Here’s a recycling fact to ponder: Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours — or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.

The letter:

February 1, 2012
Honorable Dwight C. Jones Office of the Mayor
900 East Broad Street, Suite 201 Richmond, Virginia 23219
Re: Opposition to Proposed 2nd Street Connector

The Sierra Club Falls of the James group would like to express our many concerns regarding the recent proposed riverfront development just west of downtown. In particular, we see several issues with the proposed “2nd Street connector road.”

Lack of Amenities for Bicyclists and Pedestrians
First, we share the concerns expressed by neighborhood and bicycle groups about the lack of bicycle lanes and pedestrian features in plans for this development. It is absolutely hypocritical for the City to declare itself “bicycle-friendly” while creating a new roadway in its downtown riverfront without these measures. This sends all the wrong signals as the 2015 World Road Cycling Championship approaches.

Disrespect for Historic Context
Secondly, we are very interested in protecting the historic features of the Kanawah Canal that this proposed roadway will bisect. The canal, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is of great historical significance to the City of Richmond. It was first development of the city. Samuel Pleasants Parsons, a noted abolitionist, whose home (built in 1819) survives at 601 Spring Street, was the Superintendent of the Canal in 1840 when the Canal was expanded westward to Lynchburg. From about 1850 to 1875, John Messler ran a canal boat building enterprise in the Penitentiary Basin. Messler had a short walk from his home the Jacob House (which survives at 619 W. Cary Street) to the canal basin. Based on these facts alone, we believe that any construction in the area should be preceded by careful archeological investigation. All of the historic images of Richmond’s Kanawha Canal emphasize how important this area is to the City’s identity, and it deserves better than the typical corporate campus driveway treatment.

Environmental Degradation and Canal Boat Impasse
Thirdly, in addition to the history of the canal, its natural aspects also bring up important environmental concerns. Putting a paved road over the canal and so close to the river will have a significant effect on stormwater runoff in the area. With the James River Park so close by, any development of this area will have an adverse effect on the environment. We understand that the land above the canal area is ready for development, but the canal area itself is not. While much of the land for this proposed road may be on private property now, for the City to accept its donation under these circumstances is not proper environmental stewardship.
Moreover, we are listening to Jack Pearsall, who has served with the Historic Richmond Foundation and City planning committees and who has championed the canal as a transportation alternative. He has raised red flags with regard to how this proposed road will meet the historic canal. He has estimated that the culvert would be about 12 feet high with only about 6 feet of clearance if water flow were restored. That means typical canal boats would not be able to pass.
In a recent Richmond Times Dispatch article, Mr. Pearsall was quoted as saying, “The purpose of the canal is to float boats. If we’re going to float boats on this canal, they’ve got to be able to pass this constriction.”

Disregard for Possible Alternative Future Uses
We also note public support for this restored canal concept. There was support for it twenty years ago, and support for it was again expressed at the recent public riverfront planning meetings. Planning for the canal might be a question of whether the chicken or the egg comes first. At first the canal might be seem to be mostly for tourist boats up to Maymont and an extension of the history tour on the canal downstream; but some day the larger culture may see the benefit of and begin to use “water taxi” for transporting commuters downtown or to the slip, and eventually it may be functionally necessary again for commercial forms of traffic moving up the river. Navigable water is wisely being mapped with an eye on the future value to the state and municipalities as real estate. The movement to open and protect blue-ways is focused especially on keeping a cap on the scale of expansion or commercialization. Re-opening the canal must also be designed within the context of supporting conservation easements to prevent sale of any segments of James River Park.
We might say to ourselves that that little canal would have to be expanded to carry significant traffic once again, yet we must also look at the canal as it is: an existing option that we protect with foresight now while we have the chance, in preparation for the time it might need to be pressed into service because of a lack of resources for the kinds of massive infrastructure projects that we in our time are temporarily fortunate enough to consider ordinary.

