meegwell

So it is all about your politics as I suspected. See, I don't even really come here to contribute anymore because Brent411 is turning this place into Facebook. It's a shame.

Brent you're not done trolling here yet? Stop being condescending and grow up. That article you got all excited about is a complete joke as many have already pointed out.

Yup that's what I was thinking. There will be bull dozers and wrecking balls lined up at the coliseum before the City Counsel meeting when they vote. Brent just checking on your DOA view here is that still your position?

Stoney unveils $600 million proposal for city schools as part of Coliseum redevelopment richmond.com article but I believe it is a paywall so I am not posting it.

This is an excellent comment. Inner Cities everywhere where hurting bad - remember the crack-influenced violence? Anyone know what mid-town Manhattan was like then? Different times, folks.

Brent114...I can't tell if you are for or against this project... You seem to have very good expertise in municipal bond credit metrics, analytics around profitable touring music and entertainment acts, the financial health and general usefulness other entertainment venues in the City, etc...either that or you just hate Dominion because of some politically-charged view?....I know you can write whatever you want but it's border-line trolling us folks who are genuinely enthusiastic about this project and have a balanced careful view with the underlying hopes that it can be successful....without recklessly throwing around "fake" information as if you have factual data on it (that would be touring act financial data, bond rating scenario analysis, claims of "stealing" from the City (really?), personal attacks ("sophmoric", "high schooler"). Living in a different time or clinging to the past? Claims like "voodoo economics" and "the circus is gone" leads me to believe that maybe you are out of touch with modern entertainment? Ice Capades? That act was big in the 50's-70's. You do know that Disney has around 15-20 shows of Ice entertainment booked within about a months time between Richmond and Hampton Coliseum...as it does every year.... for a reason. Get up to date before you make these comments. I appreciate everyone's input and different views but just reading your quotes on this topic (below) tells me you may want to spend your time elsewhere...but that of course is your choice.

Trucks were dropping off glass panels today - crane hoisting them up to the roof. I would expect to see the crown begin to get wrapped in glass soon!

" hyperbolic and bullying." If anything is hyperbolic, it is this response. I understand bullying is a trendy term these days but come on, these folks are allowed to have a positive view of this project.

Richmond "Top City" to host major league sports team.... http://www.nbc12.com/story/38640961/firm-richmond-a-top-city-to-host-major-league-franchise

Brent - please elaborate on your inside knowledge of expertise the group of folks have and have employeed to take on this project? Are you simply talking about the one man that is steering the ship? You do know how leadership and successful organizations and projects work, right? Sorry bud, but this comment is ignorant so I can’t help but to skip over everything else you say. Everyone else remember or recognize that today’s RVA is nothing at all like that of old. I may not be an old timer but I have lived in the City proper for 32 years as an adult and moved here from 15 miles outside of Manhattan back when I was a younger buck looking for a smaller City to be an adult in. I’ve seen a lot here over the years. But I must say the past 5-10 years have been quite different. It starts with City pride, greater ambitions, confidence, a growing downtown, people simply loving the City and capital being spent on great and bigger and better projects. This is is not your father’s Richmond anymore....enjoy it. Mr. Farrell leading this team of experts will only further ensure it will get done,get done right, and that many will reap the benefits. Stoney and his crew are along for the ride and to take some political credit while watching out for all the folks affected.

Don't a lot of people (most) raise families in the 'burbs surrounding the proper "downtown" area of a City like the ones mentioned in the original post? Don't a lot of Cities have problems with poverty and poor public schools in the proper downtown district? Is this really why skyscrapers aren't built over 20 stories....really?

Isn't there some sort of oddball VA law that was basically the reason why banks fled for NC as they grew to become national banks?

I would think this if the City had more leverage here (i.e. traditional publicly funded)...in fact i would just assume it would never get done. The City will do what it needs to do by adding more less-productive requirements (my opinion) here to make everyone happy but at the end of the day the group running the show will build an Arena capable of hosting early round NCAA tourney games and attracting regular first-tier concerts that typically skip Richmond....at a minimum (this again my opinion, but this is at least one threshold they are looking for I believe).

FWIW, canal street is closed beginning tonight so they can raise the tower crane (south one) again. Also, the complete exterior "skin" is due to be complete July.

I think I'm on an early morning United RJ145 to EWR tomorrow....not looking forward to it - hope the wind dies down a bit