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New Orleans is consistently rated far too highly. I'm glad to know I'm not the only person who believes that...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kbank007
I can agree with the idea that they are in the same tier and that was what I was attempting to convey in my previous message. However, I do not think the Richmond metro is in a higher tier than Hampton Roads; I would give a slight edge to the Tidewater region at the moment. With that said, I think Richmond is a better city than Norfolk, although I like Norfolk and believe it is chronically underrated on this forum. I wish Richmond contained some aspects of Norfolk such as light rail and I wish Norfolk had some aspects of Richmond such as more retained urban neighborhoods/visible history (Norfolk destroyed 90 percent of the inner core in the 50's). I'm glad that Richmond has progressed so much over the past 10 years because I can remember a time in the 90's and early 2000's where the city had some of the highest murder rates in the country and the economy seemed to decline. What events do you think led up to the rebirth and mass gentrification of Richmond?
I agree with all of this. I was gone from the city from 2005-2016, so I missed much of the transformation. I'll tell you what I do remember, when the city hired Rodney Monroe as police chief around '04 or '05. Monroe has/d a heavy record as a successful police chief. He initiated a culture change in the Richmond police force that brought violent crime down every year on his tenure, including that historic (for this city) drop in '08 or '09. His policing had a major effect on gentrification...
I'd only been back to visit about 10 times in the 11 years I was gone, never for longer than two days. Each time I came back, though, I noticed massive changes. I remember when Jackson Ward/Carver was a literal war zone, my mom was friends with a jazz player from there. It's astonishing to see the expansion of VCU as well, which, when I was growing up, was literally nothing East of Broad. Now, VCU has crossed Broad, encroaching onto the cusp of historic neighborhoods, and VCU facilities line broad for it seems a strong half mile. I'd be interested myself in learning how VCU became the force that it is today. I think the consensus is that VCU is a Top 4 university in The Commonwealth nowadays, and I'm not sure that was the case 15+ years ago. It's profile has certainly risen in prominence and helped fuel the reimagination and rebirth of Richmond!
I'm incorporating various aspects. While Orlando, Tampa, and San Antonio seem to have the larger numbers, but New Orleans actually functions like an actual "city."
Interesting. I'd like to know your definition of "actual city" in this case, because on the surface your post makes no sense.
Interesting. I'd like to know your definition of "actual city" in this case, because on the surface your post makes no sense.
New Orleans has multiple universities, an active downtown, various significant neighborhoods, museums, weekly local events, daytime activities/nightlife, density, and etc. Only negatives about New Orleans is the crime, stagnant population growth, underwhelming metro area, and the lack of economical diversity.
Tampa, to be highly regarded as it is, shoots well below it's weight. Same with Orlando, and San Antonio.
A few changes would be Greensboro in tier 4. Savannah in tier 5. Chattanooga is headed towards tier 4. Other tier 5 cities include Roanoke, Charleston WV, Lexington, Tallahassee, Macon and Columbus GA.
Even based on population alone, Savannah is not in the same tier as Charleston WV, Columbus GA or Macon GA -- though Savannah might not yet be in the same league as Charleston SC. Savannah is placed in a higher tier than those other cities you named because (1) it's a bit larger and growing much faster in population (+9% in the last 5 years) and (2) it's reached a higher level of prominence and prestige than the others. Macon and Roanoke are small potatoes: smaller and more provincial than Savannah. Lexington KY and Tallahassee are nice cities, but they're college towns like Athens GA. Columbus and Macon are in decline or in a state of flattened growth. Savannah is at a higher level.
New Orleans has multiple universities, an active downtown, various significant neighborhoods, museums, weekly local events, daytime activities/nightlife, density, and etc.]
Tampa and Orlando have that all of that as well, and unlike Nawlins the population growth is explosive.
I'm not disagreeing with your assessment of New Orleans, I just think you're wrong about Tampa and Orlando. Only been to San Antonio a couple times a decade ago. Didn't think much of the area.
Savannah has an urban area of 260K, below Augusta, Jackson, Tallahassee, Huntsville and Asheville.
I think with Lexington people look at the city population and don't realize with a metro government that number includes the suburbs and surrounding rural areas. Lexington has an urban area of 290K, right next to Huntsville and Asheville.
Last edited by creeksitter; 02-25-2017 at 02:40 PM..
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