The last time i was in Petersburg was over 30 years ago it was a vibrant little city. I wish this young man a properous healthy life he is someone to remember and watch.
We have to support the movement he has done his homework and made some calls. I have called several council members about similar issues. I think its time this goes to the evening News! What are they doing when the come to work? We need to hold them Accountable!
I heard a couple years ago that there was some super shady stuff being done with grants for restoration of a lot of the old homes and buildings, some people were given grant money with the sole intention that that money was to be used to restore Victorian homes and revitalize buildings. Rumor mill stated some people got multiple approved grant money for several properties and never spent the money on those properties. With zero accountability or checks and balances in place to ensure the money was used properly - rumor was the whole system was corrupt.
I remember when that hotel was open in the late 90’s. I went to VSU during the late 90’s and unfortunately Petersburg has been plagued by corruption, from the Superintendent of schools to the local governance. I substitute taught at Peabody during the late 90’s. A lot of student teachers from VSU were allowed to teach there. Totally sad. Great video, keep up the good work.
Great interview. I was born and raised in that beautiful city. So much can be done to make it great again. Change for the city needs to be made from the top down. Research how the residents are charge astronomical amounts for water and trash pick up. How the local waste facility was shut down due to nonpayment from the city. Research how the residents can rarely get in touch with city officials to get answers. Funding going into the pockets of officials for outlandish vacations. Lots more to this story other than abandoned falling down buildings. I hope you continue to shed the light young man.
Hi Mary Beth, I also grew up in Petersburg.. I went to Peabody Middle school that he talked about. Really sad. It was still great when I graduated in 1976. The residents are charged so much water/trash/personal property bc where else is Petersburg gonna get any revenue. And like the other person said, it been a lot of corruption I’m Petersburg city.
First Petersburg needs to fix the crime and clean up the city. Civil war was big in the city but they won’t capitalize on it? Tourism brings the money in but people need to feel safe in the city. The people would come if they feel safe. I go to Petersburg to a couple of the restaurants but in the day. I will not got there during the night. They need good leaders . Start with one project at a time and have fun raisers for the city. You have to have motivated leaders.
It's pure corruption and they need to voted out of office. I lived in Petersburg years ago, and still have family living there. High taxes and water bills is the reason a lot of people move away from Petersburg. They didn't fight to keep Brown and Williams or the luggage company.
So many what ifs, so many possibilities, too little initiative. Concerned citizens and visionary leaders are often silenced in Petersburg. Unity is essential. This video is prime to start revival fires in the heart of viewers. May it reach every city resident past, present, and future. Excellent historical material that many are unaware.
I grew up in Petersburg(Da Burg) and I’m aware of all of these places. The hotel is the old Ramada Hotel. I watched it deteriorate over the years(I’m almost 38). I went to Peabody in the 8th grade. My grandmother graduated from the school when it was a high school. I stood up in a city council meeting telling them it shouldn’t just be knocked down because it’s black history. That was 2016. It’s still sitting there. I’m 2016 or 17, Petersburg was ranked the worst city to raise a family in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Just sad to watch this.....
Go check out Upper Appomattox Street around the corner from where he shot this, there was a train that once ran through there next to the road, and theres also Battersea, the old plantation, where in the 1930s, my mother and aunts played on the grounds with the other neighborhood kids. Go see Blandford Cemetery, too. Lots of antique buildings and houses dating way way back in the Petersburg.
Im from Chesterfield,VA i used to go to that hotel back in the early 90's to swim, i have suggestions to make that hotel worth something to be used for.. In door gardening, homeless shelter, youth center
After you left the old motel, you went to a "complex" building, that is on Commerce Street, right? Near Upper Appomattox Street? That and the other building across the green are of course old factories. Over 100 yrs old. I had ancestors who worked in those buildings. My mother grew up right there, lived right there across the street, where the parking lot is now. I really want to see somebody save this grand old town! I hope that YOU will run for city supervisor or manager. Get your foot in the door in Petersburg government and please do something to shake up that city and get it going in the right direction again! I love Petersburg. It needs help so bad! Great video!
This was a good video, a lot of people from Petersburg just have a lack of information about this type stuff or we just are not directly affected and care enough if the city doesn’t, it does need to be some changes still 🙏🏽💯
This video is amazing. We are battling several blighted properties (and city apathy) in the Manassas Park area of Northern Virginia currently. Your video is an inspiration. ☺👍👍
I tried to motivate the Mayor and fellow community leaders to take actions. I tried to motivate residents for four years in the Petersburg High School area as well as the greater Petersburg Area. No one would listen and join me so I'm done.
