Infrastructure of Norfolk/Portsmouth - Midatlantic, Southern (Virginia Beach, Chesapeake: homes, neighborhoods)

[Kbank007]

Does Norfolk VA and Portsmouth/Newport News resemble midatlantic cities further north like D.C. and Baltimore or does it resemble cities further south like Raleigh Charlotte NC, or Atlanta? (neighborhoods, downtown, skyline ect)
This same information was asked about Richmond, so I wanted to see people's opinions on the Norfolk area's infrastructure.

[tvpirate05]

Definitely more Southern...much slower pace. Somewhat progressive but sometimes they can't get out of their own way. The thing is, the area is spread out so much, so there's not a central "business district", per se. You have downtown Norfolk, but a lot of office parks spread throughout the area.

I think we're more like a Charlotte or Raleigh area...a mid-major region that's growing. Problem is the cities have had difficulty in the past working together, but are slowly trying to change that.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by Kbank007

Does Norfolk VA and Portsmouth/Newport News resemble midatlantic cities further north like D.C. and Baltimore or does it resemble cities further south like Raleigh Charlotte NC, or Atlanta? (neighborhoods, downtown, skyline ect)
This same information was asked about Richmond, so I wanted to see people's opinions on the Norfolk area's infrastructure.

Southern. Now Norfolk, Newport News, and Portsmouth all have their own downtown areas. Virginia Beach has one, but not in the traditional sense, it is more of an overgrown lifestyle center. See Reston Town Center for comparisons.

This place is sort of like LA in that respect, just on a much smaller scale obviously seven counties 1.7 million people is a lot different than one county 10 million people, but the development patterns seem to be the same. I doubt you'll see much change in the near future.

[Diff1]

I think Norfolk and Portsmouth has more of a mid atlantic setting, compare them with cities in the mid atlantic that are their size like Fredrick md, Allentown Pa, Trenton NJ ect not DC, Baltimore, Philly even though their are some simirlarities shared even with the BIGS. BTW look at those cities thjose NC cities density levels compared to Norfolk and Richmond they are much lower. Norfolk=4363/sq mile Richmond=3211/sq mile, Raleigh=2916 Charlotte NC=2457/sq mile mind you those NC cities have a bigger pop.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by Diff1

I think Norfolk and Portsmouth has more of a mid atlantic setting, compare them with cities in the mid atlantic that are their size like Fredrick md, Allentown Pa, Trenton NJ ect not DC, Baltimore, Philly even though their are some simirlarities shared even with the BIGS. BTW look at those cities thjose NC cities density levels compared to Norfolk and Richmond they are much lower. Norfolk=4363/sq mile Richmond=3211/sq mile, Raleigh=2916 Charlotte NC=2457/sq mile mind you those NC cities have a bigger pop.

Further down South you go the more spread out cities are, even in Florida. Miami seems to be the only exception to the rule.

[Kbank007]

Originally Posted by Diff1

I think Norfolk and Portsmouth has more of a mid atlantic setting, compare them with cities in the mid atlantic that are their size like Fredrick md, Allentown Pa, Trenton NJ ect not DC, Baltimore, Philly even though their are some simirlarities shared even with the BIGS. BTW look at those cities thjose NC cities density levels compared to Norfolk and Richmond they are much lower. Norfolk=4363/sq mile Richmond=3211/sq mile, Raleigh=2916 Charlotte NC=2457/sq mile mind you those NC cities have a bigger pop.

I asked this question because I struggle with fitting how Norfolk looks compared to midatlantic and southern cities. I think I am leaning toward midatlantic for Norfolk also due to the density. Some parts of Ghent/Freemason areas resemble the fan district in Richmond and parts of Northwest DC to an extent (without as many row homes). Someone posted an old photo of Norfolk before a lot of downtown was torn down in the 50's and the city appeared very midatlantic at that time, as far as infrastructure is concerned.

However, Chesapeake, Hampton, Virginia Beach, Suffolk feels southern/north carolina type cities in my opinion.

[Diff1]

I have/had same struggles with Richmond and Norfolk because they can sort of be placed in both regions, but as far as urban infrastructure is concerned they have more similarities with mid atlantic cities(esp Richmond) minus places like Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans even though the architecture is more Geogian.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by Kbank007

I asked this question because I struggle with fitting how Norfolk looks compared to midatlantic and southern cities. I think I am leaning toward midatlantic for Norfolk also due to the density. Some parts of Ghent/Freemason areas resemble the fan district in Richmond and parts of Northwest DC to an extent (without as many row homes). Someone posted an old photo of Norfolk before a lot of downtown was torn down in the 50's and the city appeared very midatlantic at that time, as far as infrastructure is concerned.

However, Chesapeake, Hampton, Virginia Beach, Suffolk feels southern/north carolina type cities in my opinion.

Parts of Norfolk can be mistaken for a lot of different cities. I often wonder where Newport News fits in.

[GeorgiaTransplant]

Originally Posted by goofy328

Southern. Now Norfolk, Newport News, and Portsmouth all have their own downtown areas. Virginia Beach has one, but not in the traditional sense, it is more of an overgrown lifestyle center. See Reston Town Center for comparisons.

This place is sort of like LA in that respect, just on a much smaller scale obviously seven counties 1.7 million people is a lot different than one county 10 million people, but the development patterns seem to be the same. I doubt you'll see much change in the near future.

I've often thought that about Hampton Roads (that it's a little bit like LA), and I've lived in SoCal and Western Branch. LA is a patchwork of about 50 distinctly different small to medium cities/downtowns/lifestyles. Hampton Roads is pretty much the same things with 7 cities.

[ShadowBat]

If you look at historic photos of Norfolk, before the '60s, it totally resembled northern cities. From the photos I saw, it looked like a flat coastal Pittsburgh. Then the city leaders in their infinite wisdom decided to level downtown except for Granby St. Just imagine Granby extended over the entire downtown and beyond. Not just one street. That's what Norfolk looked like. It makes me mad every time I look at those old pictures of the city.