Belvidere Street Pedestrian Features Scheduled

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Scott

From Department of Public Works communication:

Traffic Advisory

February 21, 2023

Contact: Lux Aghomo

Office: 804.646.5711

Lane Closure – 601 South Belvidere Street

WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Works (https://twitter.com/DPW_RichmondVA)

WHAT: Lane Closure, Daily

WHEN: Tuesday, February 20 to Saturday, November 16, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: In the 5th Voter District

601 South Belvidere Street between Idlewood Avenue and Rowe Street
BACKGROUND: In the area listed above, the contractor will be installing pedestrian signals and improvements. A single lane will be closed in each direction.

Major Work Underway At S.Pine and Spring

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Scott

Many Oregon Hill residents are thrilled and grateful that the old A&P/Mamma Zu’s building is being renovated and not torn down. Photos courtesy of Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool.

New Brick Sidewalks On S. Laurel Street

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Scott

Residents and visitors alike are enjoying and appreciating new brick sidewalks on the 600 block of S.Laurel. They have been waiting for years, but the work was done in about two months.

Lane Closure – Cary Street and Laurel Street Intersection

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Scott

From City Department of Public Works:

WHAT: Lane Closure, Daily
WHEN: Thursday, October 26 to Monday, October 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: In the 5th Voter District
• The intersection of Cary Street and Laurel Street
BACKGROUND: As a part of the HSIP Pedestrian Improvement at Signalized Intersection project, the contractor will be repairing sections of the concrete sidewalk and placing pavement markings in the intersection listed above. The curb travel lane, sidewalk and median lane may be temporarily closed during this process.

708 China Street Gone

Posted on August 10, 2023 by Scott

Despite the neighborhood efforts, despite the history, 708 China Street was demolished today.

As one resident put it,

Doesn’t it seem, that every time a developer proposes to get a variance. . They achieve their goal, regardless of what the neighborhood desires, or the previous regulation alllows.

William Byrd Renovations

Posted on July 9, 2023 by Scott

City Council Rams Through Casino and Amphitheater Proposals

Posted on June 13, 2023 by Scott

Last night City Council ignored citizen concerns and rammed through two proposals.

From RichmondBizSense.com:

Councilmembers unanimously approved a performance grant agreement for the planned Richmond Amphitheater on the riverfront near Tredegar, and almost unanimously approved ordinances authorizing agreements that set the stage for a potential second referendum in November on Urban One’s proposed casino in South Richmond.

From Virginia Business magazine:

Some residents of the nearby Oregon Hill neighborhood have opposed the venue or sought to delay it, however, saying they were not given adequate input about cutoff times, noise and parking. The venue does not include parking, but as part of its agreement with the city, the amphitheater will be required to submit a parking plan annually to make sure to make sure existing parking is used and that venue attendees are not parking in residential neighborhoods.
“We feel like there’s no reason to rush this through in a week after negotiations have been taking place for probably a full year,” Charles Pool, a representative of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council, told council members during a public comment period Monday.
Stephanie Lynch, who represents Richmond’s 5th district, said a meeting is planned for Tuesday to address remaining recurring concerns about the amphitheater.

Riverfront Amphitheater Plan Augmented With New Temple

Posted on April 1, 2023 by Scott

In the latest news on riverfront development, CoStar, soon to be Richmond’s largest employer, is joining the New Market Corporation to bring an Asian-themed temple to the downtown scene.

The large structure will be constructed along the now destroyed footprint of the canal, next to the planned amphitheater.

The planned temple is being added shortly after local website Richmond Biz-Sense sponsored a March 22nd ticketed event entitled “The Future of the Riverfront”.

That event celebrated a whole “business campus” concept that has been embraced by City planners and administration, Venture Richmond, high-end multi-family housing developers and may others in Richmond’s ‘business community’. It is being driven by CoStar’s giant new high rise building (currently under construction) and their vision – thousands of young and talented workers who will be in the new building and mostly live in the Manchester apartments and condos that have sprouted up across the river. Ideally, no cars will be necessary- workers will walk across the Potterfield bridge to work and/or take a clean shuttle. The business complex will have room for 5 or 6 restaurants/ establishments.

A CoStar employee, who wished to remain anonymous, related that, after the event, “higher-ups became concerned that were neglecting the ‘spiritual development’ of their ‘shachiku‘, so they add temple. They are hoping it will instill more loyalty.”

Whatever the inspiration, the proposed temple is sure to win praise for its beautiful, classical design, and many hope it will offer a quiet retreat from urban life, with a reverence similar to the Virginia War Memorial. Cameras and security patrols will help keep the homeless out and enforce a meditative atmosphere.