As far as how it got to that point: I was told that years later after the hotel was shut down, they were trying sell it & Fort Lee got involved, with promises of turning it into their b&q for incoming soldiers. Just for them to turn around and build a 1000 room hotel on base. Nothing happened after that blow.
Petersburg needs to turn one of these abanded buildings or even a house in the city and turn it into a homeless shelter...I live in the city and I ride through downtown and see people sleeping on church steps at the bus station and know might what gas station u stop at u have people standing outside asking for change
@Travis The Maximus I've been seeing them too...the hotel they was staying at the city shut it down til they can get up to code and I guess they don't have any where else to go..not sure why they just don't go to another hotel
I grew up in petersburg and lately my love for this old city has re-emerged. There are outside investers putting alot of effort and money into the rebirth of petersburg and its rich rich history. If only city leaders cared as much. I want to get involved but id have to move back there first and as it stands, theres no way in hell I'd raise my kids or expect them to go to school there. Also, titmus never dealt in tobacco. They made eyeglass frames and lenses. Also, peabody has been gladiator school since the 70's.
I’m worried their solution the gov will take will be to sell to outside investors who will gentrify the people out, like what’s happened all over Richmond
That is why people do not invest in Petersburg. They do not want to be told they are pricing out the locals. Have you ever heard of a city becoming safer, with better schools and more places to work without the cost of living also increasing?
I've been through this city. The homeless population is in serious need. Stayed a week could only find one meal a day. With no shelter the homeless use vacant buildings for shelter
The peabody building that is falling down was inoperative and unable to reopen when i went to school there in the late 90's. I think its full of asbestos
Marcus, I'm curious has anything changed for the buildings in this video since Stuart Turille Jr became city manager? I know he has not been city manager for long, but I was curious.
I think people keep calling it a town bc the only videos I’ve ever seen on TH-cam are of the run-down/hood/ghetto areas. Petersburg is a city of almost 34,000 people….
Why did such use/residents of properties vacate? Are there no historic preservation guidelines to be followed? Why the heck did the city spend so much to just let things fall to neglect? I am a Kansan and just shocked by all of this! I always assumed Virginia was kept up due to its historic value...and cost of living.
I am as well, I came from a small county where a shed was considered historic and they would take great effort to save it, I moved to Petersburg and saw colonial homes falling into the ground and was shocked, which is why I am advocating for this city.
I purchased 107 north jefferson street in 2010 and tried to fix it up and make it nice. I ended up in court. I swear that city is at war with itself. I sold all my homes there. I'm thinking about moving back in because I think this real estate market may be what gets the Berg where it needs to be.
They don't care, I tried my best to improved my community cutting grass and removing trash off the street and yet fellow residents refused to do anything. They don't care about thier city or community . I'm so glad to have left this city of disaster.
That zeiss building is on the same street as my old house 💀 honest to god I thought I was going to see it, it’s so awful (disclaimer that my parents owned the house and wouldn’t upkeep, I tried my best but I could only do so much with not being able to actually repair the house, and no one having any motivation. Would have loved to keep the house but my mom sold it because she couldn’t handle the citations from the city)
Peabody school wasn't fixed all the way up when I attended. That school should've been fixed up so the kids wouldn't be crowded in Vernon John school that school to small for 6,7,and 8th grade
If I could give you 10 thumbs up I would! As a teacher this made me sick that this pressure was being done to students and teachers. How can anyone effectively learn or teach? Environment and safety are important elements to students.
I wonder if your video, suddenly influenced Petersburg’s decision to demolish this abandonment. It was on today’s local news and Richmond Times Dispatch.
The depo is actually being renovated as of last year- it’s actually very nice now. I’m confused at this video- I did pictures of this area and they don’t look anything like this. But I will agree that the city has miss managed restoration grant money and there is most likely shady money management going on. It’s sad because historic old town is absolutely beautiful and revitalization is needed so badly for the area. With recent new restaurants and an influx of new businesses in the area, it’s a start, but so much more is needed to save historic buildings and preserve the history of that community.
Not it is not, they just had funding approved for the Depot, yes the city has been stabilizing parts of it or removing asbestos, but it is currently far from being renovated.
I wish you’d understand that it takes money to destroy a building. So do we take 100k to destroy a building or use the money to help the community? You only see one side and not the other side.
Petersburg used to be a beautiful city Brown and Williamson was there- people had great paying jobs- and democrats ran every company out with high taxes- maybe one day democrats can figure out taxing people to death does not create anything but despair! You need non government business to create jobs and good income for its citizens!
The Republicans had this situation in their hands for years. Why didn’t they do something about those buildings that are empty and just barely holding up (Hotels, Titmus, Luggage, Pepsi, Coke Cola) just to name a few.
