More On VCU’s Illegal Sign In Monroe Park

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Scott

From email about the sign (see earlier picture by clicking here):

Dear Members of the Urban Design Committee,

Please allow me to express the profound horror felt by myself and many members of the community over your recent consensus to recommend approval of a huge metal VCU Billboard encroachment in the sidewalk right of way adjacent to the intersection of Belvidere and West Main streets. I have attached a picture of the sign as it was installed- by mistake within the park property.

Even when positioned on the sidewalk location recommended by your committee, this sign obstructs historic sight lines through Monroe Park and is inconsistent with the Monroe Park Master Plan as adopted by the city.

The Monroe Park Advisory Council labored for 8 years coming up with an exciting and comprehensive Master Plan to implement an historically sensitive renovation which will return the Park, which is Richmond’s oldest and most historic park, to the jewel it should be. The city has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in consultant fees as well as in crafting construction documents. Your bad recommendation undermines all of this hard work and capital expenditure.

The manner in which you came to your conclusion is especially troubling. Not only were stakeholders, to include the Monroe Park Advisory Council and the neighborhood associations adjoining the park not advised of the vote in advance, but neither was city council. The neighborhoods that surround and use this park will be severely impacted by this ugly and huge metal billboard encroachment. Furthermore, since you opted not to meet in August, the minutes of the July 3, 2013 meeting in which you arrived at your recommendation were not voted for approval and consequently not placed on your website. This left the stakeholders totally in the dark and created a fete accompli for VCU and this wretched sign. For all intents and purposes, this huge billboard incorrectly “brands” Monroe Park as a VCU Facility. As guardians of aesthetic matters in the city, I just can’t imagine what you were thinking when you recommended approval for this huge billboard encroachment.

VCU participated in the design and supported the final draft of the Monroe Park Master Plan. By submitting the application which is inconsistent with the Master Plan, they are again engaging in ethically questionable behavior. Oregon Hill and other nearby neighborhoods have suffered at the hand of the VCU administration through unbridled encroachment during the Trani years and obviously again now that Rao is president.

In closing, I find the way that this issue was handled by the UDC to be the exact opposite of transparent government. I sincerely hope that city council will investigate and make recommendations limiting the scope of responsibility of the Urban Design Committee if not completely redefining the body. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

Sincerely,

Charles T. Woodson

This week at Byrd House Market!

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Scott

New Vendors!

Ted & Kirsten’s Excellent Adventure – bagels served with fresh ingredients expands our prepared food offerings.

Margy’s Comforts Home Bakery brings breads, rolls, and other savories to your table along with Pleased to Be Crafting crocheted hats, bags, and accessories.

And don’t forget the noodles, spring rolls, sweet potato rolls, butter, honey, berries, peaches, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, chanterelles, shiitakes, portobellos and crimini, the cool cucumbers, riron-rich beets and melons and okra, green beans, leeks, creamy yogurt, cold milk and refreshing kefir, sausages, roasts, fryers, bacon, chops, tenerloins and soup bones…
Pets and Peeps Day

http://dogtownlounge.blogspot.com/

Mugsy
“Returning Raw Foods to Pets” by Mugsy’s Dogtown Lounge

At 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30, Mugsy will show and tell why raw foods are important (and natural) to your dog’s and cat’s health and well being.

Visiting Nonprofit:

Artmaking with Virginia Center for Latin American Art includes an exhibit on the Bus: Helen Ruiz paintings, 3:30 – 5 pm

The Peeps: HandOn Teen Impact Farm to Plate Day Camp – 10 teens on hand to help set up the market, tour the farmlet, do a scavenger hunt and shop the market!

Live Music courtesy of the Blue Lotus Collective

and much more at byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com
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Ana Edwards, Manager
Byrd House Market & Library Programs
Grace Arents Library & Education Center
William Byrd Community House
www.wbch.org / 804.643.2717 ext.306

VCU Taking Over Monroe Park?

