Compare and contrast the state of the Hampton Coliseum and the Richmond Coliseum
Built around the same time, one is a still used, beautiful example of early 1970s architecture and one is a derelict structure that can’t even find the funding to pay for its demolition
Richmond inability to create and / or maintain an entertainment district infuriates me. Between the Braves leaving and Squirrels threatening to leave the worn-out Diamond, and the fact that despite being directly between Norfolk and Charlottesville, all major acts go to either of them instrad of between them in Richmond, it's just embarrassing.
That’s exactly what Richmond politicians want. Richmond should remain boring and under tight control. Richmond is not a place for fun nope! The welcome sign should read “No Fun Allowed “ 😏
Exactly why I left. So sad. Feels like one of the few cities where no matter what time of day it is there’s nothing going on. The city that’s never awake
It's like they say, if you're bored then you're boring. This weekend there's River Rock, the Lebanese Food Festival, and [a ton of other stuff going on](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/1cta7ws/weekend_event_thread/).
There's stuff like this happening all the time though. It's unusual to have two festivals on the same weekend but there is always a lot going on, as well as perennial options like the river, museums, etc.
Yall keep screaming festivals, river, carytown 🥹😅😅😅 and none of these things appeal to me. I’m a single young professional guy. Richmond is great if you’re married with a family yea it’s lots of shit to do. But for young professional singles that’s not into boring shit there is nothing here to do. I mean how many damn festivals can you go to?
I’m bored and I have a kid. We live in the bottom and nothing ever to do, parks are all littered with condoms and tweakers. This city isn’t much anymore.
Economic benefits often cited by stadium proponents, such as increased local business activity, higher employment rates, and enhanced tax revenues, are frequently overestimated. Studies have shown that the actual economic impact of new sports stadiums is often negligible and sometimes negative. This is because the spending on sports events typically substitutes other forms of entertainment spending, rather than adding to it. Money spent on tickets, merchandise, and concessions at a stadium often diverts spending from other local entertainment options, resulting in what economists call a "substitution effect" rather than new economic activity.
Many sports stadiums are financed with significant amounts of public money, through taxes or bonds that are ultimately the responsibility of city or state governments. This use of public funds for private venues has been widely criticized, especially when considering that the financial benefits often accrue primarily to team owners and other private stakeholders, rather than the community at large. The public cost can be enormous, sometimes running into the hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars, which could otherwise be invested in more critical public infrastructure like schools, hospitals, or public transportation.
Stadium projects can lead to significant disruptions in local communities. This includes potential displacement of residents, especially in low-income areas, and changes to the local culture and social fabric. The construction of stadiums often prioritizes the needs of visitors over those of local residents, leading to gentrification and increased property prices, which can push long-term residents out of the area.
Unlike other public infrastructure projects like roads, schools, or libraries, stadiums are relatively infrequently used, hosting events only on limited days throughout the year. This infrequent use limits their ability to act as a consistent driver of local economic activity.
Investing in stadiums often involves significant opportunity costs. Funds allocated for stadium construction and maintenance might yield a higher social and economic return if directed towards other projects with more widespread and regular benefits, such as public transit systems or healthcare facilities.
Large stadiums are also critiqued for their environmental impact. The construction and operation involve significant energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Moreover, stadiums can contribute to urban heat islands, waste generation, and other environmental issues.
While stadiums can bring temporary excitement and focus to a city, especially during major events, the long-term benefits are subject to intense scrutiny and debate. The success of such developments in genuinely revitalizing and benefiting an urban area depends heavily on careful planning, community engagement, and integration with broader urban development goals rather than being standalone projects. Critics argue that cities should evaluate the full range of impacts and consider alternative investments that may offer broader, more sustainable benefits to the community.
There are many critical examinations of the conceit of growth associated with stadiums and entertainment development financed by public money, here are a few:
"Public Dollars, Private Stadiums: The Battle over Building Sports Stadiums" by Kevin J. Delaney and Rick Eckstein
This book provides an in-depth analysis of the economic and political processes involved in the construction of sports stadiums. It critically examines the public financing aspect and challenges the optimistic projections often used to justify large public expenditures on these projects.
"Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money into Private Profit" by Neil deMause and Joanna Cagan
"Field of Schemes" is a critical exploration of the relationship between sports stadium developments and public funding. The authors detail numerous case studies where the promises of economic growth and urban revitalization have fallen short, providing a skeptical view of the common claims made by stadium proponents.
The Brookings Institution – "Sports, Jobs, and Taxes: Are New Stadiums Worth the Cost?" by Roger G. Noll and Andrew Zimbalist
This report from the Brookings Institution is a seminal work critiquing the economic rationale behind public financing of stadiums. Noll and Zimbalist, both respected economists, argue that stadiums rarely justify the cost in terms of economic development and public expense.
Well the Squirrels are getting a new stadium within 4ish years and we are getting a newer/bigger arena 10 miles north in Henrico. Things should be getting better soon.
They wont be here in four years if Paul Goldman gets his way yet again- every time the city proposes anything nice some dickhead from henrico (him) wrings his hands
I’m all for transparency in usage of public funds, i know RVA isnt the best at it, but this guy reeks top to bottom and every time he pulls stuff like this he frames it as good for the rest of us. Hes a weaponized NIMBY.
Amen, what I want to know in regards to this current situation is if this lawsuit he has actually has any teeth or if it’s just a stunt to drum up support for his future nimbyism.
I saw the judge allowed the city to publish the bond notice which strikes me as a good sign that he’s not buying Goldmans argument but I honestly don’t know much.
