Virginia Downtowns by Population Growth 2010 - 2020

[Kevin_R]

Originally Posted by Spazkat9696

I’m honestly surprised Portsmouth isn’t shrinking. Is full of crime and blight. There is also the issue of access from Portsmouth to Norfolk requires a toll or a long detour. We boat on that river in the summer but it’s mostly industrial and military use.

Hmmm well Portsmouth happened to grow this past census, there are also multiple new homes and subdivision being built in the city. Downtown Portsmouth is still quite nice and walkable. Downtown Portsmouth also has 2 ferry landings that connect to Norfolk access is quite easy. I can't say I agree with crime and blight either, Portsmouth has large areas where crime is low and blight isn't present.

[Spazkat9696]

Originally Posted by Kevin_R

Hmmm well Portsmouth happened to grow this past census, there are also multiple new homes and subdivision being built in the city. Downtown Portsmouth is still quite nice and walkable. Downtown Portsmouth also has 2 ferry landings that connect to Norfolk access is quite easy. I can't say I agree with crime and blight either, Portsmouth has large areas where crime is low and blight isn't present.

Which areas are free of crime and blight? Portsmouth may have grown but it is the least desirable city of the 7 cities. They also have the worst schools and again they’re trapped by tolls. As for the ferries, big deal. People ride them as a fun thing, but very few use them to commute to and from work.

[NOVAmtneer82]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I find your boundary areas very odd....can you say why you placed the boundaries in those locations? And where are you getting data that breaks down population specifically by those boundaries?

Do you have to be so negative and contradictory on nearly EVERYTHING on CD?! You do this in the Northern Va and DC forums too. Almost all of this is opinion- this is a very well researched analysis regardless if it's off by a a few streets. As an Arlington resident, I'd say that the OP did a good job at what one would logically consider 'downtown.'

[NOVAmtneer82]

Originally Posted by dbcook1

Downtown Lynchburg has definitely come a very long way in just a short period of time. Less than a decade ago there was hardly any restaurants, business, or people living downtown, but now it has become a real destination with nearly $300 million in public/private investment since 2012 (here is an interactive development map I made for downtown Lynchburg https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/ed...nY&usp=sharing)

900 new apartments and condos added downtown, three new breweries in the past year and a half (Starr Hill, Champion, and Three Roads), two new wine bars (Reserve and Fratelli) an two new rooftop bars (No 7 Rooftop Bar and Skyline Grill). Plus 26 new restaurants and cafe's have opened since 2013 (highly recommend Grey's, Burg Burritos, and My Dog Duke's Diner when you come). The $29 million restoration of the Academy historic theater has made downtown the focus point for the performing arts. Plus lots of new local shops like Gilded and the Hip Tulip and a recently renewed and streetscaped Main Street with nice wide sidewalks and a beautiful mosaic arrival pad at 12th and Main Streets. Lots of new placemaking improvements too like the Bluffwalk Art Alley and Donna Pocket Park.

Beyond downtown check out Old City Cemetery (oldest public cemetery in Virginia. Check out the Pest house and old hearse carriage), Anne Spencer House and Gardens (just park out front and walk around back to the gardens. It is open to the public for free to see. House of Harlem Renaissance era poet and writer Anne Spencer), Lynchburg Museum at the top of Monument Terrace, Riverside Park and the Alpine trail, and Jefferson's Poplar Forest.

Definitely hit the trails like the Blackwater Creek Trail and James River Heritage Trail. You can rent bikes at Bikes Unlimited and stop at Water Dog for a beer. Good stuff happening downtown so hop you can make it!

Here is a selection of my "Best of Lynchburg" photos:

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmMRdg3J

Thank you! The wife and I are looking forward to making a trip down there sometime soon and will make sure to check these out. Might have to wait until Spring to take full advantage but this is a great help.

[dbcook1]

Hey guy's,

I am not on Urban Planet, but a friend alerted me to a post on there that this boundary is what is considered more to be downtown Richmond:



Based on the revised boundary provided on Urban Planet, the downtown Richmond population change would be the following:

2010 population: 6,084
2020 population: 8,755
Percent change: 43.9%
Absolute change: 2,671

Though the percent growth drops a little when you subtract out extremely fast growing Manchester and Shockoe Bottom, it would still be ranked third statewide and added nearly 2,700 new residents.

[Charlesaf3]

This is interesting, but not at all accurate for Richmond. You'd have to define what you mean by downtown better. If you mean urban areas, you need to cover a lot more ground. If you mean the office district, you have to shrink a bit.

Look at the parts of the map above that show more white/concrete than green, and you'll get an idea.. it goes well west off the map above.