From Richmond Police:
4th Precinct
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
10/10/13 – 10/11/13 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
700 block of Cumberland Street
An unknown person(s) broke into the vehicle and stole loose change.
Theft From Vehicle on Cumberland
Reply
Author Archives: Scott
Idlewood Roundabout Project Receives Funding From VCU
This ordinance was passed by City Council last night:
Ord. No. 2013-209 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept $250,000 from Virginia Commonwealth University and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works’ Traffic Calming/Idlewood Roundabout project in the Transportation category by $250,000 for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Idlewood Avenue, Grayland Avenue and an off ramp from the Downtown Expressway.
Times Dispatch Editorial Offers Compromise in Theater Controversy
The ‘top opinion’ in today’s Times Dispatch contained this:
The alternative of confining the amphitheater to space below the canal has considerable appeal, and we endorse it. It is our choice.
Todd Woodson, a longtime officer of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, made this comment in response:
Thoughtful and equitable. If Venture Richmond made the concessions of restricting the amphitheater to BELOW the canal with use of the facility to only the Folk Festival and River Rocks, not disturbing the canal’s infrastructure and leaving the upper area as a considerate buffer to the war memorial and the residents of Oregon Hill, I believe progress could be made. The attitude that its “your plan or this here Folk Festival gets it!” has caused extensive loss of trust in VR amongst city community and fosters fears that the plan as you envision it establishes the facility as a cash cow- renting to all comers- not good. It’s the upper part that is not zoned for an amphitheater anyway. It’s in EVERYBODY’S best interest to be good neighbors and to do what’s right. The Tredegar wall gets rebuilt, the discussion can begin in earnest on restoring this wonderful canal. VR saves money by not butchering the canal infrastructure. There are some smart people in the city that can help make the grand canal renovation happen. Venture Richmond?
More Folk Festival!
Pictures of the Folk Festival from the last two days-
Two
Four
Six
Theater Controversy On Channel 6
Click here for the story on Channel 6.
Well, this could have been a lot better, but it was certainly better than some previous coverage. It did not mention the historic Kanawha Canal (and how Venture Richmond’s canal history is WRONG), and still gave the mistaken impression it’s all about the Folk Festival (it’s not!), but at least it did acknowledge opposition. Thanks to our Overlook neighbor Nancy for appearing and making the case for reason.
Rainy Night At The Folk Festival
Last night reminded me a bit of the opening night of the National Folk Festival in 2005. Back then, no one knew what to expect, and I found myself in the rain with, no lie, about 10 people, watching some Bulgarian jazz. Thankfully, as we know, more Richmonders caught on to the festival, the weather improved, and the National Folk Festival moved on a few years later but the Richmond Folk festival was born.
There was a lot more than 10 people there last night, and I hope more people will attend today and tomorrow as the weather improves. There were a few hiccups last night, with some performers delayed by traffic, but great music was present-
Reggae singer Don Carlos (I was very pleased to see actual horns instead of synthesizers!)
I believe this is Garifuna singer Aurelio Martinez, who played when not all the Stooges Brass Band were available.
Yard Sale Saturday
From Craigslist ad:
10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday – Stop by on the way to the Folk Festival – NO EARLY BIRDS
413 1/2 S Laurel Street
Washburn Acoustic Guitar
Schwinn Hybrid Bicycle
Bicycle Parts
Carbon Fiber Trek bicycle frame
literary fiction/theory
Picnic Basket
Lots of other really random things
Baby stuffrecord albums (some actually good, some ironic)
European designer clothes and shoes,
kitsch tchotchkes from other yard sales,
handmade baby clothes and organic baby stuffs
Remembering Slavery, Resistance, and Freedom Event Saturday
From the Remembering Slavery, Resistance, and Freedom Project:
October 12, 2013 – Community Conversation on African and African American Resistance to Slavery in Richmond, VA
On Saturday, October 12 from 10 AM – 12:30 PM at the William Byrd Community House, Ana Edwards will lead a presentation on two revolutionary African Americans, Gabriel and Lucy Goode Brooks. Following the presentation, Dr. Michael Blakey will facilitate an open dialogue and discussion. What are the stories of resistance that you know and would like to share? What modes of resistance or key figures would you like to learn more about? What do these histories mean to you?