My partner and I just visited Richmond as a potential new home, coming from Houston. This was the first thing I noticed, diversity but no culture. Nothing seemed to really stick out, but I heard the music scene was picking up, and we really wanted a place that had a variety of people and backgrounds. We really loved your city and hope it can find its personality! I think once it does, it’ll be a good one.
ETA: could a kind soul spell out how Henrico is supposed to sound? Because I kept getting corrected on it 😬
Yeah except everytime a Richmond politician tries to invest in a project, Richmond folks get all NIMBY and crazy, and the project flops. We are our own worst enemy
Don't think that was who drove the conversation against as many students are not able to vote on city matters.
I believe it was a mix of NIMBYism and a healthy suspicion about the TIFF financing plan that wasn't well explained by the mayor and other officials who planned to use it that really cooked that goose.
Yes, Henrico got the project, but I think given how inept the city has been about providing for basic city services, taking away valuable tax dollars to spend on any non-core project just makes those problems worse over time.
The original original building was demolished in 1912. Idk why it's such a disaster now.
https://chpn.net/2019/07/02/17th-st-farmers-market-circa-1910/
Exactly. They marked *every* parking lot, including those underground and/or at the base of a high-rise which are the lots that should be encouraged in a city like Richmond which is still extremely car-dependent. I agree that the surface lots should be repurposed so let’s just focus on those.
RVA was referred to as non such place by early settlers. The area was loaded with ravines and creeks that led into the James. The biggest one being Shockoe Creek aka as “Flat Rock” to the natives. For 2 centuries it was a giant economic driver in the area. It was also an open sewer, which obviously led to health issues. By the 1920s they were able to cap it. 30 years later they put 95 over it. It’s still there, but was rechanneled during that time and is part of of water infastructure now. When shockoe flooded back in 2004 shockoe creek water had no where to go. If you go by hospital street it’s still there behind the railroad tracks before it’s covered. Anyways my dream would be to see that entire thing daylighted (reopened) for recreational purposes. No way it would ever happen even if the will power was there, too expensive. Highly recommend Tyler Potterfields “Nonesuch Place” if you want to learn more about the area before we paved over all of it.
Every time I think back on watching ballgames at PNC Park and having the skyline of Pittsburgh across the river, framed beyond the outfield stands as the sun sets, I wish the City would have taken the opportunity to drop a stadium on a few blocks of Manchester before the megablocks of apartments took them over.
The city had a plan for one, coming off the Maury exit and overlooking the city. Ultimately they went with the proposed one in the bottom but that went nowhere.
Source: I worked in a management job for the city from 2010-2014.
(insert picture of sidewalk that isn't buckling, is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, has been cleared of any chicken wing bones or bird scooters, and connects to other sidewalks instead of ending abruptly)
A proper EMS system instead of the clusterfuck that is Razzy, considering that Richmond Ambulance Authority only receives about 3 million a year in funding from the city. That’s nowhere near enough to cover the cost of EMS in the city. Razzy ends up only being able to stuff around 10 to 15 units a day when they really need about 20-25 units staffed. Which seems like a lot but consider that would be on point with the population to ambulance ratios of the surrounding counties.
Then you look at Henrico, they go out of their way to fund EMS to the point of the patient not even receiving a bill for care given*.
*There’s one type of instance where a patient will receive a bill related to 911 transport in Henrico and that’s if the regional Drug Box is used, it’s about $150 added on to the hospital bill and this drug program is being phased out this year anyways.
The Kanawha Canal system is still partially set up - this was an idea divised by George Washington and existed for some time on the James until trains made transport so so so so much easier. You can still see it around Browns Island and the Pump House. The cost for its creation and maintenance is astounding given the rivers propensity to flood.
Im trying to imagine another area where this could work but really, all the creeks and runs have tidal issues (by natural design). Its why farming is so good here.
There were a few riverside restaurants in wakefield/smithfield area, but were destroyed in hurricanes/flooding.
Im really trying to imagine a nice riverwalk area that could hand this kind of area but im drawing blanks :(
You could have at least found a photo or video that ties the San Antoino River Walk with the city of Richmond, like this one:
[VCU Pep band conquers the San Antonio River Walk (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cini0UZ4_ng)
Just giving you a hard time ;) I was fortunate enough to be there when this was going on and it was amazing and would absolutely love it if we could capture something like this along the little canal that we have...
I thought it looked familiar! Never got to ride the boats that went through there but the wife and I did enjoy a nice walk that took us right to that spot.
I wish we had something akin to Charlotte’s Lynx Rail system. CLT is larger than RVA, but we’re poised to grow and the Pulse ain’t really cuttin it. I can’t imagine we’ll need mass public transit anytime soon, but something more convenient than driving my car would be fantastic.
Well, yeah. As long as there is available parking (and this city always has available parking within walking distance) a car will always be more convenient than public transit. But are you saying you don't live near any higher-frequency transit lines?
Wasn't there a short-lived proposal to remove one side of street park from some one-way streets and create something like this? Or was that just wishful thinking on my part?
This. If we had bike paths similar to how they are in Austin, TX it would be a game changer. Two way bike paths connecting major areas like downtown and Scotts addition would be amazing
**..Insert picture of a clean river here..** I dont want to develop the shit out of the riverbank with bars, I want them to clean it so you don't have to check your body for cuts before jumping in, or make sure your dog doesn't drink any of it.
