mtneeratheart

I've personally never called Charleston ugly, but to imply that Atlanta and DC are entirely ghetto is obnoxious. Their city populations alone are both about 10x the size of Charleston so they will naturally have more crime ridden areas. If DC and Atlanta are so unsafe then why are they both seeing their inner city populations grow? Compare that to Charleston which is seeing its population continue to drop.

Both cities blow Charleston and anything in WV out of the water in terms of job market, urban amenities, cultural diversity, population growth, nightlife, etc...Of course they also have off the charts traffic congestion, housing costs (at least in the case of DC), urban sprawl..the list goes on.

I guess it depends all on what one is interested in. If you want major metropolitan area living then DC, Atlanta and others are your forte. If you want small city living where things are laid back and quiet then go on down to Charleston, you will definitely find what you are looking for.

When I inferred that DC being 'ghetto': I should have been clearer; not only was I referring to the city itself----------I was also referring to east of Rock Creek Park. Admittedly my first hand info is 30 years old and apparently, parts of even the SE have improved greatly.

Factoring in both congestion and housing costs; if I were to tolerate those liabilities-----------DC (or any other '4 season' area) would be off my short list quickly. I would head back to SoCal or possibly the Seattle area---------the weather in both places is nirvana by comparision (Seattle is slightly milder in the winter but much nicer in the summer).

As for Charleston: the much smaller size does appeal to me

[Two-Rivers]

Forbes should have taken a look at the stats for Parkersburg. Right now, I think we're just doing a "Weekend at Bernie's" routine. In the past ten years, the manufacturing plants have fallen like dominoes. We opened a new highway that's supposed to pull us up out of the slump. So far, we are just selling steaks and burgers in a different location.

[jdmm72]

Taxes are the reason that this area is dying. When I applied for my business license in Kanawha County, I got my early Business property assessment before I got my business license. I was like, well, duh, at this point I don't have business assets, because I don't officially have a business yet.

And think about the "User fee." That drives up business costs, because in order to get workers inside of Charleston you have to pay them more to cover the "User fee" and parking. That's why you don't see a lot of new development in Charleston proper, just at the very fringes (think Southridge.)

In order to attract businesses, these local governments cut tax deals with big companies. I have an idea, if it works for the big businesses, why not the small ones?

[vec101]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

The only thing Charleston needs to tweak in terms of the way they think, is "landscaping". The fronts of businesses have lawns with flowers, trees, and shrubs.

South Charleston proper had nice trees lining the main street and a couple months ago they cut them all out. Looks ugly now. Not sure what the reason was unless people didn't like the pollen and bird doodoo.

[NOVAmtneer82]

I know this sounds weird but I've actually worked with several companies who took out some (or all) of their landscaping because in these lean times they didn't have as much $$ to pay for watering and maintenance. Maybe some towns are feeling the pinch as well?

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by mtneeratheart

I know this sounds weird but I've actually worked with several companies who took out some (or all) of their landscaping because in these lean times they didn't have as much $$ to pay for watering and maintenance. Maybe some towns are feeling the pinch as well?

May sound hokey, but business is attracted to places that look nice. I'd find a way to water the tree and a few plants in front of my business if it makes it look inviting. Not only does it make people look at my business in a positive way (and hence, want to come in), but it encourages others to open more businesses near mine, making theirs look nice as well. It's how whole areas improve looks, and business.