Exacerbated Traffic Problems
Finally, we share concerns expressed by neighborhood groups with regard to traffic and further riverfront development. We recall our opposition, along with that of over a dozen other neighborhood and environmental groups, to Dominion Power’s Special Use Permit for its headquarters building on the riverfront. At the time, traffic was brought up as a chief concern, and Dominion assured City Council that existing roadways could serve the additional traffic created by its development. Now ten years later, Dominion is insisting on this new road while at the same time saying it has no plans for new development “at this time.” Oregon Hill neighborhood residents have made it clear there already are problems with additional traffic coming from the 195 expressway onto Idlewood Avenue that would be exacerbated by the 2nd Street connector. The City Department of Planning has not delineated the necessity of this road for emergency access.
In summary, the Sierra Club Falls of the James Group does not see the purpose of this road, and more pointedly, we are opposed to its current planning for the reasons set out above. We are not totally opposed to development in the area, but what has been suggested so far in regard to the Kanawha Canal and the 2nd Street Connector is not acceptable. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter with you.

Sincerely,
Adele MacLean, Co-Chair

Cc: City Council, Planning Commission

The Times Dispatch is now reporting that Jewell has failed to account for his fundraising.

From the article:

While he said he doesn’t plan to make it an issue, Gammino said Jewell’s “inability to file election campaign disclosures and reports speaks to his organizational skills or lack thereof, and his transparency, or lack thereof.”

Gammino said he has been working to build relationships in the district’s South Side precincts, where a challenge by Woodland Heights civic leader Lee Shewmake split the vote in a three-way race with Jewell and Randolph neighborhood businessman Mark Brandon.

Also, don’t forget street cleaning continues, with China Street and other side streets scheduled for cleaning on Thursday.

It should be an interesting meeting. There is sort of a delayed holiday party (attendees are asked to bring finger food) and delayed election of officers. The buyer of the Victory Rug building has said he will attend as well as Councilperson Marty Jewell. And then there may also be more parking permit discussion…..

Despite this, the City should be starting street cleaning with the west side of S. Laurel Street tomorrow. Beware, cars should be towed, as some blocks should really get cleaned of fallen leaves.

All Richmond Residents are invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT The Honorable E. Martin “Marty” Jewell, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Central 5th District, will hold an Occupy Richmond Community Forum at Richmond City Hall on Friday night.

The purpose of the meeting is to have an open forum for members of Occupy Richmond, a self-described economic and human rights movement, to express their concerns. This event is free and open to the public and all Richmond Residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

WHEN Friday, January 20, 2012

6:00-8:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond City Council Chambers

Richmond City Hall

900 E. Broad Street, 2nd Floor

Richmond, Virginia 23219

WHO The Honorable E. Martin “Marty” Jewell, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Central 5th District

CONTACT For more information, please contact Councilman Marty Jewell,

Richmond City Council, Central 5th District, at 804.646.5724 (tel); or

marty.jewell@richmondgov.com (email).

Here’s the latest, including a solution for the General Assembly in the form of HB 657:

Virginia’s “voluntary” renewable portfolio standard is voluntary for utilities, but it’s mandatory for ratepayers. Utilities charge citizens for the energy they buy to meet the goals, and then they get to charge citizens again for their bonus under the law. The idea behind the law was to incentivize utilities to buy renewable energy, but utilities have treated it as an entitlement program for their shareholders and are doing the minimum possible to earn their profit.

Everyone thought the 2007 law setting up the renewable energy incentives would result in Virginia-made wind and solar energy. That hasn’t happened, and yet utilities are collecting their full bonus amounts just as if they had made a real effort.

Dominion Power ran advertisements in 2010 claiming they were building wind farms “to power Virginia’s energy future.” Those ads misled everyone into assuming they were doing just that. But they have built no wind farms in Virginia.

Dominion talks a good game about renewable energy, but the reality came out in its rate case this fall, when it had to reveal the energy sources it was using to meet Virginia’s renewable energy goals. Almost all of it consists of old conventional hydroelectric plants from dams. None of it comes from projects built after 2000, and none of it is wind or solar.

Legislators should support HB 657 (Rust), the RPS reform bill, in its current form, including the provisions for Virginia-made wind and solar energy. If the final bill does not incentivize wind and solar in Virginia, the RPS law should be repealed rather than charging ratepayers millions of dollars extra.

The Virginia-made requirement makes sure that the ratepayers who are paying for the renewable energy are getting the benefits of it. Building wind and solar energy in Virginia is important to create new jobs here for Virginia’s young people, to increase energy supply without adding air pollution, and to give Virginia a stake in these fast-growing industries.