Cool job but please disable this comment section. It's full of venom and politics and very little constructive. The last thing our city needs is divisiveness over such a universal issue. Residents care but what are they to do w/ their own problems taking precedent?
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The city government is problem.
It really is, and they don't want to solve the issues, but they want to ignore the issues and act like they do not exist.
The last time i was in Petersburg was over 30 years ago it was a vibrant little city. I wish this young man a properous healthy life he is someone to remember and watch.
I'm from Petersburg, left in 1986
Did you live in Kennelworth
We have to support the movement he has done his homework and made some calls. I have called several council members about similar issues. I think its time this goes to the evening News! What are they doing when the come to work? We need to hold them Accountable!
I heard a couple years ago that there was some super shady stuff being done with grants for restoration of a lot of the old homes and buildings, some people were given grant money with the sole intention that that money was to be used to restore Victorian homes and revitalize buildings. Rumor mill stated some people got multiple approved grant money for several properties and never spent the money on those properties. With zero accountability or checks and balances in place to ensure the money was used properly - rumor was the whole system was corrupt.
I will sign a petition to get this started. Lets do this!
I remember when that hotel was open in the late 90’s. I went to VSU during the late 90’s and unfortunately Petersburg has been plagued by corruption, from the Superintendent of schools to the local governance. I substitute taught at Peabody during the late 90’s. A lot of student teachers from VSU were allowed to teach there. Totally sad. Great video, keep up the good work.
Get rid of current city officials and the town may have a chance!
Great interview. I was born and raised in that beautiful city. So much can be done to make it great again. Change for the city needs to be made from the top down.
Research how the residents are charge astronomical amounts for water and trash pick up. How the local waste facility was shut down due to nonpayment from the city. Research how the residents can rarely get in touch with city officials to get answers. Funding going into the pockets of officials for outlandish vacations. Lots more to this story other than abandoned falling down buildings. I hope you continue to shed the light young man.
Hi Mary Beth, I also grew up in Petersburg.. I went to Peabody Middle school that he talked about. Really sad. It was still great when I graduated in 1976. The residents are charged so much water/trash/personal property bc where else is Petersburg gonna get any revenue. And like the other person said, it been a lot of corruption I’m Petersburg city.
Hello MaryBeth, those were the good old days.Hope you are doing well.
What is needed in Petersburg, Va is new management.
Thank you for addressing this
That hotel needs to be burned 🔥
First Petersburg needs to fix the crime and clean up the city. Civil war was big in the city but they won’t capitalize on it? Tourism brings the money in but people need to feel safe in the city. The people would come if they feel safe. I go to Petersburg to a couple of the restaurants but in the day. I will not got there during the night. They need good leaders . Start with one project at a time and have fun raisers for the city. You have to have motivated leaders.
Tell Petersburg to stop stealing stuffing pockets
It's pure corruption and they need to voted out of office. I lived in Petersburg years ago, and still have family living there. High taxes and water bills is the reason a lot of people move away from Petersburg. They didn't fight to keep Brown and Williams or the luggage company.
places you walking to I hate walking in the area I'll be so glad when people start speaking about the truth City
So many what ifs, so many possibilities, too little initiative. Concerned citizens and visionary leaders are often silenced in Petersburg. Unity is essential. This video is prime to start revival fires in the heart of viewers. May it reach every city resident past, present, and future. Excellent historical material that many are unaware.
That is what happens and they are trying to do it right now to me!
Amen #StandingInTheGap
You should be a mayor of Petersburg, I know you would do anything to save this city and you seems perfect fit for this position.
. Great video man. It’s a travesty what happening to those beautiful buildings
Missed brown and Williams tobacco company 😪 being there
i believe that's being used for housing soon.
I grew up in Petersburg(Da Burg) and I’m aware of all of these places. The hotel is the old Ramada Hotel. I watched it deteriorate over the years(I’m almost 38). I went to Peabody in the 8th grade. My grandmother graduated from the school when it was a high school. I stood up in a city council meeting telling them it shouldn’t just be knocked down because it’s black history. That was 2016. It’s still sitting there. I’m 2016 or 17, Petersburg was ranked the worst city to raise a family in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Just sad to watch this.....
People hate history.
Yours and mine.
Don't forget Brown and Williamson's left
Thank you for all you do to help bring the truth to the people!
I’ve lived here almost 4 years and didn’t know half of these places existed. You’ve got my attention!
Go check out Upper Appomattox Street around the corner from where he shot this, there was a train that once ran through there next to the road, and theres also Battersea, the old plantation, where in the 1930s, my mother and aunts played on the grounds with the other neighborhood kids. Go see Blandford Cemetery, too. Lots of antique buildings and houses dating way way back in the Petersburg.
