Is Richmond an often overlooked city for 'hip', 'density', 'walkable' and other traits that hipsters would look for?

[richmondpics]

Originally Posted by nagrommm

There's a lot of hate I've read about Richmond on this thread (edit: the Portland forum) and it makes me wonder how much of that is residual growing pains of wanting to leave your hometown or not having been back in awhile. .

^^ nail on the head.

Glad you enjoyed your visit!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWJsFb3JGfA

[VA Yankee]

Originally Posted by nagrommm

There's a lot of hate I've read about Richmond on this thread (edit: the Portland forum) and it makes me wonder how much of that is residual growing pains of wanting to leave your hometown or not having been back in awhile.
Just my two cents and I know this may be controversial but there was a lot of things I liked BETTER about richmond than Portland...

Hate is such a strong word, intolerance might be a better choice. Richmond has a long history of corrupt, inept leadership and a distinctive difference between segments of their population. There is also significant communities in the surrounding counties that refuses to be subservient to the city. Just my observations...

[AJNEOA]

While I like Richmond, the urban living experience is just more difficult IMO. Saying that Richmond has some improvements to make in the public transit arena is a DRAMATIC understatement. There's decent bus coverage to a couple of neighborhoods, and that's it. Portland has far better coverage IMO (not that it's not also lacking in some places).

I think one thing that's also missing from the conversation, which will take a little while to realize for visitors, is the culture between the two. Richmond's modern southern culture (with a lot of northern transplants) is most certainly different than Portland's western culture. Which takes us back around to what I was saying before:

Both cities like the outdoors, bikes and music, but those are large categories. The economies are both pretty different too. Transit is worse here by quite a margin and its perception is completely upside down from Portland's; recent development patterns are quite different. While both liberal, Richmond seems a bit more conservative as a whole.

I respect your opinion, but I don't see how both are so similar, with the exception that they both offer a few large-category amenities that are not so similar at a closer glance. That doesn't mean they're not both very compatible. I definitely think they're compatible, but you don't have to be very the same to satisfy that relationship.

I like both a lot, but their histories are a stark contrast to one another. And from that comes some big differences IMO.

[Tiger Beer]

Interesting thread and already 9 years ago. How is Richmond seen now in 2023?

[Charlesaf3]

Richmond is still minorly under the radar as a hipsterville, but not nearly so much as before. Lots of people moving into the city, to the point it's reached the classic stage of some locals being annoyed by move ins and wishing they would go elsewhere.

Prices are still cheap comparatively, but probably double or mor what they were in 2006, with all signs pointing to the prices continuing to rise.

Lots of people from SF, Austin, and Portland moving here, but the big movement is from northern virginia and washington dc. Reputation in Nova has gone from "what a hole" to "oh my god, the place is so nice and cheap and cool". So enormous numbers are moving down. Prices will probably stabilize at 60-70% of Nova, which is still much more than Richmond prices currently.

It's very hard to get a nice 150k house in Richmond still, though you can still find 150k houses. Nice 400k houses in great urban areas are plentiful, but will not remain so

[SkyLark2019]

Not trying to party poop but Virginia has become pricey as of late.

[jm67]

We moved here this year after living in DC for 25 years, and the QOL improvement is pretty dramatic. Our neighborhood (Museum District) is very walkable/bikeable, lots of cafes and restaurants, and more than enough cultural amenities. Richmond certainly has a lot of poverty, but outside of those areas it feels very lively, and the universities ensure there's student life (or what passes for student life post-COVID).

But oddly, whenever we mention to friends that we've moved to RVA, we get a puzzled look and a "why??". I think most people form their impression of Richmond from what they see on I95, which is not attractive. And then there's the association with the Confederacy. So yeah, Richmond is much more expensive and desirable now, but compared to Portland/Boulder/Austin it's definitely below the radar.