mlsimons

This is what I like to see; data! It seems to me that our cost of living is no where near the cost to live in places like D.C. However, I do understand the military's influence over the area, the rent, and local wages. I watched the VB economic development video which specifically mentions that many highly skilled military retire each year looking for work in the region. This is not a market failure, but actually a good thing. As for comparing wages. A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) job in Richmond (where the cost of living is lower and there is more competition) pays about 45,000 for someone with experience. I saw a job posting on VBgov.com which shows the pay range at 60-75,000. My specific field of urban planning and economic development (which this forum is geared towards) the average pay is much higher here than in places like Richmond, and comparable to places like D.C. and exactly the same as Charlotte. This is a known fact in my masters program. Now I can't claim to know how other industries pay in comparison with other regions. But I do know that some industry sectors pay well here. We also have a secure manufacturing sector due to the shipyards (which tend to pay more than the service sector, with less formal education required). For anyone interested in workforce development, this is fundamentally key for a strong workforce to have some opportunity without requiring college.

Its called supply and demand...that's it. We live in a polycentric (not monocentric) region with little room to sprawl. Therefore prices will be higher as barriers to develop or barriers to travel increase. I have yet to actually see physical proof of this supposed "Navy housing allowance scandal" that everyone freaks out about. I have also yet to see reports about turnover rates or tenures radically changing in Ghent, Norfolk, or any other city in the region. Last I checked rents were high all over...the Oceanfront, Shore drive, Town center, Olde Towne, even Greenbriar. The fact is that 1.7 million people live here, and many of them love living here, myself included. I love it so much, I drive home every single weekend (leaving the coveted Richmond) in order to be home where I feel a sense of normalcy, direction and stakeholdership. Let's face it. Landlords aren't fixing prices or getting a tax abatement or paying off tax assessors or cutting a deal with ODU's off-campus housing program or any other supposed hypothetical wonder. They know that they can charge certain prices, and certain folks who can afford will pay, given a 5-7% vacancy rate. Which means that 1 in 20 properties will have a "for rent" sign out front (that is if the property has only 1 unit). If a property has 20 units; guess what: a "for rent" sign is almost guaranteed to be outside. I paid $800 for a 2 bed in Ghent last year (divided by two people). I know folks who made lots more, and spent lots more for a better apt than what I had. As far as the Belmont goes...that building was built as a TOD development with the intention of being finished at the same time as light-rail. Now that light-rail is behind schedule... Lastly, Hampton Roads has an extremely high quality of life, hundreds of miles of waterfront property and beaches, a stable economy (Virginia Beach had the 5th highest median family income among large cities in 2003), and low unemployment. Can we please stifle the negativity now? It's simply not founded.

Seriously...this is why Newport News and Hampton need to consolidate. No other two cities in the metro would benefit more from shared city services, in addition to consolidating city investments; making sense for all residents on the pennisula.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH LOFT TOUR This mobile workshop will tour the recently renovated and nearly complete Montgomery Square project in the heart of Downtown Portsmouth. A collection of 9 different age and construction type buildings coming together to form 69 high-end and loft-style apartments, 50,000 square feet of retail/commercial space and various support amenities. With a total investment of more than $28,000,000, this project made use of both Historic Tax Credits and VHDA’s Mixeduse with Mixed-income financing program. Participants will be able to take a tour of the project, meet with the developers who will speak about the realworld challenges of adaptively reusing historic buildings and using the tax credit program, meet with a VHDA representative who will discuss the financing program and meet with a Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority representative who will discuss how the project came together. MOBILE WORKSHOPS This is a workshop to be provided by the Virginia American Planning Association conference to be held in Norfolk in May. There are many reasons to go visit Olde Towne Portsmouth, if you haven't been there, you guys should all check it out. -Matt

I enjoy seeing educated and thoughtful responses!

We've been discussing this a lot in my land use law class. The right to zoning and regulate property comes from the right of the gov't to exercise "police powers" which is furthermore derived from "nuisance law." The case can be made that a historic structure adds the same value to a neighborhood that a park or sidewalk does. And this value is simply not present in a newer structure aside from the value it gives economically. Think about it in terms of a historic battlefield. Its easy to say, well that land owner is losing all potential value, and the right to exercise his American property rights to build whatever he chooses on the field. But the battlefield provides something to the public, so the gov't has the right to police the battlefield owner to not build. We can see now the value which the older buildings which were razed by urban renewal offered. We clearly have trouble orienting ourselves with certain neighborhoods downtown, b/c there are no visible landmarks to distinguish where things used to be and happen. But yes the whole idea is very debatable and blurry.

