I want the evidence cited that Austin and Portland have "lost all charm and weirdness".

Unless the landscape in both those cities is nothing but Chilis and other chains and no active local bands or other groups in the arts I don't really know how much the city has irrevocably changed vs. the natural cycle of businesses which are hard to operate long term.

There are plenty of places in Richmond I miss but there also lots of new places that are exciting to see.