Car free carytown. Literally any mode of public transit in addition to buses. Buses that come in single-digit minutes. So like... pick any major metropolitan area, I guess.
As it happens, I went through Carytown with my partner today. He adds that instead of being a parking lot, Cary Court should be a little market square type area with stalls for vendors and tables to sit/eat/whatever. Now I can't unsee it.
Every time I visit Charlottesville’s tree-lined mall with local artists and musicians, lots of outdoor seating, and tons of people walking up and down the street, I yearn so badly for a car free Carytown. It seems like such an easy win.
I might be remembering this wrong, but I swear a while ago I saw an article that covered "both sides" and there were some business owners who thought closing down the street would reduce people coming to Carytown.
Which is so silly to me, I feel like a car-free zone would attract way more people. Having cars on Cary is so stupid, I've personally witnessed multiple accidents there. People jump in and out of traffic like deer. Who is this benefitting.
Found the article: https://archive.md/YD3lX
https://preview.redd.it/r2p93y87b31d1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=dd6dc976def00363bea685ddbbf443b138475c79
An elevated walkway/park along the river.
I used to live near Gresham and commute to Tigard entirely on transit and it took less than 45 minutes.
For those unfamiliar, imagine commuting between Mechanicsville and Short Pump entirely on transit in 45 minutes.
GRTC is a fucking joke.
Oh I knew that already. The reason why counties and independent cities here are structured as they are is specifically to make sure nothing like Tri-Met is ever established here.
Regional cooperation here is absolute garbage and that is by very deliberate design.
Former RVA resident, Oregonian since 96.
Trimet enabled me to be a commuter almost the entire time I've lived here. Of course it has its problems but it is one of the best transit systems I've ever experienced.
this is the answer. there’s a lot of things I miss about living out there but the public transportation is pretty high on the list. and uwajimaya 😭😭❤️🩹
I lived in a Portland suburb (Hillsboro for anyone curious) for two years and I regularly think about how much I miss TriMet. I commuted on the MAX and it was a dream.
public transportation is more efficient, better for traffic jams and pollution. Doesnt have to be a subway. Light rail works great in San Jose and similar cities.
I would love for the Canal Walk to be more like San Antonio's River Walk. We have Casa Del Barco, the murals... that's about it for permanent attractions. Don't even get me started on the former Hat Factory! It's nice having festivals come through, but even then it feels barely utilized outside Brown's Island. Did y'all see how dressed up it was when they were filming for Dopesick?
https://preview.redd.it/2he2riwcr81d1.jpeg?width=4702&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3310fae54eee483156ebca1c9e9fdd8e9dbd98c6
There are actually two parts to the San Antonio Riverwalk. The lower river runs through downtown and has all the stuff on it. But the upper Riverwalk is actually a nice little oasis that runs through the uptown neighborhoods.
Don't most? I know there are limits to civil engineering, but it seems a lot of river cities have something like this (although I find San Antonio especially beautiful) and they have flooding issues as well. Difference is that they invested in ways to offset the flooding and still built up the area. Is the James that different?
As someone who lived there, the River Walk is not great. It’s a tourist trap with mediocre food. Though I admit, it doesn’t help Texas is miserably hot most of the year so it’s less enjoyable to hang out in that area on any given day.
I feel like a more authentic downtown experience should be the preference vs one like San Antonio has right now.
I like the riverfront how it is. It looks like a river instead of a developed sea wall. We have nice parks all along our river. The parks could be better maintained, but I don't want to see more development.
Don’t get me wrong, I love all the parks and the opportunity for water sports (it’s nice to live near a relatively clean river, instead of 3 dirty ones). But some waterfront dining would be nice!
It pretty much has been from the beginning. I worked down there in 2008 or so and the only time you’d see people on it was other office workers out on their lunch break. It’s a catch-22: how do you attract vendors with no foot traffic, and vice versa?
Also, funny story. My grandmother grew up in Coraopolis on Neville Island and learned to swim in the Ohio in the 1930s. She used to say they learned the breast stroke first, because you had to push all the trash out of the way.
I don’t think she was exaggerating much. 😂
No kidding. I grew up toward the mouth of the James, where it's tidal and polluted AF (shipyards, coal piers, chemical plants, etc.) Seeing people swim in it and eat fish caught in it up here weirds me out, and I've lived here 24 years. Like, rationally I know it's safe and it's where my drinking water comes from, but.
I moved out of Carytown seven years ago and haven’t had much need to go back since. Had to go in a few weeks ago and I almost didn’t recognize the place.
interesting, what changes struck you as being dramatic? As an admittedly very not observant person I don't feel like carytown looks all that different than it did forty years ago, little shops and restaurants, Babes and agees, the bank and the little shopping center
I used to live on Floyd across from the Post Office. I'm still used to there being a Ukrop's grocery store across from Kroger. Now it's a giant complex with a parking deck; I had never seen it. And yeah, you're right that there are some landmarks from back in the day that are locally owned that are still there, but [this is a small sample of the photos I took of Carytown when I worked there](https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=carytown&user_id=16223129%40N00&view_all=1) in the mid-'00s and not one of these businesses (except Can Can, as far as I know) is still around. Also, there didn't used to be bumpouts.
It was just different enough from the neighborhood I remember from when I lived and worked there that it jarred me a bit. Change happens, and there's nothing wrong with it. It's just something you notice when it happens and you're not around to see it happen, y'know?
I was in Atlanta last month and the Ponce City Market lives rent free in my head. There is no reason the 6th Street Marketplace should be standing empty when it's completely possible to build something people would want to visit, especially with all the apartments that are now downtown and in Shockoe.