The only way you will get through this is to convince your mind that Norfolk was bombed in a freak aerial raid. Then you will feel proud that the lone confederate statue survived in the middle. This is the only way you will be able to sleep through the night; now that you know the whole truth about urban renewal in Norfolk. Norfolk...like many of its disadvantaged citizens has been raped. This is not to say that Norfolk has been defeated, or is less deserving of our respect. Its just seen sad days, and hopefully better days ahead.

Submitted by Wm D Tabor DDS on Mon, 03/22/2010 at 11:01 am.Roads are paid for primarily by user fees, fuel taxes and tolls. What small amount of added funding comes in from other taxes is outweighed by the fuel taxes diverted to transit. When a system cannot run without a subsidy, that is marketplace telling you there are better ways to accomplish your goals. If you do not listen to the marketplace, it will slap you upside the head with unintended consequences until you do. reply report violation hide all comments from this user 1 or 1 WHOA Submitted by on Mon, 03/22/2010 at 11:40 am.This is absolutely not true! Unless you are referring to big ticket items like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Which are still paid with public money upfront and then maintained with tolls, or specialized financing through a public/private partnership. However, road construction and maintenance is the number two cost out of taxpayers wallets (i.e. the general fund), number one being schools. This is an economic fact! Roads will forever cost Hampton Roads more to build and maintain than LRT will. The gov't must provide infrastructure, roads and rail...after all this is why we pay taxes.

maybe they'll put a market on the first floor...haha

I like Europe...for lots of reasons. But this argue is too huge to have here. I'm happy to announce that I will be going to Bristol, England to study urban planning at UWE next fall. I'm really excited about getting the European perspective for a couple months. Hopefully I can bring back some planning knowledge to impart on Norfolk!!!

Someone mentioned the loss of Taste Unlimited in Ghent...also there is a Ynot pizza going in on the same block with the Naro.

I was thinkin more like Europe

yeah but the expected completion date of the study has been pushed back to nearly 2012... I hate America.

I'm sorry but I never go to Lynnhaven mall...except for $5 movies at AMC....but I despise suburban style malls!!!

I've also been looking all over for that...

I think the mural is a great idea. I still think the best thing that could happen artistically to downtown would be to drape the Bank of America building in green vines, possibly diagnally (sorry no spell check).

Light Rail was supposed to be done by now!!!! I can't believe its taking soo long!

How do you know that???

That top floor unit would be the one I'm willing to spend my money on once its revitalized!!!

I'm not so sure about this...I drive to Richmond every week and I tend to make it in about 1 hour 20 min. And the last time I took the China bus to NYC we left at 12:30am and got there at 6:15am (5 hours and 45min). And when I went to DC for the inauguration it took us exactly 3 hours to get to pentagon city. I mean I sure think that HSR is great...but its not any faster than driving.

It would be more than great if Granby Tower was shining out like a beacon towards the end of this picture!!!!

How much State funds will be used? I'd rather see the money used for the Midtown Tunnel....that would help in the case of a hurricane much more than 460!!!!

I know we are simply referring to this as the warehouse...but I was told in my high school history class that this building use to be a "icehouse" for storing ice for individual and commercial purchase before refrigerators/freezers were common. Has anyone else heard this?

It wasn't our leaders decision. It was skanska! They oppose light rail (even tho they'll pick up their contracts), b/c light rail will encourage the region to be less automobile dependent, which means less tolls for their precious midtown tunnel. Here's how public/private partnerships work....private interests control the infrastructure! Skanska says they will offer us a transportation solution...they the commissioner of VDOT gets taken out to lunch by the president of Skanska, then magically the commissioner says HR will get no more transportation money for 6 years!!! So we better choose the Skanska deal even tho it doesn't include light rail like both towns want. Public/Private partnerships are another way for private interest to control public policy and transportation spending. Skanska knows why we are receiving no state funds and NOVA is getting 93.2%...and they love it!!!

haha, I remember that...long live the icehouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!