After years of seeking to revitalize Harrisonburg’s faded downtown, city leaders hope a proposed $25 million development means success is on the horizon.

What’s that supposed to mean? The RTD actually has an office downtown, so I find it odd that the article represents Harrisonburg to readers in Richmond this way.

If you were just reading the article, and had never been downtown, you might think it looks something like this.

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Gentrification uproots urban poor. The improvements made thus far to downtown have not uprooted anyone. They might be excluded from living there due to it’s cost, but that is another story.

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“There has been NO gentrification downtown. Every (large) project, whether completed or in progress (that I can think of) has been in abandoned and dilapidated buildings, or underutilized buildings.”

Just checking to make sure you are aware of the City Exchange project (http://www.cityexchangeflats.com) — this was converted to upscale loft apartments and a restaurant, and was completed successfully. (You may know about this project, but not have considered it “large”?)

Of note, those same developers (who know how to make this type of project actually happen) are the same developers behind Urban Exchange.

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I understand your point but it is one that we must accept as part of this capitalistic system. Competition is just that. Anyone who doesn’t like it shouldn’t be in business (of course no one actually celebrates competition when it happens to them and their business but we can only hope that we survive when our competition comes).

Barnabas

It’s not that your opinion doesn’t matter but I do not see an us vs them universe. I was born here and will probably expire here. I also went to JMU. My parents met at JMU. JMU students and faculty provide part of my customer base at my stores. If someone chooses to live in Harrisonburg, then they are a resident. That’s just how I see it.

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Additionally, HUD defines the median household income for both Harrisonbug and Rockingham County at 57600. In addition, I think these numbers are skewed down by the univeristy community.

There is still plenty of affordable housing out there. That being said, someone who makes 30k per year needs to be realistic about what that will buy, ‘cuz it ain’t much.

Call it what you want. Downtown used to be a dump. It is improving. Change is good. The addition of students to downtown won’t ruin it once it is revitalized — they will make it more vibrant. Downtown doesn’t need to be ruled by townies or students — it can be peacefully used by both.

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I’m not sure you would see more business if they open competing retailers in the retail space of the building :-)

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