Im from Chesterfield,VA i used to go to that hotel back in the early 90's to swim, i have suggestions to make that hotel worth something to be used for.. In door gardening, homeless shelter, youth center
After you left the old motel, you went to a "complex" building, that is on Commerce Street, right? Near Upper Appomattox Street? That and the other building across the green are of course old factories. Over 100 yrs old. I had ancestors who worked in those buildings. My mother grew up right there, lived right there across the street, where the parking lot is now. I really want to see somebody save this grand old town! I hope that YOU will run for city supervisor or manager. Get your foot in the door in Petersburg government and please do something to shake up that city and get it going in the right direction again! I love Petersburg. It needs help so bad! Great video!
This was a good video, a lot of people from Petersburg just have a lack of information about this type stuff or we just are not directly affected and care enough if the city doesn’t, it does need to be some changes still 🙏🏽💯
This is so sad to watch.
This video is amazing. We are battling several blighted properties (and city apathy) in the Manassas Park area of Northern Virginia currently. Your video is an inspiration. ☺👍👍
Thank you!
I tried to motivate the Mayor and fellow community leaders to take actions. I tried to motivate residents for four years in the Petersburg High School area as well as the greater Petersburg Area. No one would listen and join me so I'm done.
As far as how it got to that point: I was told that years later after the hotel was shut down, they were trying sell it & Fort Lee got involved, with promises of turning it into their b&q for incoming soldiers. Just for them to turn around and build a 1000 room hotel on base. Nothing happened after that blow.
All them old buildings are a black eye...to much history for it to look this way!!
That’s because they stole all the money what happened to the 19 million dollar fica gave them
Petersburg needs to turn one of these abanded buildings or even a house in the city and turn it into a homeless shelter...I live in the city and I ride through downtown and see people sleeping on church steps at the bus station and know might what gas station u stop at u have people standing outside asking for change
@Travis The Maximus I've been seeing them too...the hotel they was staying at the city shut it down til they can get up to code and I guess they don't have any where else to go..not sure why they just don't go to another hotel
I grew up in petersburg and lately my love for this old city has re-emerged. There are outside investers putting alot of effort and money into the rebirth of petersburg and its rich rich history. If only city leaders cared as much. I want to get involved but id have to move back there first and as it stands, theres no way in hell I'd raise my kids or expect them to go to school there.
Also, titmus never dealt in tobacco. They made eyeglass frames and lenses.
Also, peabody has been gladiator school since the 70's.
I did too Billy
I live in Petersburg and pass this almost everyday I hate that they left it to become like this instead of turning it into something else
I’m worried their solution the gov will take will be to sell to outside investors who will gentrify the people out, like what’s happened all over Richmond
That is why people do not invest in Petersburg. They do not want to be told they are pricing out the locals. Have you ever heard of a city becoming safer, with better schools and more places to work without the cost of living also increasing?
A Maker's Space in one of these old warehouses would bring innovation and design ideas to the city.
I've been through this city. The homeless population is in serious need. Stayed a week could only find one meal a day.
With no shelter the homeless use vacant buildings for shelter
How much to buy the whole town?
It’s not a “town”… it’s an independent city of 34,000 people…
Ramada was brand new back in the 70’s. What happen?
40 years happened.
@@rheeryder2524 My house was built in 1971 so that’s 50 years old . It doesn’t look like that ?
Never knew we had an underground system
I love this video so much! Major knowledge provide ! Hopefully this will strike some type of change.
Thank you I hope so!
The peabody building that is falling down was inoperative and unable to reopen when i went to school there in the late 90's. I think its full of asbestos
I went to the middle school and then Peabody for a week. Moved to Walnut Hill, then ent to Tidewater Academy in Wakefield Va
Wasn't Joe Morrissey's campaign based on the blight?
I think your awesome and a urban pioneer your the future this city will come around
Thank you!
I am from petersburg but have not lived there for years my dad was the first black sheriff there it makes me sick to see the city like this
it is very sad, hopefully good times are coming!
Thank you for doing this video.
You are so inspiring Marcus!
thank you!
Marcus, I'm curious has anything changed for the buildings in this video since Stuart Turille Jr became city manager? I know he has not been city manager for long, but I was curious.
nope
Marcus you did a great job!!!
thank you!
You were right that hotel got demolished
I remember going to coin shows at that hotel as a kid.
I think people keep calling it a town bc the only videos I’ve ever seen on TH-cam are of the run-down/hood/ghetto areas. Petersburg is a city of almost 34,000 people….