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Scott

Sometime over the last few days, VCU erected this large metal sign within the boundaries of city property.

Holmberg On The Rope Swing

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Scott

WTVR reporter Mark Holmberg did a nice little piece on the Tredegar Street rope swing. Here’s how it begins:

It’s just a missing rope swing. One that goes missing from time to time.
And yet, it’s an identifiable part of the cityscape, a Richmond tradition, if you will, every bit as evocative as the smell of Shockoe Bottom or the vista atop Sunset Hill where Grace Street surrenders for a clifflike block.
At least two generations and mayhaps more have loved this rope swing hanging high from the railroad trestle between Brown and Belle islands on historic Tredegar Street. It’s about 40 feet above the mighty James River, which offers a mostly friendly little eddy – with a deluxe sandy bottom – to embrace the tens of thousands of laughing, splashing swingers.

He goes on to say that although no one admits to cutting down the swing, it does happen from time to time and then returns.

Main Street Library Street Party On Saturday

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Scott

JRA Volunteer Opportunities

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Scott

From email:

There are several volunteer opportunities across the watershed to come out and help the James River. If you are interested in any of the events below, just let me know.

August 17: The Tire-Less James
Volunteers are needed to remove tires — and only tires — from the James River between Lynchburg and Richmond during the first Tire-less James Event. We recommend that you wear work gloves and closed toe shoes. Canoe or john boats are best. We are encouraging as many groups as possible to choose James River State Park (Dixon Landing) to Wingina (5.5 miles), there will be multiple historic James River batteaux on site to help carry out tires from this section. Groups can look at available sections and register online. http://www.jrava.org/get-involved/volunteer/tire-less-james

September 14, 9am-1pm: JRAC Cleanup
Join hundreds of volunteers across the James River watershed to clean up trash. Select from 15 different sites from Lynchburg to Newport News. Look at available sites and register online. Help with recycling is needed at the Reedy Creek site that JRA sponsors. http://www.jrac-va.org/events/cleanup/

September 21, 9:30 am – Noon: Rain Garden Maintenance and Cleanup
Help with weeding, planting, and mulching of several rain gardens. All tools will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Meet in the parking lot behind Advance Auto, 6300 W Broad Street, Richmond. Pre-registration is required. To register, please contact Amber Ellis at 804-788-8811 ext 205 or volunteer(at)jrava.org.

September 22, Richmond Splash & Dash
The James River Splash & Dash is a competitive tube race which takes place near Richmond’s Belle Isle. After the race, JRA hosts an after party that includes a live music and food. Volunteers are needed for various tasks that day including registration, race marshals, and set up. http://www.jrava.org/splash-and-dash/richmond/index

Amber Ellis
Watershed Restoration Associate
James River Association
9 South 12th Street, 4th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
Tel: (804) 788.8811 ext.205
Email: aellis(at)jrava.org
www.jrava.org

Landmark Organ Controversy

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Scott

WTVR is reporting on a controversy regarding the Landmark (isn’t it the Altria Theater now?) Theater’s organ.

Recently the antique Wurlitzer organ that Lunde once played upon was disconnected and stored away. There are only about two dozen of its kind left in the country.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Lunde.
The controversy over the Wurlitzer began last summer. Lunde says renovation management at the Landmark wanted to remove the organ, he claims he was told to open up a few additional theater seats.
After outrage from organ enthusiasts worldwide, city council assured Richmonders that the organ would not be moved. Lunde and others felt relief, that is until this week.
“They cut the voice out of the organ because you can’t play it,” said Lunde.
Just last week after Lunde got a tip from a friend, he went to the Landmark theater and found the cable to the organ cut, cement poured where the playing console used to be and the instrument resting amid a construction site.
“It’s a trust issue,” said City Councilman Parker Agelasto.
He and Council President Charles Samuels were called on the issue and began asking questions. Samuels was told by the administration that the approval for removal came from Richmond CAO Byron Marshall, who was at the time unaware of the organ controversy.

