Vintage Richmond – Before and after of the Canal Walk
Head over to one of my favorite sites Vintage Richmond to see exactly where this picture was taken and what it looks like now.
Conversation (3)
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I was always in favor of the Canal Walk concept, but I have been very critical of how it has been implemented.
You need to consider the full ROI on it. You have to wonder if everything that has gone into it has been well-spent and managed. I was incensed when the City gave Cordish the $50 million loan. For what? A bridge, vacant retail, and more law offices (remember, the promise was for more residential, then we got the ol’ switcheroo). The fact is that the opportunity costs were huge. Schools, parks, and neighborhoods could have used the money at that time.
We still have vacant retail down there. We still have places on it that are very sterile and non-welcoming. We still have connections that need to be made.
In short, yes, the Canal Walk is nice and getting nicer, but let’s remain critical and let’s demand better, and let’s NOT do the Richmond revisionist history thing. Let’s acknowledge the mistakes and do better moving forward.