eandslee

I saw a thread in the Hampton Roads forum that made me think of a question...I have always been told that there were height limits to buildings along the I-64 corridor in the west end - that the heights of buildings could not exceed the height of the tree line. Is that really true? If so, why would Henrico and the city of Richmond pass such a law. Sounds pretty dumb to me. Please expain.

OK, I've found something in regards to the Virginia state song. Here are the words: Carry Me back to Old Virginny Written by James Bland Carry me back to old Virginny, There's where the cotton and the corn and tatoes grow, There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime, There's where the old darke'ys heart am long'd to go, There's where I labored so hard for old massa, Day after day in the field of yellow corn, No place on earth do I love more sincerely Than old Virginny, the state where I was born. CHORUS Carry me back to old Virginny, There's where the cotton and the corn and tatoes grow, There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime, There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go. Carry me back to old Virginny, There let me live 'till I wither and decay, Long by the old Dismal Swamp have I wandered, There's where this old darke'ys life will pass away. Massa and missis have long gone before me, Soon we will meet on that bright and golden shore, There we'll be happy and free from all sorrow, There's where we'll meet and we'll never part no more. Here is a link to the tune of the song here

Virginia does have a state song. It's called "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia". I've actually never heard the tune of this song, but I'm going to look for it on the internet right now! If I find something good, I'll post it here.

...And I live in Montana. I'd love to help, but won't be there, of course, unless you want to pay for a plane ticket!

So nice to hear that this forum and posting is such a "priority" for you! Hope to see you next week then! Enjoy your weekend!

Just today in the Richmond Times Dispatch (Richmond's newspaper), there was an article of how Prince George County (just east of Petersburg) landed an intermodal terminal for Norfolk Southern Railroad that will cost $11.3 million and will pump $665,000 of new dollars into the county's revenue bank each year. It appears that there were some local residents who were opposed to landing the transportation hub, but it was passed anyway. I guess the county thought it was more beneficial to have more revenue than to not land the hub and have a few local residents happier. Anyway, I think it's good that Prince George County got it and hopefully it will spark more economic development in that area. It's a pretty rural part of the Richmond metro, so there is a ton of potential of expanded growth. Click here for more details.

I should be around this weekend, but I'm not sure how much time I can devote to posting and sitting on the internet, but I'll do what I can!

I do think that there should be a separate LR system from the streetcar system. I think that that streetcar system should be independent and used for traversing just the downtown area with connections to a station or stations with the light rail system. I would love to see a river crossing (coming from the Hull St./Midloathian area) at one of the old Civil War river crossings (you know, one that is modern, but designed after one of the old river crossings that served Richmond back in the day). Main Street Station would be an excellent place to have both the street car system and the light rail system connected. Maybe even have the light rail station underneath the ground (even under MSS itself) so that one could connect to either the streetcar system (above ground), a bus (whenever the buses start operating from there), or continue on the light rail system to the airport where one can catch a flight to anywhere in the world. That would be the ideal situation I think, but gee, that is going to take a lot to get done considering where Richmond sits right now as far as a comprehensive regional public transportation city. I think it might be a very long time before we see something like this, but I hope it's not too far in the distant future.

I think Richmond can. It just that we need either a private company come in and do it (or GRTC receive some money to do it) or the local governments will have to come together and do it. I especially think that LR routes from Short Pump to downtown to the airport and from Hull St./Midloathian area to downtown would be the best routes that would be the most successful. Still, we have to convience the average Richmonder that it is better to take public transportation as opposed to driving their cars everywhere.

Oops! I don't know how I managed to post this again, so I appologize.

I like both malls and both malls have very good things about them. Stony Point, of course, is a bit smaller, looks better, but has fewer store that I would shop, whereas Short Pump is larger, has more stores that I would shop, but doesn't look as asthetically pleasing to the eye as Stony Point. Stony Point is within the City of Richmond, which makes me want to say that Stony Point is better (it definitely has some great restuarants), but just for practicality and for myself only, I personally think that Short Pump is better. Having said that though, when I was in town last year, I shopped at both and had a very pleasant experience at both malls. Short Pump just had more.

