[badger74]

Took my annual trip back and saw more new development than I ever could have imagined. Some cool new restaurants including the Starlight Cafe and and the new wine and small plate place on Main Street downtown (name??) Also checked out the City Lofts apartments downtown. Very cool and good value for the $$$. The tiff over the proposed shopping center out on Boonsboro was red hot. I am in the anti camp and think a very good townhome development should go on that site. Had very good dinners at Isabella's and out at the Tea Room in Sedalia. Both were packed so business is good. The new wine bar place was also full with a hip looking crowd. I think the Burg is turning the tide and is getting a critical mass of cool spots going on.
OTOH the retail out at Wyndhurst is dying on the vine--too much small shop space with no major anchor attractions. Only the restaurants and a few services will survive out there. I feel sorry for all the people who tried to build a business out there. They would have been much better off on Wards Road or in the Boonsboro area centers.
Home prices seen steady to rising but the highend may be glutted soon. Lots of $400K+ mcmansions all over the west side. Some good values in new townhomes for first time buyers.

I came home feeling very good about our investment in Lynchburg. We also were able to rent out our house in just two days at a higher rent ($1200) than we were getting.

Ohh, based on the poll we tried Vinny's. Not a fan at all.

[BrysOn_G]

just out of curiosity, what was wrong at vinnys?

i know they have bad service around lunchtime for some reason, but besides that, i think it's good.

i actually think la villa is my new favorite italian place in the area. i haven't had a chance to try enough at ledo's to give it my vote.

[badger74]

Pasta dish was overcooked and heavily oversauced with one of the worst marinara sauces I have tasted outside of a can. Dull soft garlic bread. My veal dish was Ok but paled greatly from the same dish I had later that week at Isabella's. Like a D+ vs an A.

[LUconn]

just out of curiosity, what was wrong at vinnys?

What you are looking for in an Italian joint:




What badger expects:

[Sly Fox]

Thanks for the outside observations, badger. I agree wholeheartedly with the Wyndhurst observations. These comminities have really had a tough time getting retail to work. Folks who don't live in the neighborhood don't find it convenient to drive into the center of a development to shop when its not far to traditional options. Restaurants and social offerings seem to do best.

As for Vinny's, I enjoyed my one visit last year. But just about any restaurant can have a bad day. Unless you are talking about the Boathouse in Cincy.

As for housing market, just watching from the outside it looks like the build-out has outpaced the demand. That accounts for a normal market correction. Its tough to find many places where that's not case nationwide right now. Frankly the 'Burg seems to be avoiding the bust much better than most of the larger Commonwealth markets.

[SuperJon]

Lynchburg isn't "avoiding" the bust. It just hasn't reached us yet.


The area we live in reacts to the Florida and Texas markets about 6-8 months after what happens in those markets. If you want to know what's going to happen down the line in our area, watch those other areas.


That's my free advice for the day.

[Sly Fox]

We've had no bust at all in Houston (unlike our brothers up in DFW). But I see your point.

[SuperJon]

No one's really had the bust yet. It's coming. Right now the bubble's just leaking.

[Fumblerooskies]

No one's really had the bust yet. It's coming. Right now the bubble's just leaking.

Silicone?

[SuperJon]

Possibly.


Actually, let me change what I said. The bubble in the Myrtle Beach condo/townhouse market burst big time.

[El Scorcho]

As for housing market, just watching from the outside it looks like the build-out has outpaced the demand. That accounts for a normal market correction. Its tough to find many places where that's not case nationwide right now. Frankly the 'Burg seems to be avoiding the bust much better than most of the larger Commonwealth markets.

I haven't seen this at all. Frankly, we know a lot of people who are building new homes just because they can't find what they're looking for in Lynchburg. I have three friends who are builders and none of them have seen a slowdown in business yet. I'm not saying it's not coming here, I just haven't seen it yet.

[Sly Fox]

I could be dead wrong but I am basing my observations on the new home inventory that is sitting on the market and not moving. With interest rates remaining low new homes remain a solid value relatively speaking. I just get the impression that it is a buyers market at the moment.

[SuperJon]

Builders charged more than houses were worth for the past two or three years. Those people who bought those houses, in say 2002, are now selling their houses. They can't get what they bought them for in some cases (Lynchburg isn't at this point yet), thus new housing sales either sitting on the market (can't get financing because comparable sales don't back up the price) or the prices dropping big time.

[Chris Lang]

Lynchburg will never be a legitimate city until a freaking Chipotle or Qdoba arrives.