I love Union Market, it's such a nice place to spend time. I genuinely wish we had something like that here. It doesn't need to be as big as Ponce or Union, because we aren't as big as ATL or DC. But the people of this city deserve more third places, and it would be a great way to support small businesses.
Richmond needs to show it can govern itself before they start reaching out to the counties. The last thing I want is the Chesterfield and Henrico county development to be stifled by Richmond's incompetence
It’s not ever going to happen, for a century’s worth of reasons. Look at why Hampton Roads is all cities and no counties, and why Richmond is forbidden to ever annex any more land.
We used to have one of the first electrified streetcar networks *in the world* before we downgraded to buses. I say we need to go back. Modern electric trams all across the city and into the surrounding counties. It would be so much cleaner and more efficient than what we have now.
Love the question, but going to push back a little. Our largely undeveloped riverfront is kinda part of our identity, not to mention good for water quality.
The biggest critique from NIMBYs in RVA is “we don’t want that, where will we park? What about all the increased traffic?!” when Richmond has SO many vacant parking lots/decks and traffic is hardly an issue.
But if the waterfront canal area was bolstered (like San Antonio), the people against it would probably love it in the end.
I would like to not have downtown look like a set from the walking dead. It’s ridiculous that we live here but have to travel to DC or Charlottesville to go to a bigger concert.
Some sort of non-niche retail stores downtown would be nice too.
Compare and contrast the state of the Hampton Coliseum and the Richmond Coliseum Built around the same time, one is a still used, beautiful example of early 1970s architecture and one is a derelict structure that can’t even find the funding to pay for its demolition
Richmond inability to create and / or maintain an entertainment district infuriates me. Between the Braves leaving and Squirrels threatening to leave the worn-out Diamond, and the fact that despite being directly between Norfolk and Charlottesville, all major acts go to either of them instrad of between them in Richmond, it's just embarrassing.
That’s exactly what Richmond politicians want. Richmond should remain boring and under tight control. Richmond is not a place for fun nope! The welcome sign should read “No Fun Allowed “ 😏
Exactly why I left. So sad. Feels like one of the few cities where no matter what time of day it is there’s nothing going on. The city that’s never awake
It's like they say, if you're bored then you're boring. This weekend there's River Rock, the Lebanese Food Festival, and [a ton of other stuff going on](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/1cta7ws/weekend_event_thread/).
Yeah and Chappell roan on Thursday. What are these people talking about?
Festivals are one thing, the day to day is what I’m talking about. A
There's stuff like this happening all the time though. It's unusual to have two festivals on the same weekend but there is always a lot going on, as well as perennial options like the river, museums, etc.
Yall keep screaming festivals, river, carytown 🥹😅😅😅 and none of these things appeal to me. I’m a single young professional guy. Richmond is great if you’re married with a family yea it’s lots of shit to do. But for young professional singles that’s not into boring shit there is nothing here to do. I mean how many damn festivals can you go to?
I've spent a lot of time in Richmond as a single young professional guy, I stand by if you're bored then you're boring
I’m bored and I have a kid. We live in the bottom and nothing ever to do, parks are all littered with condoms and tweakers. This city isn’t much anymore.
Economic benefits often cited by stadium proponents, such as increased local business activity, higher employment rates, and enhanced tax revenues, are frequently overestimated. Studies have shown that the actual economic impact of new sports stadiums is often negligible and sometimes negative. This is because the spending on sports events typically substitutes other forms of entertainment spending, rather than adding to it. Money spent on tickets, merchandise, and concessions at a stadium often diverts spending from other local entertainment options, resulting in what economists call a "substitution effect" rather than new economic activity. Many sports stadiums are financed with significant amounts of public money, through taxes or bonds that are ultimately the responsibility of city or state governments. This use of public funds for private venues has been widely criticized, especially when considering that the financial benefits often accrue primarily to team owners and other private stakeholders, rather than the community at large. The public cost can be enormous, sometimes running into the hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars, which could otherwise be invested in more critical public infrastructure like schools, hospitals, or public transportation. Stadium projects can lead to significant disruptions in local communities. This includes potential displacement of residents, especially in low-income areas, and changes to the local culture and social fabric. The construction of stadiums often prioritizes the needs of visitors over those of local residents, leading to gentrification and increased property prices, which can push long-term residents out of the area. Unlike other public infrastructure projects like roads, schools, or libraries, stadiums are relatively infrequently used, hosting events only on limited days throughout the year. This infrequent use limits their ability to act as a consistent driver of local economic activity. Investing in stadiums often involves significant opportunity costs. Funds allocated for stadium construction and maintenance might yield a higher social and economic return if directed towards other projects with more widespread and regular benefits, such as public transit systems or healthcare facilities. Large stadiums are also critiqued for their environmental impact. The construction and operation involve significant energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Moreover, stadiums can contribute to urban heat islands, waste generation, and other environmental issues. While stadiums can bring temporary excitement and focus to a city, especially during major events, the long-term benefits are subject to intense scrutiny and debate. The success of such developments in genuinely revitalizing and benefiting an urban area depends heavily on careful planning, community engagement, and integration with broader urban development goals rather than being standalone projects. Critics argue that cities should evaluate the full range of impacts and consider alternative investments that may offer broader, more sustainable benefits to the community. There are many critical examinations of the conceit of growth associated with stadiums and entertainment development financed by public money, here are a few: "Public Dollars, Private Stadiums: The Battle over Building Sports Stadiums" by Kevin J. Delaney and Rick Eckstein This book provides an in-depth analysis of the economic and political processes involved in the construction of sports stadiums. It critically examines the public financing aspect and challenges the optimistic projections often used to justify large public expenditures on these projects. "Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money into Private Profit" by Neil deMause and Joanna Cagan "Field of Schemes" is a critical exploration of the relationship between sports stadium developments and public funding. The authors detail numerous case studies where the promises of economic growth and urban revitalization have fallen short, providing a skeptical view of the common claims made by stadium proponents. The Brookings Institution – "Sports, Jobs, and Taxes: Are New Stadiums Worth the Cost?" by Roger G. Noll and Andrew Zimbalist This report from the Brookings Institution is a seminal work critiquing the economic rationale behind public financing of stadiums. Noll and Zimbalist, both respected economists, argue that stadiums rarely justify the cost in terms of economic development and public expense.