Following a break for lunch after the discussion, Omilade Janine Bell of Elegba Folklore Society will lead a guided walk of the Trail of Enslaved Africans, beginning at 2:30 PM and ending at 6 PM.The flyer for the event is available here. Because of space constraints, we ask attendees to RSVP through Facebook, email (remembering@wm.edu), or phone (757-221-7889).
Hopefully, Robert Pleasants and Samuel Parsons will be mentioned.
Harvie’s Deed Contradicts Venture Richmond’s Flawed History
New documentation from deed research that confirms that the 30 foot wide tow path on the site of Venture Richmond’s proposed amphitheater is authentic and dates from at least 1801.
As documented in Henrico Deed Book 6, page 260, when John Harvie and his wife on June 26, 1801 conveyed to the James River Company his property for the canal and for the upper basin, he reserved the right to fish in the basin and reserved the condition of a “public Road” on the lower side of the canal not more than 30 feet wide from the edge of the water. In this deed, the tow path embankment was referenced as a “Dam” for holding back the water that was to overflow the upper basin.
In this 1801 deed, Harvie and his wife conveyed to the James River Company, “… the following portions or parcels of land, lying and being in the County aforesaid, near James River, that is to say one hundred feet in breadth horizontal measure, of the said land, thro’ which the said Canal passes in the present direction of the said Canal, and which shall not extend more than thirty feet horizontal measure below the lower edge of the water in the said canal for the purpose of a public Road being part of the land purchased by the said John Harris from Samuel Overton, and also all the land which shall be overflowed by means of the Dam or wall of the said Canal …” (Please see attachment, “Henrico DB 6, page 260.”)
This 30 foot wide public access is clearly shown on the 1848 Plat of Harvie’s land. (Please see attachment, “Henrico Plat 3-417.”)
The 1868 Pleasants/Bates map, which shows the Canal company owning a 45 foot property width on the the south bank of the canal, has an inscription in the canal that references this June 26, 1801 Deed: “From John Harvie, strip 100′ wide and ground covered by water of upper basin … Extending from lower Belvidere line to Harvie’s lower line June 26, 1801” (Please see attachment, “1868 Pleasants/Bates map, detail showing 1801 Harvie deed reference.”)
As John Harvie recognized early on, by harnessing the water power available in the canal, there was great potential for industrial development on his land between the canal and the James River. He was a highly respected businessman, who not only was a Director of the James River Company and former Mayor of Richmond, but was one of the original statesmen in the Virginia delegation who ratified the U.S. Constitution. Harvie could command concessions in his sale of land to the James River Company that assured adequate access on the tow path for his industrial interests.
Hopefully, this new deed documentation will end the mistaken effort to alter the south bank of the canal from its authentic 1801 configuration for sight lines for the proposed amphitheater.
Venture Richmond’s “Temporary Events” Should Concern All Richmond Neighborhoods
Is Venture Richmond planning to use the city ordinance that authorizes “temporary events” to circumvent zoning requirements?
Every neighborhood in Richmond should be watching this closely. Venture Richmond is proposing $500,000 in permanent alterations, which would damage the historic James River and Kanawha Canal, for its proposed “Tredegar Green” theater. But the theater is not a permitted use under current zoning. Remember, as reported in yesterday’s post, Jack Berry of Venture Richmond told the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association that “we would probably be open to the idea of renting it.” which is not the same story that was told to the Planning Commission.
In a bizarre twist, the City Planning Commission approved the “location” of the amphitheater although it is not permitted under the zoning, and no re-zoning application has been submitted. Apparently Venture Richmond may be relying on an ordinance, intended for yard sales and other temporary events, to try to force through the project without complying with zoning laws.
If you scroll to the very end of the ordinance below you will find the section on temporary events:
http://eservices.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/clerkstracking/getPDF.asp?NO=2012-234-2013-2
It refers to the definition section of the ordinance, which defines a “temporary event” as four events annually.
At this time, aggrieved neighborhood residents cannot appeal because the zoning administrator will not rule on hypothetical situations, and Venture Richmond received approval for the “location” of the project before applying for a Special Use Permit, re-zoning, or for work permits. If Venture Richmond can receive City permission to implement $500,000 work for “temporary use” of a development not permitted under current zoning, wouldn’t that also allow someone to put in a motorcycle race track in a residential zoning so long as they said they would stage only four “temporary events” a year?
This would truly open Pandora’s Box if any developer could implement any development, not permitted by zoning, by saying they only intended to use it four days a year. (Later, after the damage was done, they probably would say that it was a hardship to only be allowed to use such a facility four days a year.)