Photos of aircraft to service Richmond (Boeing 717): Interior Photo: And seating arrangment:

Here's the latest from Air Tran themselves with a schedule and fare prices! Looks very promising! AirTran Airways Announces Newest Destination - Richmond Daily Nonstop Service to/from Atlanta and Philadelphia Starts June 23, 2005 Daily Nonstop Service to/from Orlando Starts November 8, 2005 ORLANDO, Fla. (April 8, 2005) - AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today announced the airline will commence new daily nonstop service to Richmond International Airport from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport with continuing service to Boston's Logan International Airport, beginning June 23, 2005. AirTran Airways will also add nonstop service between Richmond and Orlando International Airport beginning November 8, 2005. These routes will be served by the airline's popular Boeing 717 aircraft with 12 Business Class and 105 coach seats. "We see an opportunity to bring high-quality, low-fare service to travelers in Richmond, and we're pleased to be able to offer that new option," said Robert L. Fornaro, AirTran Airways' president and chief operating officer. "These flights will provide Richmond with a much needed low-fare option, with nonstop service to Atlanta, Orlando and Philadelphia, as well as convenient connections to more than 40 other destinations across the country with our all new, all-Boeing fleet." "The Greater Richmond Region enthusiastically welcomes AirTran Airways to our community," said Capital Region Airport Commission Chairman James B. Donati. "AirTran's quality service and low fares will provide a great option for Richmond travelers to and from many of our most demanded destinations." AirTran Airways will offer the following new daily nonstop flight options to/from Richmond starting June 23, 2005: Nonstop Service from Richmond: To Departs Arrives Frequency Atlanta 6:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Daily (effective June 24) Atlanta 11:10 a.m. 12:55 p.m. Daily Atlanta 1:40 p.m. 3:20 p.m. Daily Atlanta 6:05 p.m. 7:55 p.m. Daily Orlando 12:00 p.m. 1:55 p.m. Daily (effective Nov. 8) Philadelphia 7:05 a.m. 8:05 a.m. Daily (effective June 24) Philadelphia 4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Daily Nonstop Service to Richmond: From Departs Arrives Frequency Atlanta 11:30 a.m. 1:05 p.m. Daily Atlanta 2:00 p.m. 3:25 p.m. Daily Atlanta 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Daily Atlanta 9:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m. Daily Orlando 1:20 p.m. 3:15 p.m. Daily (effective Nov. 8) Philadelphia 9:25 a.m. 10:35 a.m. Daily Philadelphia 7:05 p.m. 8:20 p.m. Daily Listed below are sample one-way fares (fares are valid in either direction) to/from Richmond: Introductory Fare Lowest Business Walk-Up Class Atlanta $79 $199 $234 Philadelphia $59 $149 $184 AirTran Airways, one of America's largest low-fare airlines with 6,000 friendly, professional Crew Members, operates over 500 daily flights to more than 40 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways recently added the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 aircraft to create America's youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline is also the first carrier to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft. For reservations or more information, visit airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).

OK, I'll "buy" that fact, but I think that's all about to change starting June 23!! Here's the latest from the announcement today: AirTran starts flying June 23 Richmond Times-Dispatch Apr 8, 2005 AirTran Airways will begin daily nonstop service between Richmond International Airport and Atlanta, as well as to Philadelphia with connections to Boston, on June 23, the airline announce today. Officials released the flight schedule of the new service reported today in The Times-Dispatch, with four flights a day to Atlanta starting at 6:30 a.m. and two flights to Philadelphia starting at 7:05 a.m. The Florida-based airline announced a lowest coach fare of $158 to Atlanta and $118 to Philadelphia. AirTran also announced plans to add nonstop service between Richmond and Orlando starting Nov. 8. The airline said its fares would be posted today on its Web site at www.airtran.com. "We see an opportunity to bring high-quality, low-fare service to travelers in Richmond, and we're pleased to be able to offer that option," said Robert L. Fornaro, AirTran's president and chief operating officer. Airport and business officials see AirTran's entry into Richmond as a major turning point for an airport losing an estimated 1 million passengers a year to other airports because of the high air fares here. AirTran officials stressed that the carrier has had a complete transformation since 1999, when it was a struggling airline trying to get past the bad publicity that followed the crash of a ValuJet aircraft in 1996. Using relatively new and spacious Boeing 717-200 aircraft, an airline official said, "We came back to be able to compete and get the business traveler" ***Richmond is even on the Air Tran website now as a destination, so start booking today!!!***

I can't say it enough...this is GREAT news! So it looks like the destination cities from Richmond will be Philadelphia and on to Boston, Atlanta (of course, since it is the major hub), and Orlando, FL by November. The only other thing I could wish for would be even more cities served through Richmond without going through Atlanta first. Hell, even having Richmond be a small Air Tran hub would be VERY nice! I would love to see that day!!! Maybe more destinations will be announced tomorrow that the article didn't allude to. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed! I knew some airline would jump onto Richmond very soon considering how much money was up for grabs for advertising! Not to down play Air Tran at all, but it's a shame Southwest Airlines (who Richmond has been courting for years now), didn't jump on it first! Maybe they'll land in Richmond later on this year! That would be a HUGE boost - no more driving to other cities to catch a flight anywhere...domestically, at least!!!

