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Rooster

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Everything posted by Rooster

  1. Rooster
    lol - sorry I meant the new amphitheater! Somewhere around there (maybe near where Costar is going to display some of that first brick structure they uncovered?) It would be cool to have a table-top model of what that whole area used to look like. Im not sure from the picture whether the amphitheater plans would incorporate parts of the old ruins as a feature along the back (north) of the field - would be great if they could somehow fit that into the design (but in any case am more excited about the amphitheater)
  2. Rooster
    lol - I meant the amphitheater. Youre probably right about the culvert - much less exciting...
  3. Rooster
    very excited about this one!
  4. Rooster
    yep - theres a post to a RBS story higher up on this page from 4/26 too much to keep up with, good problems to have!
  5. Rooster
    agreed - kudos to Costar for going above and beyond. That complex was going to be cool enough anyway, highlighting the "ruins" found under the site as an art/cultural exhibit brings in another unique element appropriate for that amazing site.
  6. Rooster
    I hope they actually do the planned pedestrian bridge from there to the Diamond district
  7. Rooster
    an amazing building!
  8. Rooster
    I love how they incorporated that piece of the old church! makes the space more interesting and unique
  9. Rooster
    The crepe myrtle block or two looks nice IMO (the blocks with the planters dont seem to be adding any value), but I agree two central BRT lanes (with central stations) would be a higher purpose. But there ARE lanes on each side running through there marked for the bus (in addition to two travel lanes each way and the median) - As a practical matter Im suggesting at this point they should just paint them red (thus making them "dedicated" I guess) and use whatever else money they may have for BRT to expand west/north/south...
  10. Rooster
    great ideas for stops along West Broad! Hope to see it happen one day - maybe it would encourage more street-friendly developments rather than the suburban strip mall sprawl. The downtown stretch (195- through the arts district) is pretty good in my opinion. Starting around the convention center it does spilt from the middle to the edges (with stations on both sides) - Im not sure why they didnt paint those red as well, it really seems to help lessen confusion. They are dedicated lanes but they double as turn lanes for most since they're not well marked.... Im one of those who loves the idea of mass transit but cant ever get myself to actually use it - Im around town all the time, but where would I put my stuff?
  11. Rooster
    well said! I'll share a little story - a friend of mine books the bands on friday nights at mainline brewery (on overbrook along the train tracks) and has been pulling pretty good crowds for local bands (including mine) and has started getting interest from national/regional acts. A band from Boston (a grateful dead -type) was touring the northeast and came and played 2 weeks ago - they said Richmond was the furthest south they had ever been! Upon my friends suggestion they had lunch at GWAR bar in jackson ward and then walked out to Belles Island to see the Dead Rock that afternoon (probably Richmond's most famous piece of graffetti - a grateful dead icon that was first painted about 50 years ago and keeps getting replaced everytime someone paints over it). They were so blown away by Richmond and the burgeoning scene down here they immediately booked 4 more gigs here over the next year! Richmond is getting a reputation as a great stop for some of these acts, and our little piece of river paradise makes a great impression on visitors
  12. Rooster
    sure it does my friend - not everybody likes the same things. Like licorice - not everyone likes it but the people who do REALLY like it I practically grew up on those rocks from pony pasture down to Belle Isle - and theres nothing better on a hot day than a group of friends, coolers full of beer, and paddling around the rapids. There are ALOT of people who agree. I really appreciate your enthusiasm for Richmond, and wasnt trying to shove anything down your throat - just pointing out that many of us have a different opinion about the relative value of our river (compared to some random condo development for example). I do think its important every now and then to point out that many of us support economic and population growth not as ends in themselves, but as drivers of real quality of life improvements - better parks, music venues, art galleries, dining options, community spaces, etc... Vive la difference!
  13. Rooster
    lol - maybe your priority list. Youve got to understand protecting and developing this river resource as a world class feature is likely to attract way more young vital people to Richmond than any corporate headquarters. This education center by itslef isnt that big a deal, but what it does is anchor another part of a beautiful park system, cleans up that whole area and makes it an attractive place to visit with easy access. Now the area between there and Rocketts along the trail can be enhanced even furthur. I also like Echo Harbour when it was proposed but in hindsight am glad the space was preserved for a better/higher purpose. This park system in the middle of downtown is a gem and a defining feature or our cities character - Id put it way higher on my developmental priority list than another box condo building somwhere... BTW Im an "all of the above" kind of guy - we can enhance our natural and historic strengths (play to our strengths) and still develop with height and density. These things are synergistic...
  14. Rooster
    great pics! sure is fun to see that hole getting deeper
  15. Rooster
    yes! the river/park system running through middle of town is one of Richmonds best features. When I talk to people from all over about why Richmond is so great the river is top on the list...
  16. Rooster
    Im excited about this! havent been down to Shiplock Park in a long time but I imagine it'll be all cleaned up - I wish they would get those old locks working again!
  17. Rooster
    done
  18. Rooster
    I agree - the ski cottage vibe up on the hill is style points (extra points for being understated)
  19. Rooster
    yeah, its definitely a nicer station and I understand they needed the upgrade - but damn I wish they could build it on an empty block (or tear down another less interesting building - like across the street). A renovation there would have been another iconic building in a string of pearls.
  20. Rooster
    So many fine folks in Richmond because of HDL - it really drew people from all over the country. Ive seen several companies spin off from them and other biotech start-ups down there in the park (including my current company) - thats why Im such a booster for continued development of the biotech park (and leaving room for it to grow in city center). Both the counties have way better tax incentives for labs compared to the city, so to make it work there have to be other value-adds like "center of gravity" (proximity to other labs/biotech/VCU)
  21. Rooster
    The Hippodrome is really cool - all the jazz greats played there in the day as they came through town. The upstairs of the building next door opens onto balcony seating for the theater. They still do events down there - a few years ago Health Diagnostic Lab threw our company halloween party down there and it was off the hook
  22. Rooster
    I cut down 2nd street from the expressway all the way to Jackson everyday headed to work (in the biotech park) and will snap a pic if I see any movement There are often detours at 2nd crossing broad because of the renovations happening at those 2 beuatiful buildings on either side Broad. This work seems slow but fairly constant and you can start to see progress. These sat derilict for way too long. 2nd street will be quite impressive when all this work gets finished....
  23. Rooster
    me too - nice old brick. Its a shame they couldnt incorporate some of the old structure into something cool - but I cant argue that its a nice looking building and will probably do well there. Nearby - Its amazing to see how the Brewers Row condos around Hardywood are changing the whole feel around there. We went for some music there not long ago and barely recognized the neighborhood
  24. Rooster
    yep - probably the first time Ive seen everyone here be happy about a development not moving forward! But that block deserves so much more than the scaled back plan, Im sure we'll see something better there before too long
  25. Rooster
    Great food, craft beer, arts (both "street level" and museums), and local music scene are big plusses, though they could happen anywhere. The natural beauty - most specifically the world class river - is part of what's unique to Richmond, so thats a big thing to lean into. But whats truly unique is the sense of place that comes from history and archtitecture - you cant just build >100 year old neighborhoods. I think thats got to be part of Richmonds future - weve got the potential to grow into something comparable to some European capitols if we can develop in a way that retains as much as we can (of the good stuff anyway) and avoid the bland "sameness" of lots of midsize cities. Im a huge Richmond booster and would like to see us grow as much as any of you - but only if we can retain what makes Richmond such an awesome unique place. Quality of life! Bigger and better often go together but they arent the same thing...
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