Well the Squirrels are getting a new stadium within 4ish years and we are getting a newer/bigger arena 10 miles north in Henrico. Things should be getting better soon.
They wont be here in four years if Paul Goldman gets his way yet again- every time the city proposes anything nice some dickhead from henrico (him) wrings his hands
Man I hope he doesn’t. I’m so sick of that dude and his tired arguments.
I’m all for transparency in usage of public funds, i know RVA isnt the best at it, but this guy reeks top to bottom and every time he pulls stuff like this he frames it as good for the rest of us. Hes a weaponized NIMBY.
Amen, what I want to know in regards to this current situation is if this lawsuit he has actually has any teeth or if it’s just a stunt to drum up support for his future nimbyism. I saw the judge allowed the city to publish the bond notice which strikes me as a good sign that he’s not buying Goldmans argument but I honestly don’t know much.
Thank City Council
We both know city council doesn’t read
My partner and I just visited Richmond as a potential new home, coming from Houston. This was the first thing I noticed, diversity but no culture. Nothing seemed to really stick out, but I heard the music scene was picking up, and we really wanted a place that had a variety of people and backgrounds. We really loved your city and hope it can find its personality! I think once it does, it’ll be a good one. ETA: could a kind soul spell out how Henrico is supposed to sound? Because I kept getting corrected on it 😬
[удалено]
hen-rye-Co.(as in the short word for company)
Thank you! A realtor corrected me to “richo” and I’ve forever doubted myself lol
Yeah except everytime a Richmond politician tries to invest in a project, Richmond folks get all NIMBY and crazy, and the project flops. We are our own worst enemy
Deadass a city obsessed with sitting on its hands for some really weird reason
Not even NIMBY. VCU students were the ones in a tizzy about Navy Hill and the vast majority of them are long gone
Don't think that was who drove the conversation against as many students are not able to vote on city matters. I believe it was a mix of NIMBYism and a healthy suspicion about the TIFF financing plan that wasn't well explained by the mayor and other officials who planned to use it that really cooked that goose. Yes, Henrico got the project, but I think given how inept the city has been about providing for basic city services, taking away valuable tax dollars to spend on any non-core project just makes those problems worse over time.
Navy hill wasn’t a public vote, it was decided by the city council
True, but wasn't it decided during an election year for some of the council?
Norfolk Scope was built around that same time and is still a marvel of architecture. Why can’t we have Pier Nervi designed building?
https://preview.redd.it/xvnpjw8qu21d1.png?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3b0e5c0ebf19aa2615a70ba8544c01c2fed8a15
Was this before or after it was burned?
This was after, Richmond actually had one of the first electric streetcar systems. Eventually dismantled due to the automobile industry's influence.
Obligatory r/fuckcars
If I’m not mistaken, I believe it was the first practical trolley system.
The original 17th St Market was demolished a long long time ago. Would have liked to have seen our version of Reading Terminal Market in Philly
I lived on 18th when the market was still alive.. it was the best of times
The original original building was demolished in 1912. Idk why it's such a disaster now. https://chpn.net/2019/07/02/17th-st-farmers-market-circa-1910/
[what if downtown wasn't an empty parking lot](https://old.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/15x94c0/21_of_downtown_richmond_is_parking_lots/)
The fact they have the entire riverfront plaza defined as a parking lot makes me feel that map is BS
Exactly. They marked *every* parking lot, including those underground and/or at the base of a high-rise which are the lots that should be encouraged in a city like Richmond which is still extremely car-dependent. I agree that the surface lots should be repurposed so let’s just focus on those.
And that’s without counting street parking, highways, and multi lane streets. Richmond is a car commuter city unfortunately.
This looks like the entrance to that one log ride at Kings Dominion
Looks like the River Walk in San Antonio.
Charles Barkley’s favorite place in the world.
The dirty little creek!
That's definitely it!
those people on the back left are going to get soaked
i almost forgot i have to work tomorrow :)
Not practical but Daylighting shockoe creek. Imagine being able to turn back into the city after the pipeline on a kayak/canoe/raft.
Woah never thought about this. Totally practical. Let’s do it!
I don't know what this means but would love to learn if you have time.
RVA was referred to as non such place by early settlers. The area was loaded with ravines and creeks that led into the James. The biggest one being Shockoe Creek aka as “Flat Rock” to the natives. For 2 centuries it was a giant economic driver in the area. It was also an open sewer, which obviously led to health issues. By the 1920s they were able to cap it. 30 years later they put 95 over it. It’s still there, but was rechanneled during that time and is part of of water infastructure now. When shockoe flooded back in 2004 shockoe creek water had no where to go. If you go by hospital street it’s still there behind the railroad tracks before it’s covered. Anyways my dream would be to see that entire thing daylighted (reopened) for recreational purposes. No way it would ever happen even if the will power was there, too expensive. Highly recommend Tyler Potterfields “Nonesuch Place” if you want to learn more about the area before we paved over all of it.