First meeting of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force to be held

First meeting of this important Task Force

WHAT The first meeting of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force will be held. The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System. This first meeting will serve as an organizational and planning session to develop a work plan for the Task Force. The meeting is free and open to the public and all citizens are invited and encouraged to attend.

WHEN Thursday, 12 January 2012
4:00-6:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Police Academy
1202 W. Graham Road, Room 247
Richmond, Virginia 23220 (In Richmond’s Northside)
Free Parking is located in front of the building.

WHO Members of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force

CONTACT For more information, please contact The Honorable Bruce W. Tyler, Councilman, Richmond City Council, West End 1st District,
at 804.357.6007; or bruce.tyler@richmondgov.com.

Background ____________________________________________________________________________

Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force
Richmond City Council established the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force on September 27, 2010 by Richmond City Council Ordinance No. 2010-173-166.

The objective of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force is to provide a report to Council within in a year of its first meeting which recommends the following:

1. Any legislation, plans, policies, and programs that promote efficient mass transit in the city;

2. Economic development, economic growth, employment and tourism strategies that include public transportation; and,

3. Public relations and education programs to increase public use of mass transit.
The Task Force shall also work with interested private organizations to improve the service and efficiency of the GRTC.
- E N D -

A few other points of information-

Oregon Hill’s bus route that came down to China Street was eliminated over a year ago, though you may still see bus stop signs in the neighborhood.

According to transportation application Abogo, the transportation cost for an average household in Oregon Hill is $629/month vs. a regional average of $844. While transportation CO2 impact for an average Oregon Hill household is 0.29 metric tons/month vs. a regional average of 0.78 metric tons.

The RVA Green roadmap for Sustainability, updated as of last month, has some recommendations for GRTC on its last few pages.

Excerpt:

The Richmond Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a final design for the estimated $1.3 million Second Street Connector despite concerns that the culvert may be too small to allow boats to pass if water flow could someday be restored to the canal.

“The purpose of the canal is to float boats. If we’re going to float boats on this canal, they’ve got to be able to pass this constriction,” said Jack Pearsall, who is trying to reignite interest in restoring a functional canal system stretching from Great Shiplock Park to Maymont.

Pearsall, who served on a Historic Richmond Foundation committee that studied the idea more than 20 years ago, estimated that the culvert would be about 12 feet high with only about 6 feet of clearance if water flow were restored. That means typical canal boats wouldn’t be able to pass, he said.

Meanwhile, C. Wayne Taylor has compiled some very interesting images of the canal area on his blog. They are well worth checking out. If nothing else, they give some perspective on how important this area has been to Richmond’s identity over the decades.

Which vision will City Council and City government ultimately align with, the citizens’ desire for a working, refurbished canal or another corporate driveway? Who does the City work for?

RICHMOND, VA (Jan. 5, 2012) . . . Richmond Animal Care & Control, the city of Richmond public animal shelter, welcomes the new year with an all‐out effort to find more loving homes for shelter pets than ever before! Volunteers are needed to assist with a variety of activities including cat and dog adoptions held on Saturdays throughout the city. Foster homes for cats and dogs are also needed. All volunteers must be at least 18 years old. For details, please contact Paula Ritter, outreach coordinator, at Paula.ritter@richmondgov.com.
Adoption hours are Tuesday – Friday, 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, noon until 4:00 p.m. The shelter is located at 1600 Chamberlayne Avenue in northside/ downtown Richmond. All pets are spayed and vaccinated. Pets available for adoption may be seen online at www.richmondgov.com/animals. The shelter adoption phone number is 804‐646‐5575.
Donations of blankets, towels, pet beds, kitten food, baby food, peanut butter and toys for cats and dogs are always needed.

He has started asking some very pertinent questions and has come to the conclusion that, despite what local officials may or may not say, Dominion Resources’ riverfront SUP has legally expired:

In 2001, City Council approved a special use permit for the Dominion Resources headquarters on Tredegar Street. The permit increased the maximum allowed building heights within a sloping “envelope” that extended from 60 feet above ground level to 160 feet above ground level.
Under the terms of the permit, it would automatically expire if certain conditions were not met. The city maintains that the conditions were met and that the permit is “still valid.”
The facts indicate that the permit expired. The property owner failed to meet the deadline for using the special use permit. The development that occurred on the property complied with the zoning regulations and did not require the special use permit.

