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Besides the rowhouse architecture, I don't see how Richmond is more similar to Pennsylvania's cities. Even if you ignore the Confederacy, Richmond's history is still southern.
Durham and Richmond aren't clones by any means (Durham's closest peer is Winston-Salem), but there are clearly a handful of similarities between the two. Tobacco legacies, large Black populations, gritty vibes, similar "quirky" neighborhoods (9th Street in Durham is like a smaller version of Richmond's Carytown), and the two cities are literally two hours apart via I-85. They're also in similar regions (Durham = North Carolina Piedmont, Richmond = Virginia Piedmont/Tidewater).
If we're being completely honest, then Danville is probably Virginia's one city that is the most similar to North Carolina, though. Culturally and historically, Danville isn't too dissimilar from Durham, Greensboro, or Winston-Salem. But unlike North Carolina's Piedmont cities, Danville has been in decline for many years.
Last edited by costellopresley82; 09-14-2021 at 03:47 PM..
Besides the rowhouse architecture, I don't see how Richmond is more similar to Pennsylvania's cities. Even if you ignore the Confederacy, Richmond's history is still southern.
Durham and Richmond aren't clones by any means (Durham's closest peer is Winston-Salem), but there are clearly a handful of similarities between the two. Tobacco legacies, large Black populations, gritty vibes, similar "quirky" neighborhoods (9th Street in Durham is like a smaller version of Richmond's Carytown), and the two cities are literally two hours apart via I-85. They're also in similar regions (Durham = North Carolina Piedmont, Richmond = Virginia Piedmont/Tidewater).
If we're being completely honest, then Danville is probably Virginia's one city that is the most similar to North Carolina, though. Culturally and historically, Danville isn't too dissimilar from Durham, Greensboro, or Winston-Salem. But unlike North Carolina's Piedmont cities, Danville has been in decline for many years.
VA is definitely more similar to NC than PA excluding NoVA which is essentailly DC. Though the architecture of Richmond has a lot NE influence, the city/metro is hands-down southern. Both Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA have similar architecutue and are no doubt southern.
I also think cities like Richmond that don't have the traditional southern sun-belt architecture are harder to market than say RDU. I think most people relocating to sun-belt cities aren't craving massive urban enclaves, but rather enough to satisfy a bit of "city-living". Which to the benefit of places like RDU turned out to be perfect timing to densify with new urban style communities that have loads of state-of-art amenities. I don't care what the walkability score indicates, it's a misleading metric that doesn't take into account that a lot of southern city's simply have a different type of urbanity. You can simply navigate around a city like Durham and find tons of urban/suburban mix....it doesn't have to be Brooklyn to meet the needs of most people.
VA is definitely more similar to NC than PA excluding NoVA which is essentailly DC. Though the architecture of Richmond has a lot NE influence, the city/metro is hands-down southern. Both Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA have similar architecutue and are no doubt southern.
I also think cities like Richmond that don't have the traditional southern sun-belt architecture are harder to market than say RDU. I think most people relocating to sun-belt cities aren't craving massive urban enclaves, but rather enough to satisfy a bit of "city-living". Which to the benefit of places like RDU turned out to be perfect timing to densify with new urban style communities that have loads of state-of-art amenities. I don't care what the walkability score indicates, it's a misleading metric that doesn't take into account that a lot of southern city's simply have a different type of urbanity. You can simply navigate around a city like Durham and find tons of urban/suburban mix....it doesn't have to be Brooklyn to meet the needs of most people.
What's so traditional about sun-belt architecture? If anything it's considered modern and non-traditional.
Richmond's architecture is not Northern-influenced. In the urban quarters of the city it has iron-wrought balconies, attached and detached rowhomes, cottages, craftsmen-style, victorian plus a whole lot more. Other Southern cities of the same era look similar, like Charleston, Chattanooga, Savannah, New Orleans, Memphis, etc.
Richmond looks nothing like Philadelphia and functions very differently as well. It's closest peer in Pennsylvania would be Harrisburg or Lancaster, definitely NOT Philadelphia.
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The best way to compare these three states is by analogy:
Virginia and Pennsylvania are like cousins of similar age who share the same colonial grandparents. They were the dominant cultures in their respective regions of the Eastern U.S.
North Carolina is like the younger sibling of Virginia that throughout much of it's history looked up to Virginia, until now.
Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Aristotle
VA is definitely more similar to NC than PA excluding NoVA which is essentailly DC. Though the architecture of Richmond has a lot NE influence, the city/metro is hands-down southern. Both Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA have similar architecutue and are no doubt southern.
I also think cities like Richmond that don't have the traditional southern sun-belt architecture are harder to market than say RDU. I think most people relocating to sun-belt cities aren't craving massive urban enclaves, but rather enough to satisfy a bit of "city-living". Which to the benefit of places like RDU turned out to be perfect timing to densify with new urban style communities that have loads of state-of-art amenities. I don't care what the walkability score indicates, it's a misleading metric that doesn't take into account that a lot of southern city's simply have a different type of urbanity. You can simply navigate around a city like Durham and find tons of urban/suburban mix....it doesn't have to be Brooklyn to meet the needs of most people.
Agree with everything above.
For those saying there's no resemblance in architecture:
Downtown Richmond in it's most built up areas has corners that resemble Pittsburgh just a smaller downtown.
Feels more VA feels more North Carolina to me. Maybe it's their love of basketball and lack of football, maybe its the coastlines. Their Appalachians arent too different either.
What's so traditional about sun-belt architecture? If anything it's considered modern and non-traditional.
By traditional, he meant typical.
Quote:
Richmond's architecture is not Northern-influenced. In the urban quarters of the city it has iron-wrought balconies, attached and detached rowhomes, cottages, craftsmen-style, victorian plus a whole lot more. Other Southern cities of the same era look similar, like Charleston, Chattanooga, Savannah, New Orleans, Memphis, etc.
Memphis and Chattanooga aren't really in the same mold, but I'd say Richmond's historic (19th century) urban vernacular probably resembles DC's, Louisville's, Baltimore's, and Wilmington, DE's the most.
Quote:
Richmond looks nothing like Philadelphia and functions very differently as well. It's closest peer in Pennsylvania would be Harrisburg or Lancaster, definitely NOT Philadelphia.
In terms of function, Richmond combines elements of Harrisburg and Philadelphia IMO.
If Raleigh was like Winston-Salem in terms of historical importance, it would be a good approximation of Richmond today IMO.
Virginia does have Amish history dating back to the 1800s and significant Mennonite communities especially in the Valley. I think that Virginia is like most states where it depends on where you are in the state. SWVA has a lot in common with Tennessee. Southside shares a lot of commonalities with NC. The Northern portion of the I-81 corridor has similarities to PA and WVA. Richmond is where Mid Atlantic and South collide. I would say that the Tidewater is its own thing and shares a metro with some of NE NC. NOVA is an extension of DC and shares much with Maryland.
Last edited by mpier015; 09-17-2021 at 12:26 PM..
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