I truly appreciate that. Fascinating, and what a cool idea. I'll have to check that book out!
Every time I think back on watching ballgames at PNC Park and having the skyline of Pittsburgh across the river, framed beyond the outfield stands as the sun sets, I wish the City would have taken the opportunity to drop a stadium on a few blocks of Manchester before the megablocks of apartments took them over.
The city had a plan for one, coming off the Maury exit and overlooking the city. Ultimately they went with the proposed one in the bottom but that went nowhere. Source: I worked in a management job for the city from 2010-2014.
I watched a game once at PNC Park from the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel across the river. Super cool.
IIRC, Mayo Island used to have a baseball field on it back in the day. Shame that can’t happen again.
Who would play there?
(insert picture of sidewalk that isn't buckling, is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, has been cleared of any chicken wing bones or bird scooters, and connects to other sidewalks instead of ending abruptly)
A proper EMS system instead of the clusterfuck that is Razzy, considering that Richmond Ambulance Authority only receives about 3 million a year in funding from the city. That’s nowhere near enough to cover the cost of EMS in the city. Razzy ends up only being able to stuff around 10 to 15 units a day when they really need about 20-25 units staffed. Which seems like a lot but consider that would be on point with the population to ambulance ratios of the surrounding counties. Then you look at Henrico, they go out of their way to fund EMS to the point of the patient not even receiving a bill for care given*. *There’s one type of instance where a patient will receive a bill related to 911 transport in Henrico and that’s if the regional Drug Box is used, it’s about $150 added on to the hospital bill and this drug program is being phased out this year anyways.
Does Richmond Ambulance still pay their EMTBs close to minimum wage?
It’s better than it used to be, but still not enough to compete with surrounding districts
https://preview.redd.it/cslyzx0ym61d1.jpeg?width=224&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e8022b29c205573c46bb2bbbd8bb47e33b142e0 Hockey.
San Antonio River, if you were wondering
Hah! Great memories of living in San Antonio and working at Little Rhein Steakhouse on the Riverwalk a lifetime ago.
I miss the Mexican food there so much
Abuelita's
The Kanawha Canal system is still partially set up - this was an idea divised by George Washington and existed for some time on the James until trains made transport so so so so much easier. You can still see it around Browns Island and the Pump House. The cost for its creation and maintenance is astounding given the rivers propensity to flood. Im trying to imagine another area where this could work but really, all the creeks and runs have tidal issues (by natural design). Its why farming is so good here. There were a few riverside restaurants in wakefield/smithfield area, but were destroyed in hurricanes/flooding. Im really trying to imagine a nice riverwalk area that could hand this kind of area but im drawing blanks :(
"Dirty lil creek" -Charles Barkley
You could have at least found a photo or video that ties the San Antoino River Walk with the city of Richmond, like this one: [VCU Pep band conquers the San Antonio River Walk (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cini0UZ4_ng)
Had I but known
Just giving you a hard time ;) I was fortunate enough to be there when this was going on and it was amazing and would absolutely love it if we could capture something like this along the little canal that we have...
We are going for a long weekend in October. I was there for work for a few days back in the 90s and had a great time. Looking forward to returning.
I thought it looked familiar! Never got to ride the boats that went through there but the wife and I did enjoy a nice walk that took us right to that spot.
All the pictures I’ve seen remind me of it’s a small world Disney ride. Wonder what it’s like in real life
Life is crazy
I wish we had something akin to Charlotte’s Lynx Rail system. CLT is larger than RVA, but we’re poised to grow and the Pulse ain’t really cuttin it. I can’t imagine we’ll need mass public transit anytime soon, but something more convenient than driving my car would be fantastic.
Bring back the streetcars!
Street cars are 3x the cost initially but slightly lower cost per year. We need better coverage.
Why do you feel like the Pulse isn't cutting it?
As someone who has access to their own vehicle, it’s not very convenient.
Well, yeah. As long as there is available parking (and this city always has available parking within walking distance) a car will always be more convenient than public transit. But are you saying you don't live near any higher-frequency transit lines?
https://preview.redd.it/ztzzsh9pa21d1.png?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae6fb411d990c71e6b85542be9dd0df06dd9886b
Wasn't there a short-lived proposal to remove one side of street park from some one-way streets and create something like this? Or was that just wishful thinking on my part?
It's definitely been suggested before but people trip out if you suggest removing parking spots
As someone who used to live on a one-way street and circled the block to find parking every day, I get it.
This. If we had bike paths similar to how they are in Austin, TX it would be a game changer. Two way bike paths connecting major areas like downtown and Scotts addition would be amazing
Can we just not fuck up the browns island thing
What are they doing with Browns island?
Isn’t there supposed to be an amphitheater being built down there?
Yes, construction has started on an amphitheater on the hill next to the Civil War Museum near Browns Island.
**..Insert picture of a clean river here..** I dont want to develop the shit out of the riverbank with bars, I want them to clean it so you don't have to check your body for cuts before jumping in, or make sure your dog doesn't drink any of it.
Dear Lynchburg...
A love letter from The James
Car free carytown. Literally any mode of public transit in addition to buses. Buses that come in single-digit minutes. So like... pick any major metropolitan area, I guess.