...and just to add a bit of good news to excellent news mentioned previously, it appears that Richmond International has set another all time February record for customers served for its 3rd month in a row!: http://www.flyrichmond.com/Download_Files/...5%203inaRow.pdf

Hey, where did you hear this??? This is GREAT NEWS, if it's true!! This is what Richmond has been waiting for for years!!!! Well, since Air Tran left RIC in 1998!! I sure hope they come back!!! BTW, is it April 7th, which is Thursday, or is it Friday April 8th?

Then, how could we forget 3 more major downtown developments: The new (proposed) AAA Baseball stadium for the Richmond Braves and accompanying delelopments: Here's the latest news on that: http://www.richmond.com/econdev/output.asp...er=2&position=2 A slideshow of renderings (scroll down this page to the 9th paragraph and click "proposal slideshow": http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satel...d=1031775003080 The new Federal Courthouse (construction is currently underway): Rockets Landing: See this site for more renderings - great site!: http://www.cmssarchitects.com/Rocketts_Landing.php

I was thinking about the new Philip Morris Research Center being built in downtown when I remembered the Virginia Commonwealth University is also going to be expanding their business and engineering schools! Wow, when you think about it, there is A LOT of development going on downtown Richmond, development that is definitely going to transform this city to an even greater place. Here's an article about the newly expanded business and engineering school VCU is getting ready to build (constuction to begin August of this year): Perhaps as early as this summer, the expansion efforts of Virginia Commonwealth University will begin to revitalize yet another large tract of underused and dilapidated property in the City of Richmond. The target: about 10 acres of land east of Belvidere Street between Main and Canal Streets. The area currently consists of a motley collection of small, one and two-story cinder block, brick, and wooden buildings, as well as a scattered array of surface parking and empty lots. As part of VCU's $203 million Monroe Park Campus Addition, this will all be transformed into a corridor of classic academic architecture, complete with landscaped courtyards, vaulted archways, and red brick colonnades

The latest stat I can find is on the Richmond International website that says that in 2000 it served 2.7 million people. Surely that figure is up by now being that it is 5 years later, even despite 9/11.

Don't forget about the new Civil War Museum that will be built on the Canal Walk at Tredegar Iron Works! I'm trying to find a link to it, but it will be pretty awesome and will focus on both the Northern and Southern perspectives as well as the perspective from the slaves!

I just thought that since this is a Richmond forum, it wouldn't be too "Richmond" without mentioning our airport, which is undergoing a huge growth project. The biggest problem facing Richmond International is that the price to fly in and out of the airport is one of the highest you will see in the nation. What Richmond lacks is a discount air carrier. Southwest Airlines promised that it would begin service in Richmond before 9/11, but since then, has postponed its Richmond plans indefinitely. JetBlue mentioned as late as last year that it had desires to begin service in Richmond in 2005. Since that piece of press was published, nothing new has surfaced. I still hold out that something really good will happen to Richmond International very soon especially considering the financial troubles the mainstream airlines are facing now. When/If they drop out, another airline will have to pick up the slack where they will leave off, giving other airlines HUGE possiblities in Richmond! With the current terminal expansion and revamping of the entire look of the airport, etc., the doors are wide open to some big possiblities. Not to mention, there are already almost $1 million set aside for "free" advertising for the first discount air carrier that lands at Richmond International. I can't believe an airline has yet to jump on that, but I have a feeling they will be coming very soon. Anyway, here is a link to our airport and below are some photos of our gateway to the skies: www.flyrichmond.com An areial view: The "big picture":

From what I understand that still holds true. There is A LOT of retail in Richmond per capita. The good news is that it looks like Richmond is able to sustain it. I would image that a lot of help comes from shoppers coming to Richmond from the Charlottesville, Lynchburg and other areas close to Richmond. Also, these two malls were the only one's built and developed in the United States in the entire year of 2003! Pretty impressive for Richmond (the only 2 during that year and they were both in Richmond!)!

Speaking of Carytown, here's a great link to Carytown to illustrate where it is what Carytown has to offer. I have to agree that it is an awesome shopping experience! http://www.richmond.com/localguides/carytown.aspx

I'm excited because you will more than likely see this structure towering over the Richmond Coliseum as you exit 64/95 and will probably even see it from the interstate in that area as well. I agree. I'd be willing to move the Coliseum for more space downtown for the research park as well. Don't think that will happen anytime soon, but if we can get more HUGE businesses attracted to and moved to Richmond, maybe we can get one to sponsor a new facility. That would be my dream!