[JK37]

Wouldn't this look great across Wards Road with a big red LU on it?

Lynchburg allowing a big, red "LU" would SHOCK ME!

PS-that green is sooo ugly. Just wait til September 10, buddy. And its on national TV!

[badger74]

Thanks for the study link. It tells me overall Lynchburg has a very strong retail sector and draws customers from all over the region. Most cities of L's size have leakage to other cities but L has nearly twice the sales its population and income would indicate. It is unfortuante that L can't annex the development areasgoing south along Wards Road. In most states that type of annexation would be encouraged so that property city services can be provided to the growth area. I guess Virginia law is weird that way.
The pedestrian situation along Wards is not acceptable. What we would do here is set-up a special tax district that would get money from all the local properties and issue bonds backed by that revenue to do proper improvements which could include a bridge or tunnel system. A problem is that people resist using bridges and will rather dodge traffic to cross wihtout walking upstairs to a bridge. You would have to have a cop there writing tickets.

I think Wards Road jumps out as a location because it's the only place in town where three major highways come close together--460, 29 and 501. It allows those from outlying areas like Bedford or Boonsboro or areas to the east of L very quick access. Most days it takes me 15 minutes or so to go from Peakland Place to Wards Road. To me that's perfectly fine--I don't need to be much closer for major shopping trips.

I'll read the entire report later and see if I have any other thoughts.

[Sly Fox]

Great insights, Badger. As someone who needs 30 minutes to get most anywhere in Houston, I agree that Wards Rd. Traffic seems relatively tame.

It should also be noted that a large portion on consumer spending is obviously due to LU's presence.

[ALUmnus]

We can't keep shoving our Lynchburg concerns under the "well it's not as bad as x" category. Things can clearly be made better, and the improvements people are looking for are doable if given the right atmosphere. Who cares what it's like in NoVA or the Triangle or wherever else? Different places have different situations. Sometimes the infrastructure in Lynchburg is laughable, even the newer developments. It can be done better, and should.

[badger74]

IMHO the overall infrastructure in L is fine. The roads are good and generally in much better shape than in many places I visit. Freeways are adequate for a small city too except for the no-look onramps in some spots. Everyone has agrred the pedestrian aspect of Wards Road is not good. And I believe that is being studied. From my view the only major thing L lacks is a good general purpose performance center and a related meeting hall or convention center type space. Obviously the Academy of Arts project would meet the concert hall need. A multi-purpose building around the size of the Vines Center could hold larger shows, small conventions, and various antique, gun, car and other shows. There was some talk of LU basketball being a prime tenant for such a joint project. I'd like it to be a public facility so that some shows that might not be OK for LU could still use it. Talking rock acts and the like. The Salem Civic Center might be a model--they were smart doing it 40 years ago for what seems like peanuts today.

http://www.salemciviccenter.com/