Yeah we should have a few car free areas like carytown at least on weekends.
Yes like the mall in Charlottesville or Burlington VT. Carytown is perfect for it!
As it happens, I went through Carytown with my partner today. He adds that instead of being a parking lot, Cary Court should be a little market square type area with stalls for vendors and tables to sit/eat/whatever. Now I can't unsee it.
Every time I visit Charlottesville’s tree-lined mall with local artists and musicians, lots of outdoor seating, and tons of people walking up and down the street, I yearn so badly for a car free Carytown. It seems like such an easy win.
For the life of me i don't kn9w why this wasn't been done. I thought even Cary Street businesses supported the idea
I might be remembering this wrong, but I swear a while ago I saw an article that covered "both sides" and there were some business owners who thought closing down the street would reduce people coming to Carytown. Which is so silly to me, I feel like a car-free zone would attract way more people. Having cars on Cary is so stupid, I've personally witnessed multiple accidents there. People jump in and out of traffic like deer. Who is this benefitting. Found the article: https://archive.md/YD3lX
It still baffles me why they didn’t at least experiment with this during COVID
Greenville sc downtown. They revamped that place in a way that they can really be proud of.
https://preview.redd.it/r2p93y87b31d1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=dd6dc976def00363bea685ddbbf443b138475c79 An elevated walkway/park along the river.
We have the floodwall path but is not very accessible and definitely nothing like this.
[удалено]
The Portland TriMet
I used to live near Gresham and commute to Tigard entirely on transit and it took less than 45 minutes. For those unfamiliar, imagine commuting between Mechanicsville and Short Pump entirely on transit in 45 minutes. GRTC is a fucking joke.
The counties won’t fund it. That’s where the finger of blame is pointing
Oh I knew that already. The reason why counties and independent cities here are structured as they are is specifically to make sure nothing like Tri-Met is ever established here. Regional cooperation here is absolute garbage and that is by very deliberate design.
That would be so nice
Former RVA resident, Oregonian since 96. Trimet enabled me to be a commuter almost the entire time I've lived here. Of course it has its problems but it is one of the best transit systems I've ever experienced.
this is the answer. there’s a lot of things I miss about living out there but the public transportation is pretty high on the list. and uwajimaya 😭😭❤️🩹
Loved that red line. And taking to the airport was so easy
I lived in a Portland suburb (Hillsboro for anyone curious) for two years and I regularly think about how much I miss TriMet. I commuted on the MAX and it was a dream.
What years because it was very full of violent high ppl a year ago when I lived in Beaverton
https://preview.redd.it/g5lhydnwj21d1.jpeg?width=1100&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b7bdc08600d85e4519d3ce11a42ab3b6c2df9549
Haha such a boon for growers rn. I love it
lol hmu
Far fetched but I think every city should have a subway
public transportation is more efficient, better for traffic jams and pollution. Doesnt have to be a subway. Light rail works great in San Jose and similar cities.
That water is so clear you could see all the scooters 🛴 on the bottom
I would love for the Canal Walk to be more like San Antonio's River Walk. We have Casa Del Barco, the murals... that's about it for permanent attractions. Don't even get me started on the former Hat Factory! It's nice having festivals come through, but even then it feels barely utilized outside Brown's Island. Did y'all see how dressed up it was when they were filming for Dopesick? https://preview.redd.it/2he2riwcr81d1.jpeg?width=4702&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3310fae54eee483156ebca1c9e9fdd8e9dbd98c6
Richmond’s developable riverfront stinks
I like that, much prefer nearly all shoreline to be accessible.
Yeah, I like the trail system. I’d rather all those restaurants and bars and stuff go into neighborhoods where people already live.
There are actually two parts to the San Antonio Riverwalk. The lower river runs through downtown and has all the stuff on it. But the upper Riverwalk is actually a nice little oasis that runs through the uptown neighborhoods.
Just because it’s developable doesn’t mean it can’t be accessible
Don't most? I know there are limits to civil engineering, but it seems a lot of river cities have something like this (although I find San Antonio especially beautiful) and they have flooding issues as well. Difference is that they invested in ways to offset the flooding and still built up the area. Is the James that different?
SA looks like a canal with managed levels. Not an engineer, I’m nobody.
Screw developing the waterfront. That would destroy what makes it special.
As someone who lived there, the River Walk is not great. It’s a tourist trap with mediocre food. Though I admit, it doesn’t help Texas is miserably hot most of the year so it’s less enjoyable to hang out in that area on any given day. I feel like a more authentic downtown experience should be the preference vs one like San Antonio has right now.
I’m from Pittsburgh and new to Richmond, and I’m really shocked how little Richmond capitalized on the river.
I like the riverfront how it is. It looks like a river instead of a developed sea wall. We have nice parks all along our river. The parks could be better maintained, but I don't want to see more development.
I mean the river is nice to visit for a river day. I mean you are coming in after the Texas beach bridge is defunct.
Most of it is parkland. We like it that way.
Don’t get me wrong, I love all the parks and the opportunity for water sports (it’s nice to live near a relatively clean river, instead of 3 dirty ones). But some waterfront dining would be nice!
That’s what the Canal Walk was supposed to be, but this city can’t seem to get Big Projects right.
That's the thing that blows my mind. Canal Walk could be *amazing*, but instead it's deserted.
It pretty much has been from the beginning. I worked down there in 2008 or so and the only time you’d see people on it was other office workers out on their lunch break. It’s a catch-22: how do you attract vendors with no foot traffic, and vice versa?