Look for Dominion to try to quietly go behind the scenes and change things to their advantage. After all, this is what they do. And continue to do.

And don’t look for the local corporate media to cover it, after all, this is what they they won’t do. Why is it up to this little neighborhood community news site to mention the local connection to the MF Global story, where a former United States Congressperson and Governor “doesn’t know” where over a billion dollars went?

Citizens, remain vigilant!

From Richmond.com

From Richmond Magazine

From HillsandHeights.org

One tidbit I received from a City employee who was there was that the new canal bridge is tentatively scheduled for installation for January 2.

CITY OF RICHMOND Riverfront Plan

The Department of Planning and Development Review invites members of the public to attend the third Public Forum on the Richmond Riverfront Plan:

Tuesday, December 13, 2011
6:00 pm
Virginia War Memorial
621 South Belvidere

The Consultant Team from Hargreaves Associates will present a draft plan that outlines the overall design concept for Richmond’s riverfront, followed by an opportunity for public comment. The draft plan will describe public realm improvements, emphasizing pedestrian and bike connections, transportation corridors, and identification of anticipated future private development, with a prioritized plan for implementation.

The presentations from the first and second forums are available on the Department of Planning and Development Review’s webpage on the City website at www.richmondgov.com

Parking is available at the Virginia War Memorial, the adjacent Virginia Housing Development Authority, and along Second Street.

For more information contact
James Hill, City of Richmond
Telephone: (804) 646-7552
E-mail: James.Hill@richmondgov.com

How about Oregon Hill’s 195 overpass/bridges? Would we want to similar improvements? Or should we hold out for a bigger project to cover the 195 expressway completely, making the “highway” a tunnel and reclaim the space above?

Click here for a pdf of the new playground plan.

After this portion is completed, the committee can look at locations for new tree plantings.

Although the MPACT meeting for November has been changed, the Fourth Precinct Community Assisted Public Safety (CAPS) meeting will be held:

Date: November 17, 2011

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Place: Linwood Holton Elementary School

1600 W Laburnum Ave

Our Fourth Precinct team would like to take this opportunity to hear your CAPS concerns and get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the 17th.

Although there has been some talk of moving the voting place for the precinct, it will remain at the Landmark Theater. For more voter information, contact the Virginia State Board of Elections. See you at the polls this Tuesday.

Dear Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association,

The City of Richmond Stormwater Utility is actively trying to join forces with neighborhood associations throughout the City in order to educate our community about illegal or illicit discharges to storm drains which often connect directly to local waterways and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

An illegal discharge is defined as any discharge into a storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater or uncontaminated ground water. Sources of illegal discharges can be spills or dumping of lawn or garden chemicals, pet waste, vehicle fluids, leaky vehicles or machinery, leaking gas and oil tanks, leaking sanitary sewer lines, failing septic systems, floor drains and basement sumps.

We are hoping to submit a short piece for inclusion in your newsletter and/or website that discusses illegal discharges and the effect they have on local waterways. If you are interested, please let us know the format that works best for you and the approximate number of people your civic association serves.

The City of Richmond is committed to being environmentally responsible and hopes to work with your group on this very important issue.

Sincerely,

John A. Allen

Environmental Technician II
Richmond DPU
O: 804.646.6698
M: 804.314.5844
john.allen@richmondgov.com

Hopefully folks enjoyed the trick or treating and great Halloween parade. Its a good time to pick up any litter on your sidewalk and in your alley before the first snow arrives.

Also, from the City:

RICHMOND, Va – The first cycle of the city’s annual Vacuum Leaf Collection Program is
set to begin on Monday, November 14. The schedule is as follows:
…
Maymont/Byrd Park/Oregon Hill/Carillon November 28 – December 2

Midtown to Midriver Greenway Enhancement
North Bank Trail over Kanawha Canal
Pedestrian Bridge Replacement
CIP No. 0401308908-8915
September 20, 2010
Procurement number IFB J11114-1
$259,450.00
http://richmondvaprocurementawards.blogspot.com/2011/10/ifb-j11114-1-mid-town-to-mid-river.html

The city of Richmond has selected a contractor to construct a pedestrian bridge across Kanawha Canal. The pedestrian bridge will be located underneath the Lee Bridge. The cost of the bridge is $259,450.00.

