Richmond's Suburban Developments

[burt]

That helps so much, Tommy. Thanks for the clarification.

Is there to be a lake to the west of the towers?

Where is the other end of John Rolfe? Does it go to West Creek in Goochland?

And is anything planned for the big empty lot at s/e corner of Broad and J/R Pkwy?

Also, what is the oval that looks like a stadium in the lower left?

I think this is very exciting and helps propel Greater Richmond into the major leagues. In the long run, it will also benefit downtown just as suburbia has finally revived interest in Central DC. With this, Watkins Centre, West Creek, Rocketts Landing, the doubling of personnel at Fort Lee and other projects will come a large increase in regional population. Downtown's healthy central core with its large government, commercial, residential, arts and historic presence will boom.

Edited March 19, 2006 by burt

[TBurban]

There is a huge lake with 2-3 fountains that border the west side of the towers and hotel and stretches to the sound end of the village. There are also 3 lakes the border the south end of the village, each with their own fountain.

Im not sure about the Rolfe Parkway question though, Im assuming witht the title "parkway" it would stretch into Goochland, IMO

The oval is Pocahontas Middle Schools Football stadium with a running track around it.

The corner by broad and rolfe is for lease, but Im sure wont be once this is built. It has been under lease for a long time now. But Im sure a company will be happy to snatch it up now that WBV is going up

Edited March 19, 2006 by RVA_tommy

[BGW]

Where is the other end of John Rolfe? Does it go to West Creek in Goochland?

A short section of John Rolfe Pkwy currently exists between Ridgefield Pkwy and Lauderdale Rd.

See map here

Rolfe was to follow the originally planned route for 288 from 295 to Gayton Rd. A couple years back, there was a huge dustup regarding the proposed Rolfe/Pump Rd intersection, but I've heard nothing about extending Rolfe since then. If it were to follow its original path, it would intersect West Creek Pkwy very near Patterson Ave.

[burt]

Your Google link reads "loading", but nothing happened after waiting almost 4 minutes. Is it just my slow dial-up?

Anyway, I read somewhere since all this news about WBV that Henrico wants to finish the JRPkwy in about a year.

Wish I could see that map, because its path has always been unclear when written about.

Edited March 19, 2006 by burt

[Cadeho]

Burt! Come on man, you have to join the broadband highway!

That obituary was hilarious... DIDN'T I WARN YOU?! DIDN'T I?! I think I remember that 1996 article, I may have saved it. I am going to have to go out there and get that farm before it's gone. I remember there was an article that said there was one of the trees there with the three notches on it. I bet it won't get saved. Preservation is not in Short Pump's vocabulary. I hate they rerouted Three Chopt... keep throwing history away Short Pump!

[TBurban]

Now wait a minute wait a minute. They did however keep the huge oak tree that is now in the middle of Bowl Americas parking lot. They also used the original pump from the town's name Short "Pump." It was used during the 1800's when Short Pump was nothing more than a stopping point between Oilville and Richmond. The pump is now located in the fountains at Short Pump Town Center. Im sure theyll keep something good at the farm site. I can go up there and get a few pictures of the ole' farm before groundbreaking. Funny how things change.

Edited March 20, 2006 by RVA_tommy

[Cadeho]

Not exactly positive changes. But get a pic of the pump handle. I will never venture inside that mall.

Edited March 20, 2006 by Cadeho

[TBurban]

You know, whenever I hear something like that, it makes me wanna move. Because when people say that, it makes me think. It makes me wanna drop everything Ive been doing and move to the city. Youre right. Now Im not saying I hate Short Pump, but the city will always be better. Ive been thinking about moving somewhere downtown, but its still on the drawing board. So...thanks Cadeho

Edited March 20, 2006 by RVA_tommy

[Cadeho]

My sarcasm meter is broken at the moment, please try again later.

Really Tommy, I remember when it was a two lane road on that stretch of Broad. I had friends who lived off Lauderdale. Would it have been that much trouble to have left those old buildings in Short Pump? Sure, widen the road but leave them and adapt them to new uses. You can live out there, but you know that new urban stuff is supposed to counter sprawl not add to it!

But if you're serious, I'll personally welcome you. There are still three new houses left on W. Jackson going for like $250,000. I'm sure they'd be perfect! I'd get one if I could afford it.

I still would like to see that handle.

Edited March 20, 2006 by Cadeho

[TBurban]

No Cadeho, Im not trying to be sarcastic at all. Ive just never heard someone whose not from Short Pump opinions on Short Pump. I have definately looked into the city's residential opportunities. However, it may be a couple years before anything is final. You've definately got me thinkin with your comments, in a good way. Just to clarify, there has been no sarcasm in anything Ive said. Let me reassure you, its all been serious talk. The handle picture will be here by the end of the week

Edited March 20, 2006 by RVA_tommy

[burt]

My sarcasm meter is broken at the moment, please try again later.

Really Tommy, I remember when it was a two lane road on that stretch of Broad. I had friends who lived off Lauderdale. Would it have been that much trouble to have left those old buildings in Short Pump? Sure, widen the road but leave them and adapt them to new uses. You can live out there, but you know that new urban stuff is supposed to counter sprawl not add to it!

But if you're serious, I'll personally welcome you. There are still three new houses left on W. Jackson going for like $250,000. I'm sure they'd be perfect! I'd get one if I could afford it.

I still would like to see that handle.

Hahahaha. Your sarcasm/cynicism meter is NEVER broken, Cam. It's your nature.

[Cadeho]

Tommy, I'm sorry I accused you.

How did you end up way out there?

I had no idea it was 12 miles away from the city. TWELVE! Aside from work most of my travelling is within 2-5 miles from home, and most of it in Henrico.