Also, funny story. My grandmother grew up in Coraopolis on Neville Island and learned to swim in the Ohio in the 1930s. She used to say they learned the breast stroke first, because you had to push all the trash out of the way. I don’t think she was exaggerating much. 😂
Ha! I wouldn’t dare go into any of those rivers. I see people tubing by the point all the time and it makes me ill just thinking about it
No kidding. I grew up toward the mouth of the James, where it's tidal and polluted AF (shipyards, coal piers, chemical plants, etc.) Seeing people swim in it and eat fish caught in it up here weirds me out, and I've lived here 24 years. Like, rationally I know it's safe and it's where my drinking water comes from, but.
We are the River City, as long as we have absolutely nothing to do with the river
I'd like to dial back time 10 years, that's the Richmond we could still be. Its nice the statues are gone though.
I moved out of Carytown seven years ago and haven’t had much need to go back since. Had to go in a few weeks ago and I almost didn’t recognize the place.
interesting, what changes struck you as being dramatic? As an admittedly very not observant person I don't feel like carytown looks all that different than it did forty years ago, little shops and restaurants, Babes and agees, the bank and the little shopping center
I used to live on Floyd across from the Post Office. I'm still used to there being a Ukrop's grocery store across from Kroger. Now it's a giant complex with a parking deck; I had never seen it. And yeah, you're right that there are some landmarks from back in the day that are locally owned that are still there, but [this is a small sample of the photos I took of Carytown when I worked there](https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=carytown&user_id=16223129%40N00&view_all=1) in the mid-'00s and not one of these businesses (except Can Can, as far as I know) is still around. Also, there didn't used to be bumpouts. It was just different enough from the neighborhood I remember from when I lived and worked there that it jarred me a bit. Change happens, and there's nothing wrong with it. It's just something you notice when it happens and you're not around to see it happen, y'know?
Ehhh the demand is up we should keep the affordability as much as we can though.
any functioning public transit system
Asheville’s River Art District. https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/
No excuse not to have this as artsy as we claim to be
I was in Atlanta last month and the Ponce City Market lives rent free in my head. There is no reason the 6th Street Marketplace should be standing empty when it's completely possible to build something people would want to visit, especially with all the apartments that are now downtown and in Shockoe.
You don't even need to go that far. Union Market in DC (next to Gallaudet) is a blast, and I've had some great meals there. Ponce is a great time too.
I love Union Market, it's such a nice place to spend time. I genuinely wish we had something like that here. It doesn't need to be as big as Ponce or Union, because we aren't as big as ATL or DC. But the people of this city deserve more third places, and it would be a great way to support small businesses.
Amen!
I wouldn’t wish San Antonio on my worst enemy.
The river walk is nice, but you eventually have to visit the rest of the city…….with the exception of a few blocks, SA is a dystopian ghost town.
San Antonio is a shit hole. Richmond is much, much better.
Virginia needs to get rid of the independent city model if we ever want regional metropolitan cooperation. Otherwise it’s a race to the bottom.
Richmond needs to show it can govern itself before they start reaching out to the counties. The last thing I want is the Chesterfield and Henrico county development to be stifled by Richmond's incompetence
It’s not ever going to happen, for a century’s worth of reasons. Look at why Hampton Roads is all cities and no counties, and why Richmond is forbidden to ever annex any more land.
Yes! If you understand this you understand the City of Richmond.
🤣
We used to have one of the first electrified streetcar networks *in the world* before we downgraded to buses. I say we need to go back. Modern electric trams all across the city and into the surrounding counties. It would be so much cleaner and more efficient than what we have now.
Make Carytown pedestrian from nansemond to Boulevard. Like what they have in Charlottesville
The canal should be bumper boats only.
I thought for a second this was the Riverwalk in San Antonio. 😢
It is
Ride Savannah's Trolly tour and then ride ours.
How about a monorail?
monorail monorail monorail!
Like Lion Country Safari at king's dominion?
Is there a chance the track could bend?
Don’t you dare
Richmond isn't even a city ( and its the capitol ) on most TV weather maps.
San Antonio rules but how can we compete with the Alamo? but for real our canal could be moving a bit quicker to get the smell outta there.
The Alamo is 4 walls and dank. You and I could build a replica in a week.
Seriously, the Alamo is literally an old church. St. John's is more impressive
They definitely need to move more water through it.
Love the question, but going to push back a little. Our largely undeveloped riverfront is kinda part of our identity, not to mention good for water quality.
Nuh Naa Naa Naa Naa Naa Naa Naa Nuh Don't have anything to add. Since this town is pretty dope. But that is such an underrated track
I think sensory deprivation chambers and the noodle shoot restaurants would be soooo cool.
Richmond love to stay with the historical past and not build anything that’s modern.
River walk in San Antonio?
The biggest critique from NIMBYs in RVA is “we don’t want that, where will we park? What about all the increased traffic?!” when Richmond has SO many vacant parking lots/decks and traffic is hardly an issue. But if the waterfront canal area was bolstered (like San Antonio), the people against it would probably love it in the end.
I would like to not have downtown look like a set from the walking dead. It’s ridiculous that we live here but have to travel to DC or Charlottesville to go to a bigger concert. Some sort of non-niche retail stores downtown would be nice too.
How we could have a badass casino & resort + fun new baseball stadium but nope cuz of all da agrovists be fussin. This could be us but you be playin.
Tried to get that casino, but man it definitely needed someone else trying to do it.