Hampton Roads Off-Topic Talk

[urbanvb]

You can also go to pbs.org/superskyscrapers and watch a full episode on the building of One World Trade Center.

[BFG]

There's been more talk about the possibility of the Hampton Roads and Richmond markets merging to create a "megaregion". This is from a breakfast held yesterday...apparently, this idea is gaining traction.

http://hrscene.com/push-together-the-richmondhampton-roads-mega-region/

[jeffconn]

On 12/4/2015, 2:51:43, BFG said:

There's been more talk about the possibility of the Hampton Roads and Richmond markets merging to create a "megaregion". This is from a breakfast held yesterday...apparently, this idea is gaining traction.

http://hrscene.com/push-together-the-richmondhampton-roads-mega-region/

Doesn't make sense. There is too much rural between Richmond and Hampton Roads.

 

[Virginia City]

Hampton Roads, at least the Southside, need to combine city governments and become one large city. Keep the original cities relevant by referring to them as Boroughs.  

[lil-bear]

I've been saying the same thing for years! Glad to know there is another who agrees!

[BFG]

I don't think anyone on the forum disagrees. Unfortunately, none of us have the political clout to make this happen...

[BFG]

WAVY-10 had a report last week about the future of this region, and what needs to happen. The general consensus from the story is that regionalism is a must, along with reducing the dependence on the military. I like the fact that more leaders are thinking about the future.

http://wavy.com/2016/01/18/job-growth-the-future-of-hampton-roads/

[lil-bear]

Forget regionalism..... I still wish the region would do a NYC type merger and become Dominion City!

[lil-bear]

http://pilotonline.com/business/consumer/three-sports-authority-stores-in-hampton-roads-are-likely-to/article_d8b1d612-fb03-593a-9e92-6ae8df562060.html

Sports Authority is in trouble! This will be worst for JANAF. That whole area needs to be re-imagined.

 

[urbanvb]

Looks like Hampton, Norfolk and VB locations will be closing.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/sports-authority-announced-shutter-140-195028588.html

Edited March 3, 2016 by urbanvb

[BFG]

Three years ago, there were rumors of an Ikea coming to this area, but they were quickly shot down.

Rumors have popped up again, but not much has changed. That said, Ikea is building stores in Indy, Memphis and Jacksonville, all metros will a population comparable or smaller than HR. There is hope yet.

http://pilotonline.com/business/consumer/so-when-will-ikea-come-to-hampton-roads-rabid-fans/article_951380a7-91c8-5da6-94dc-9a0652928942.html

[urbanvb]

Channel 13 will air a Town Hall Special about the future of Hampton Roads Thursday at 7pm. 

[BFG]

Here's a link to the special...near the top of the page.

http://www.13newsnow.com/features/watch-21st-century-hampton-roads-town-hall-event/10056837

I listened to some of it tonight, and am watching it now. Some good information, but it has to be more than just talking.

[lil-bear]

http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/local/gov-mcauliffe-says-hampton-roads-cities-must-work-together-if/article_128218d8-cc2a-543c-90a6-3bb5a1b510c8.html

The governor telling regional mayors to step up.

[metalman]

It looks like our office towers are getting notice with local help in a fancy schmancy real estate publication

http://pilotonline.com/business/hampton-roads-high-end-office-towers-make-national-skyline-listing/article_623d7267-d86c-5b25-8ae4-448986a529f9.html

[metalman]

Man, I thought someone would be interested!  Hahaha.

[urbanvb]

Although I didn't post a reply I thought it was interesting. I'm glad to see office vacancy continues to go down. Now let's get another tower going up already.

[BFG]

It is indeed good news, but downtown needs some more office towers. Would love to see something higher than 30 stories, or even 40, to take the crown of tallest building in the state. 

[BFG]

Richmond just landed more than 700 jobs from a real estate analytics firm called CoStar. They were one of three cities, one of which was Charlotte, which lost the deal because of the controversial HB2 deal.

While this is great for the Commonwealth, I do wonder whether city leaders are keeping an eye on NC. Businesses are leaving Carolina left and right it seems.

[Urbanlooker]

An interesting article about the regions cooperation ... or lack there of.

http://pilotonline.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-regional-success-suffers-as-cities-compete/article_c37d51ac-bf56-5869-8583-9821bd7a5238.html

[BFG]

While I agree with the editorial, I wonder how many times is someone going to write a piece on this issue? This area has talked about regionalism for years, and it seems we are never any closer than we were the last time it was discussed.

[Virginia City]

That's what happens when the other cities are born simply to stop you from getting too big.

[BFG]

The president of the HREDA (HR Economic Development Alliance) talks jobs, and how Hampton Roads must move forward and stop letting other cities leave us behind. Honestly, the slow and stalling progress is the one thing that really makes me consider moving at times, so it's great to see the issues being addressed.

http://www.hreda.com/news-media/blog/2017/02/from-the-president-where-it-all-started-and-where-do-we-go-from-here/

For some reason, I think the developments will be different than what happened 20 years ago, all for the better.

[BFG]

According to TIME, Hampton Roads saw a 16% increase in millennials moving here since 2010. That was enough to top their list of Top 25 cities where millennials are moving. I know each news outlet has a different way of counting this, but for HR to make a list of cities for millennials is another boost for the region. 

http://time.com/4797956/cities-millennials-moving/

[BFG]

By 2020, Chesapeake is expected to become the second-largest city in the Commonwealth.

https://pilotonline.com/news/local/chesapeake-will-become-state-s-second-largest-city-by-new/article_5d515b00-9905-56f5-a630-a3984311a786.html

I know that in the early-70s, Norfolk had a population of a little more than 300,000; it's now down to under 250K. Chesapeake and VB have a lot more land, so I'm not sure how Norfolk can get back to those 1970s numbers, unless they build a bunch of apartments downtown and finally get started on SPQ. Wishful thinking: they could always merge with Portsmouth and/or Suffolk.