Despite OHNA’s opposition, VCU demolished 917 Green Alley (the historic livery stable in back of the Cary St. Gym at 911 W. Cary Street) today.

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association started doing first Saturday workdays about four years ago and OHNA Co-President Josh Irwin has done a great job keeping it alive with the litter pickups. We worked on Belvidere and the Greenway this morning. I hope to see more neighbors volunteering in the future.

The next meeting of the Sierra Club’s Falls of the James group will feature city officials to discuss recent flooding (hello Battery Park!), rate fee changes, and how well the utility is actually addressing water quality and stormwater runoff. The City has already held public meetings in various locations but this will give another chance to citizens to learn and question proposed changes in how Richmond manages H2O.

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The December 2007 report for Sector 413 (PDF) from Lieutenant Lisa Drew is now available.

I just put together a new flickr site with my first photo set being a series of OH streetscapes from 1965 and those same shots recreated today. The link is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22652858@N07/ Enjoy, Greg

The current draft of the Downtown Plan will be up for a public hearing at 6:30PM Tuesday in City Council Chambers at City Hall. The plan has seen very positive public support so far, with some developers expressing concern about the plan’s vision for some riverfront parcels. The plan covers Manchester and “the Broad Street corridor, including the Jackson Ward and Carver neighborhoods; VCU and adjoining neighborhoods, including Oregon Hill, Gamble’s Hill and Monroe Ward; City Center, which incorporates the central office district, VCU Medical Center, Virginia Biotechnology Research Park and the State Capitol; the James River, which has become a focal point of preservation and development; and Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom”. [via]

Due to ongoing issues with car theft in the area, residents of the 4th Precinct can get a free anti-car theft device “The Club”. To get yours, bring your vehicle registration to the 4th Precinct office at 107 South 5th Street. Call (804) 646-4105 before coming to make sure an officer is there to help you. [via]

Clary Carleton at Open High School was one of three Richmond Public Schools teachers recently awarded the prestigious National Board Certification, a program offered through the nonprofit National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Program participants must develop a school-site portfolio of student work samples, videotaped lessons and reflective commentaries, and also pass test questions that demonstrate their subject matter knowledge. The program takes one to two school years and requires an additional 200-400 hours of preparation. [via]

ACORN, in partnership with the Library of Virginia, will present Uncovering the History of Your House, a Seminar in Researching the History of Homes on Saturday January 26th, from 9AM to 12:30PM at the Library of Virginia (800 E. Broad Street).

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I have posted volume II of the OH then and now series. This set focuses on the changing landscape of the northernmost portion of the neighborhood, most of which is long gone. It’s best to click on the OH now and then set and watch it as a slideshow, as I have the current and former pictures arranged, back to back. The link is once again: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deadrichmond/

Thanks, greg

The City of Richmond Planning Commission invites property owners and interested members of the public to continue the discussion on the Draft Downtown Master Plan at neighborhood-oriented meetings. There are 6 meetings scheduled for Manchester, VCU/Monroe Ward/Carver/Oregon Hill, Shockoe, Broad Street & Jackson Ward, James River, and City Center.

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ACORN’s 5th Annual Susan Carter Williams Memorial Seminar, Researching the History of Your House, this morning at the Library of Virginia included the presentations Architectural Eras, Styles and House Types by Kim Chen , Your Historic Property: Detective Work at the Library of Virginia by Vince Brooks, Resources available at your Main Public Library by Harriet Henderson, Property Record Evidence at the John Marshall Courthouse by Michael Dodson, and Uncovering Clues at the Valentine Richmond History Center by Meg Glass.

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The 2008 real estate assessments are now available online.