Richmond & Jacksonville: More In Common Than You Think

Preserving "Main" Street



Broad Street has served as Richmond's commercial center since the founding of the city.  The area around Sixth and Broad Street once included department stores such as Miller & Rhoads, Thalhimers, G. C. Murphy, Woolworth, Raylass, Sears, Cohen's and W. T. Grant. In 1987, the Broad Street Commercial Historic District was officially added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It can be argued that Jacksonville's Main Street once played a similar role. With its building fabric still standing, Broad Street provides a visual glimpse into the characteritics of an urban commercial district.

Broad Street, because of its central location impressive attributes, became one of the focal centers of Richmond as well as a commercial center.  It was built in a long, straight line in order to enhance the idea that it was in fact the commercial center.  Being able to see all along the road easily influenced the people walking down it to feel as though it was the hot spot of the city.  The idea of “linear perspective” is that when an object looks imposing and long, it gives it an air of greatness and importance.  This idea most likely adds to Broad Streets seeming grandeur.

http://urmappingamericanhistory.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/the-progress-of-broad-street/















The 19-story Richmond City Hall was completed in 1971. The free observation deck on the 18th floor offers the best views of the city. Theatre Square, Richmond's theatre district, and many major downtown retailers once lined Broad Street.



Virginia Commonweatlh University (VCU) Medical Center's MCV campus is located in the east side of downtown Richmond, where Broad Street meets Interstate 95. Today the VCU Medical Center is composed of the hospitals and five schools (Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy) adjacent to the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park. Overall, the VCU Medical Center has 865 licensed beds.









Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is the largest university in Virginia with 30,381 students. VCU's main campus anchors the Broad Street commercial corridor just outside of downtown Richmond.









Conclusion


Downtown Richmond

Like downtown Jacksonville, downtown Richmond is a district that has had to overcome suburban growth and competition from major developments such as the St. Johns Town Center.  In Richmond's case, the suburban Short Pump Town Center is anchored by Dick's Sporting Goods, Dillard's, Macy's, and Nordstrom and includes an additional 140 retail, dining and entertainment venues.

If that isn't enough, a second major upscale retail center, the Stony Point Fashion Park, opened the same year as Short Pump. Stony Point is anchored by Dick's Sporting Goods, Dillard's, Saks Fifth Avenue and CineBistro.

Despite the challenges, this Interstate 95 community has been able to successfully build an unique walkable atmosphere by branding its history and utilizing it's historic building fabric.  In other words, urban Richmond offers a lively neighborhood setting that can't be replicated anywhere else within that metropolitan area. In the meantime, Jacksonville has done the opposite achieving subpar results in return. Perhaps it's time for Jaxsons to take advantage of our own urban core's unique history and existing building fabric. It's certainly working for Richmond.

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP.