Hampton Roads, VA is currently under a Tropical Storm watch (eom)

[justiceischeap]

[Catch22Dem]

1. I lived there from 93-96

Didn't appreciate the place until I left. Would love to go back sometime.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Va. Beach is endless strip malls and cheap housing. (nt)

[pitohui]

5. ppl in cheap houses love their homes too

i lived in a home smashed up by a tropical storm & now by an all-out hurricane

stay safe, ya'll

[justiceischeap]

6. Can you point me to the cheap housing? 'Cause I'm not experiencing that.

[charlie]

7. Doesn't exist

(unless he means cheaply made)

Wanna see a shocker? Look who's #4 on this list:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/30/pf/city_county_rankings/index.htm

[justiceischeap]

9. Yeah, I'm nowhere near that income level.

I also live in Ghent (Norfolk). A friend just purchased a condo here for 250,000. I have trouble making my $540 rent.

[katamaran]

20. I'd love to find cheap housing around here

Average price of a home in VB is over $260K now. Norfolk, Chesapeake and Suffolk aren't much better. Portsmouth's the most affordable...as long as you stay within the five square miles of *safe* Portsmouth.

/Lived here since my conception in 1977

[justiceischeap]

21. It amazes me how high the real estate is yet

There is NOTHING here. It astounds me. For the cost of a condo in Ghent, you can by 4 houses in Lancaster, PA.

[justiceischeap]

4. I've only been here 2 yrs

Still getting used to it. I don't like it much. Of course, my 2nd day here my car was broken into then this last April I was mugged at gun point by two teen-aged thugs. Oh and my first Hurricane season here I was without power for 9 days... So, yeah, I'm not having warm fuzzies for the place yet plus I moved from a blue state to a red one. Eck!

[CatWoman]

8. Heh

My hometown is Portsmouth :hi:

It was probably one of my nephews :D

*kidding, of course*

You should talk to ZombyWoof about the Peninsula :D

[justiceischeap]

10. Are you still in the area?

:hi: back.

[CatWoman]

11. no, I live in Atlanta

but I have five sisters and two brothers still living there.

And my daughter and grandchildren live in Newport News.

[justiceischeap]

13. I keep meaning to visit downtown Newport News.

It looks like a little metropolis.

[CatWoman]

15. you know, the only thing I miss about the entire area is the water

I love the water.

But there's so much crime there.

I haven't been there in about 6 years.

All of my friends are either dead or in prison.

Sad, really.

However, have you ever heard of Nathan McCall? I grew up with him.

Check it out -- this is how I grew up.

http://www.booknotes.org/Program/?ProgramID=1190

[justiceischeap]

16. Wow, you've led an interesting life to say the least.

I haven't heard of McCall but I'll have to check it out. From what I understand, the crime is supposed to be getting better but I grew up in Lancaster, PA and that's where I moved from. Very sheltered existence there. Never a victim of crime until moving here. Though had my parents stayed in KCMO, I probably would have had a different experience to say the least.

[Captain Hilts]

25. It's hard to get to the beach now. You can drive Atl. Avenue...

and not see the ocean. And just try finding a parking space.

When I want to see the ocean I used to take mom's car to Ft. Story. THERE's where you can sit on a dune and enjoy the view.

It's a lot harder to do in the civilian sector.

[marions ghost]

12. so what was the attraction then?

[justiceischeap]

14. To the area?

My job brought me here.

[Captain Hilts]

23. 25 years ago Va. Beach was a MUCH better place.

Since then, development with almost no zoning codes has turned the city into one big traffic snarl.

Yes, I am surprised at how much housing can cost in the area. At least here in DC you don't necessarily need a car. That saves a ton of money.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

3. close to pat robertson? he can pray it away

[theHandpuppet]

17. Looks like NC's barrier islands will be taking a direct hit

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at1%2Bshtml/144640.shtml?3day?large

Not good news.

[justiceischeap]

18. Yeah, tomorrow should be interesting

When it rains here, just run of the mill rain, the roadways flood badly. So we'll see what happens and we're not getting the brunt of it.

[Captain Hilts]

24. God doesn't love Wilmington, DE or NC as much as Va. Beach....

or so Pat Robertson thinks.

[5thGenDemocrat]

19. I spent my Army time at Fort Monroe (1974-76)

I hope all goes well for the Hampton Roads area. I remember Fort Monroe sat about six inches above mean sea level.
John
Now high and dry back up here in my hometown of Saginaw, Michigan (where it's 92 degrees today -- what the heck is up with that?).

[Lindsay]

22. Stay safe, y'all.

Have visited your area a number of times - love the ocean so much! (But am glad to be safe in the mountains now.)

[Captain Hilts]

26. The city's permitting a huge condo to be built on Duck Inn site.

That just kind of symbolizes what's gone wrong with the city.

With the demise of the Duck Inn

And those condos on the beach there claim the beach - and it's access - as PRIVATE property. And guess who's subsidizing their federal flood insurance? You and I are.