[Hold My Own]

Took my annual trip back and saw more new development than I ever could have imagined. Some cool new restaurants including the Starlight Cafe and and the new wine and small plate place on Main Street downtown (name??) Also checked out the City Lofts apartments downtown. Very cool and good value for the $$$. The tiff over the proposed shopping center out on Boonsboro was red hot. I am in the anti camp and think a very good townhome development should go on that site. Had very good dinners at Isabella's and out at the Tea Room in Sedalia. Both were packed so business is good. The new wine bar place was also full with a hip looking crowd. I think the Burg is turning the tide and is getting a critical mass of cool spots going on.
OTOH the retail out at Wyndhurst is dying on the vine--too much small shop space with no major anchor attractions. Only the restaurants and a few services will survive out there. I feel sorry for all the people who tried to build a business out there. They would have been much better off on Wards Road or in the Boonsboro area centers.
Home prices seen steady to rising but the highend may be glutted soon. Lots of $400K+ mcmansions all over the west side. Some good values in new townhomes for first time buyers.

I came home feeling very good about our investment in Lynchburg. We also were able to rent out our house in just two days at a higher rent ($1200) than we were getting.

Ohh, based on the poll we tried Vinny's. Not a fan at all.

Those are great observations. Your also correct about Wyndhurst, I personally know several people who put their lives on the line only to have empty promises (about who will and will not be there i.e. more than one salon, boutique, etc) but it wasnt in writing and they cant really do anything except close up shop. I hear rumors that there are several unhappy business owners who seem to be rallying together.

That Tea Room you mentioned, was that Millstone tea room? Oh and I think the small plate place you were talking about is called "dish" I havent tried it out yet but have heard good things.


PS. Lang I have tried to get a Baja Fresh here

[Sly Fox]

Lynchburg will never be a legitimate city until a freaking Chipotle or Qdoba arrives.

Or better yet, a Freebirds.

[badger74]

Yes, The Millstone Tea Room. Dish was the place I could not think of. I hope these new places continue to grow and prosper.
I live in a large planned community out here in Seattle area and we have about 3,000 units. The retail area is less than one-half the size of Wyndhurst's and several of them are in trouble or have closed within a couple of years. Our income level is much higher too which would aid retailers. Being a small business in a development is not easy as you get little outside traffic.

[ALUmnus]

or also, an Andy's: http://www.andyscheesesteaks.com/

[TIMSCAR20]

Builders charged more than houses were worth for the past two or three years. Those people who bought those houses, in say 2002, are now selling their houses. They can't get what they bought them for in some cases (Lynchburg isn't at this point yet), thus new housing sales either sitting on the market (can't get financing because comparable sales don't back up the price) or the prices dropping big time.

Well we bought our house in 2003 and sold it for substantially more than we paid for it a little over 3 years later but I think we were the exception rather than the rule. We also sold our house in less than 2 months which is unheard of right now in what I perceive and my realtor perceives as a buyer's market. Our neighborhood was Boxwood and there were 11 houses there for sale when ours was on the market and I believe 10 are still on the market. Several have lowered their price due to a lack of activity. I would say Lynchburg is in a buyer's market right now but no bubble burst just yet. Lynchburg never had the big upswing in prices to begin with as compared to Northern VA though so the fall out or bubble burst may not be as bad.

[TIMSCAR20]

just out of curiosity, what was wrong at vinnys?

i know they have bad service around lunchtime for some reason, but besides that, i think it's good.

i actually think la villa is my new favorite italian place in the area. i haven't had a chance to try enough at ledo's to give it my vote.

Vinny's in Lynchburg can be spotty in terms of quality of food. They have 4 here in Richmond now and I have been to 3 of them I think and they are all pretty good. It does depend on what you get there though.

[Hold My Own]

Yes, The Millstone Tea Room. Dish was the place I could not think of. I hope these new places continue to grow and prosper.
I live in a large planned community out here in Seattle area and we have about 3,000 units. The retail area is less than one-half the size of Wyndhurst's and several of them are in trouble or have closed within a couple of years. Our income level is much higher too which would aid retailers. Being a small business in a development is not easy as you get little outside traffic.

I've been many places throughout the country but IMO my favorite meals come from Millstone tea room but due to the $$$$ it's simply a special occasion type meal.

[bbrothers224]

Lynchburg will never be a legitimate city until a freaking Chipotle or Qdoba arrives.

We have around 3-5 Chipotle spots and will soon have 2 Qdoba (or is that Qdobi?) here in the Richmond area.

Peace,
BB

[Chris Lang]

Lynchburg will never be a legitimate city until a freaking Chipotle or Qdoba arrives.

We have around 3-5 Chipotle spots and will soon have 2 Qdoba (or is that Qdobi?) here in the Richmond area.

Peace,
BB

I know, I went to the one in Midlothian on the way back from the State Open Sunday.