Alec Depcrynski has taken one of his trademark "Better Know a District" strolls through the Hull Street corridor of Manchester and declared it "the most run-down commercial strip in Richmond." Hull Street certainly has that reputation, but Depcrynski doesn't rely on anecdotes. After pounding the pavement, has the numbers. As he reports for Richmond BizSense:

There are 118 buildings in all. Fifty-seven hold operating businesses. Six are empty, For Rent signs were up in 23 buildings, and eight were in some stage of construction / renovation. The remaining 24 buildings were clearly owned, but had locked doors and the lights out – all non-operating business.

Add it all up, and only 48 percent of the buildings have operating businesses. But the district may have bottomed out, Depcrynski reports. Business owners profess optimism. The City of Richmond is building a new courthouse, a former tobacco factory is being converted into condos, and a number of smaller renovation projects are taking place. Meanwhile, in place of the old Blackwell public housing project, the city is building 540 housing units, both rental and single family dwellings.