My aunt and mother want me to move out the city. Heck I'm just about 426 feet from the county line!

I have no ideawhat you're talking about Burt!

[TBurban]

Its cool Cadeho. I guess after I continued to live with my parents, I wanted to stay close by. So now Im out but a short distance from home. Now with the city's crime rate up, those motherly worries are knocking at my door, literally. They dont want me to move close to the city, but Short Pump has kept me on the edge of my chair for now. It seems like it's all over my head these days.

[burt]

Tommy, I'm sorry I accused you.

How did you end up way out there?

I had no idea it was 12 miles away from the city. TWELVE! Aside from work most of my travelling is within 2-5 miles from home, and most of it in Henrico.

My aunt and mother want me to move out the city. Heck I'm just about 426 feet from the county line!

I have no ideawhat you're talking about Burt!

Hehehehe. Who knows, you may be one of the first occupants of one of those 4000 s/f condos at West Broad Village - that is if the lottery smiles on you!

[burt]

Tommy,I hope you remain as happy and proud of your area as Cam is of his. It's a world of "to each his own".

I often think about where I would live if I returned to Richmond. It most likely would be Tobacco Row, but I have to admit that in my "mellow" years, the amenities of WBV are enticing. In my young days, I lived all over the area, but downtown was my favorite.

[TBurban]

Yeah, WBV is lookin better and better, but Ive always loved the excitement of downtown. Which is being revealed more often if no one else could tell

[eandslee]

The way I see it (and I know it's hard not to have competition between the jurisdictions - the city verses the counties) all of the counties and the city is one metro area. It's a shame that there is so much rivalry between the divisions within the metro, but unfortunately, that's how the laws work in Virginia. However, when it comes right down to it, you are all living in the same "city". I mean, really, if we were living in a place, take Nashville, TN for example, there would be no bickering between who lives where because there is no division between the city and the counties that surround the city (in fact, the city is located WITHIN a county). So, I wish we could all just ignore the whole boundry thing...it creates division within the metro, which is just stupid. We should all be one - as in one in purpose (even though for tax and for service reasons, there are divisions). Anyone getting my drift here?

[burt]

Oh, yeah, Eric! Just listen to Hampton Roads where all the surrounding communities are incorporated as CITYs rather than counties. They've really got problems with identity in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, etc

Despite rogue naming of communities such as Short Pump and Glen Allen, this area is still recognized as RICHMOND.

[Cadeho]

I'm proud to an extent. We can do better and I wish we would. But Richmonders are generally stubborn and seem to want change in all the wrong places!

If we were to revert back to cities within the counties, Richmond straddles two counties, would Manchester be reborn? I hear you eandslee, but we have to deal with what's on the table. And the GA continues to oppress Richmond at the request of Henrico and Chesterfield. They've been bitter ever since that annexation issue nearly 40 years ago now! They had no problem all those times Richmond expanded and the way they're treating their inner, older suburbs, they might as well turn them over to the city.

[burt]

I'm proud to an extent. We can do better and I wish we would. But Richmonders are generally stubborn and seem to want change in all the wrong places!

If we were to revert back to cities within the counties, Richmond straddles two counties, would Manchester be reborn? I hear you eandslee, but we have to deal with what's on the table. And the GA continues to oppress Richmond at the request of Henrico and Chesterfield. They've been bitter ever since that annexation issue nearly 40 years ago now! They had no problem all those times Richmond expanded and the way they're treating their inner, older suburbs, they might as well turn them over to the city.

Well, Cam, how about a de-annexation? Give all those poverty/crime ridden areas in East, North and South Richmond to the counties - whether they liked it or not! Maybe they could integrate in the counties better than they have been able to do in the City.

[Cadeho]

I think that scares Henrico and Chesterfield more!

[burt]

I think that scares Henrico and Chesterfield more!

It scares the Hell out of everybody! What is the answer?

[wrldcoupe4]

The answer is that the region has to quit being sissies and grow the balls to deal with the problem areas. Make redevelopment in those areas appealing. Hull St from the Mayo bridge into Chesterfield county could be a goldmine of new development.

[Culpeper Hokie]

I will never venture inside that mall.

Wow. That's a bit melodramatic. Geez, they didn't build that place just to piss you off. There were a lot of people out there who expected a certain level of retail, and who would go to Northern Virginia to get it. Now, although it doesn't particularly benefit the center city, at least the money stays in the metro area.

Don't get me wrong, I love downtown and wish that Henrico and Chesterfield could come up with some sort of revenue sharing that would benefit the city (GASP!!! SOCIALISM!!!). I try to get down there as much as I possibly can, which is difficult since I have two little ones and work in NOVA most of the week. I think I'm probably the prototypical "new" western Henricoan in that regard, for better or worse. At least I'm not one of the long-time residents who shudder at the prospects of "goin' dow-un thay-uh buh-cah-wuz of all the muh-daz".

Now, if I was single or it was just my wife and I, I'm pretty sure I'd be looking at some loft or townhouse downtown. But the problem would still be diversity of retail, and then I'd end up having to go out to the suburban malls for some of what I'd need. Heck, they're just stores. Some happen to be downtown, some happen to be in a suburban mall. No need to boycott them just because they aren't where you want them to be!

[TBurban]

Right on, right on Although, I wouldve loved to see an outdoor mall be built downtown. If people wanted to shop that badly, they wouldve traveled downtown for that. Could you imagine being at an open air mall downtown and looking up at all those skycrapers?! But of course, no company has the guts to even try to build something like that. Hopefully this Jefferson Square thing will pull through and be all it is I hope to be.

On a side note, for those of you who didnt catcha glimpse of WBV on the last page, heres a smaller sized one:

Larger Scale Master Plan