He goes on to say:

If the Kanawha Canal is ever restored and used, the pedestrian bridge will restrict overhead access on the canal. Allowing two feet for the depth of water, the overhead clearance in the center of the canal will be approximately 5.8 feet.

The question is, what will it mean for future riverfront development? OHNA originally asked for a rounded bridge that would allow canal boats to eventually return. We were told that type bridge would be too expensive, but our concerns would be taken into consideration. The fact that we are getting a flat bridge should not be a surprise (even if it is disappointing).

http://www.oregonhill.net/2009/09/14/canal-bridge-plans/

excerpt from the Sept 19, 2009 post link above:

Officially the project is called the “North Bank Trail Pedestrian Bridge Replacement”, and what its really about is a new bridge that will cross the historic Kanawha Canal near the Lee Bridge and enable pedestrians to make their way to the James River Park. The flat bridge will be placed so that it can be raised easily later to accommodate canal development and possibly the return of canal boats. The money for this is coming from greenway grants that the neighborhood association previously applied for and won.

In the alleys that have been paved, residents have experienced more cars speeding and more rain runoff. In the alleys still with gravel, giant potholes, huge ruts, and spillover into streets (as in the picture below on the 500 block of S. Cherry) develop.

Things have recently come a head in the 100 blocks above the expressway (wryly known as the Oregon Heights) and have been discussed a bit on the City’s SeeClickFix system.

Excerpts:

There is a huge ditch created by water run off from the rain in the alley between s pine st rva and s laurel st. the ditch is about 1ft deep and approx 1.5ft wide and about 15- 20 ft long , this is big enough to swallow small cars tires and get them stuck, many times me and my roommates have gotten stuck trying to get in and out of our driveway due to this ditch running down the middle of the alley. Since this problem was recently fixed in aug and has happened again we believe that this alley should be paved just like green alley and surround alleys.

Issue Acknowledged
This request has been received and submitted to DPW Roadway Division via City Works #131859 – rgm10/24/2011
…
Regarding pedestrians. I am afraid that by paving the alley, cars will speed through it. Since it is heavily used, there is potential for disaster.
…
Something definantly needs to be done. I own 122 S. Laurel and when I went to see my tenants, my tire got caught in the “ditch” and the underside of my car scraped bottom, causing damage to my muffler. This needs more than to be filled with gravel, as all of that has washed away in the rain. It needs to either be graded and more gravel put down, or graded and paved. With all of the run off going thru that alley, I think paving would be most effective. I am not quite sure how paving would be dangerous to pedestrians, as Nancy has said, but I know that the ditch is currently a danger to both walkers and drivers. It is very dangerous to pedestrians and damaging to vehicles.
…
I don’t agree with paving, since it is a wide alley and could become dangerous to pedestrians, but perhaps grading it and ensure the drainage is correct.
…
This alley that is on the west side of Pine Street and runs north and south is a huge reoccuring problem. The city of Richmond needs to regrade again and then pave it. It is run off water from Pine Court I and Pine Court II that comes from when it rains. It also has a huge run off from the buildings on the corner of Pine and Cary that were newly developed as well as the one at Belvidere and Cary. Since there are now paved areas and buildings that go almost lot line to lot line it is creating a huge problem for the preexisting buildings and streets that now flood like a river. This alley needs to be paved as it is a heavily traveled alley and the water is constantly eroding it.It runs from 122 south Pine at Cumberland all the way north to green alley. Thank you!!!!

Some editorial:

The City of Richmond now has a stormwater utility. This is exactly the sort of issue that the fees collected from that utility should go to. I have pointed again and again to what other cities are doing with green, permeable paving that creates safe surfaces while allowing rain water to go to ground. Chicago has a whole Green Alley program (not to be confused with Oregon Hill’s Green Alley). Where is Richmond’s Green Alley program?

In my personal opinion, citizens should settle for nothing less than this type of attention for Oregon Hill alleys. After all, the cobblestones, the original, green alley surfaces, were taken from us. And as VCU and other developers have encroached, we have seen more and more stormwater problems. The neighborhood, and “The Heights” portion in particular, deserve better infrastructure attention. And in the bigger picture, every neighborhood in Richmond deserves beautiful green alleys.