Like Richmond, Petersburg the whole City is a blight. Who wants to visit or live there. It has to survive on grants?
I started in the first grade at AP Hill. We lived a 2 or 3 blocks away down Custer Street.
very cool!
Why did such use/residents of properties vacate? Are there no historic preservation guidelines to be followed? Why the heck did the city spend so much to just let things fall to neglect?
I am a Kansan and just shocked by all of this! I always assumed Virginia was kept up due to its historic value...and cost of living.
I am as well, I came from a small county where a shed was considered historic and they would take great effort to save it, I moved to Petersburg and saw colonial homes falling into the ground and was shocked, which is why I am advocating for this city.
I purchased 107 north jefferson street in 2010 and tried to fix it up and make it nice. I ended up in court. I swear that city is at war with itself. I sold all my homes there. I'm thinking about moving back in because I think this real estate market may be what gets the Berg where it needs to be.
I would never have sold that place, that area is all being redone now, the rundown homes go for six figures in that area now.
They don't care, I tried my best to improved my community cutting grass and removing trash off the street and yet fellow residents refused to do anything. They don't care about thier city or community . I'm so glad to have left this city of disaster.
I heard talks that they were going to turn that old hotel into a Casino/Eatery/Shopping center but I guess that was a lie lol
I moved to Tulsa Oklahoma and it's like this too nobody cares about anything other than their own pockets
it is sad!
Marcus! When is the council going to lock up these abandoned schools?
Petersburg use to be so nice. What is going on Petersburg?
That zeiss building is on the same street as my old house 💀 honest to god I thought I was going to see it, it’s so awful
(disclaimer that my parents owned the house and wouldn’t upkeep, I tried my best but I could only do so much with not being able to actually repair the house, and no one having any motivation. Would have loved to keep the house but my mom sold it because she couldn’t handle the citations from the city)
Why is the City of Petersburg buying all these buildings and then not restoring them? Does the city get some type of tax write offs?
That is a good question!
If they only would keep a good roof on these buildings they would last.
Peabody school wasn't fixed all the way up when I attended. That school should've been fixed up so the kids wouldn't be crowded in Vernon John school that school to small for 6,7,and 8th grade
If I could give you 10 thumbs up I would! As a teacher this made me sick that this pressure was being done to students and teachers. How can anyone effectively learn or teach? Environment and safety are important elements to students.
Now what?
Blight ?... Petersburg has had blight for at least 79 years. I was born there in 1943 and lived in the area until 1979...
wow, very interesting!
I wonder if your video, suddenly influenced Petersburg’s decision to demolish this abandonment. It was on today’s local news and Richmond Times Dispatch.
Those council membets dont care
Tear it down. Do not waist any more taxpayers money on this mismanaged city.
They put the money in their pockets ..
That seems to be the case.
Bulldoze the F***ing building. The structure is too far gone. This would not occur in most cities, including my hometown of Las Vegas
The depo is actually being renovated as of last year- it’s actually very nice now. I’m confused at this video- I did pictures of this area and they don’t look anything like this. But I will agree that the city has miss managed restoration grant money and there is most likely shady money management going on. It’s sad because historic old town is absolutely beautiful and revitalization is needed so badly for the area. With recent new restaurants and an influx of new businesses in the area, it’s a start, but so much more is needed to save historic buildings and preserve the history of that community.
Not it is not, they just had funding approved for the Depot, yes the city has been stabilizing parts of it or removing asbestos, but it is currently far from being renovated.
it used to be a nice hotel
They going to make apts out of the building
I wish you’d understand that it takes money to destroy a building. So do we take 100k to destroy a building or use the money to help the community? You only see one side and not the other side.
You don’t own the city, it owns you.
Petersburg used to be a beautiful city Brown and Williamson was there- people had great paying jobs- and democrats ran every company out with high taxes- maybe one day democrats can figure out taxing people to death does not create anything but despair! You need non government business to create jobs and good income for its citizens!
Its gone now
Hey you around? Can you do an update with community information like demographics violence etc #VisionaryLeader #StandingInTheGap
sure I will look into doing that -
petersburg doesnt have the $
Very true the state has to step in!
The Republicans had this situation in their hands for years. Why didn’t they do something about those buildings that are empty and just barely holding up (Hotels, Titmus, Luggage, Pepsi, Coke Cola) just to name a few.
Z Eyes = Zeiss
Cool job but please disable this comment section. It's full of venom and politics and very little constructive. The last thing our city needs is divisiveness over such a universal issue. Residents care but what are they to do w/ their own problems taking precedent?
I do not censor Americans!
That's a Democrat special kinda place