As one neighbor wrote to our Councilperson, “The Administration needs a good talking to on destroying historic resources…A very unnerving pattern has been unfortunately established…”

But honestly, is anyone surprised by this, given what has gone on? What’s next? Center Stage asking for a percentage of every pint sold to fix the organ?

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Scott

This Wednesday is a red Wednesday, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. They do not belong on the sidewalk after tomorrow night. In recycling news, Colonial Heights doubles recycling, saves $250,000 with cart changes.

Officials in Colonial Heights, Va., say they made the right choice when they switched to smaller 68-gallon trash carts and gave every household a 96-gallon recycling cart to begin using July 1, 2012, instead of the standard bin.

A year later, the city’s 17,000 residents recycled an additional 540 tons of materials, and conversely, sent 506 fewer tons of waste to the landfill. At the same time, participation in curbside recycling doubled to 61% of the estimated 6,700 households.

In addition, Colonial Heights saved $250,000 in operating costs that now will be spent to restore a unique old baseball stadium, upgrade the public safety communication system and buy new playground equipment. Bigger savings are expected in future years because there won’t be any start-up costs.

Residents and businesses also benefited from a recycling rewards program. Every time residents put out their recycling cart, they earn points that can be redeemed for coupons, free appetizers and the like at 32 shops and restaurants. The commercial partners reported an extra $18,000 in new business.

“It was a perfect storm of things,” City Manager Tom Mattis said, adding that it all began at contract renewal time for waste hauling. “We were looking for ways to do more, to do better. We wondered what’s possible to save money. That was the core of it early on but in the end that quickly married up with recognizing an opportunity to enhance recycling and be a leader.”

Dueling Maps of the Towpath

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Scott

Venture Richmond Director Jack Berry gave a presentation on the proposed amphitheater at the July meeting of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association. One the main assertions Berry made was that the tow path on the south bank of the canal was only 12 feet wide until it was enlarged in the 1880s to make way for the railroad. He wants to remove over half of the tow path on the south bank of the canal, from 25 to 12 feet to improve the sight lines of the the proposed amphitheater.

Disproving Berry’s assertion is the 1848 plat of Lewis Harvie’s property on file at the Henrico Courthouse (Plat 3-417), which is far more detailed than the Morgan map cited by Berry. This plat is of such detail that it actually gives the dimension of the tow path as being 30 ft. wide at the location of what is now Venture Richmond’s proposed amphitheater. (See measurement on the attached Henrico Plat below the word “Path” to the left of the “House.”) The east-west street above the canal is the same width as the tow path and is also labeled “30 feet wide.”

This 1848 Henrico plat establishes that the towpath was at least as wide as it is today during the canal’s primary period of significance, and long before the railroad purchased the right-of-way on the canal bank. This canal was carefully engineered with an impermeable “puddled” clay layer that would be irreparably damaged if half of the south canal bank is removed.

First Tuesday at Byrd House Market!

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Scott

From email announcement:

It’s National Farmers Market Week!
August 4 – 10, 2013
Visit one! Visit Ours! Did you know that Virginia is in the top ten states for number of farmers markets? We are tied with Missouri with 246 markets listed in the USDA Farmers Market Database for 2013. Click here to read the USDA press release. Byrd House Market and all the other wonderful markets in the Richmond area only work because you shop them! Thank all the farmers, gardeners, growers, food makers and their families for bringing you such amazing things! Tell them what you love about what they do for you and Your Neighborhood Farmers Market!

Demo: “What’s In a Ham?” by Salt Pork

“the OTHER white meat” ” Find out what makes ham taste so good, especially when in the hands of someone who knows. How do you eat yours? Bill will share the wheres and whyfores of delicious ham making and eating. At the Salt Pork tent at 4pm and 5pm.

Live Music courtesy of the Blue Lotus Collective

Artmaking with VACLAA, 3:30 – 5 pm (See their current exhibit by artist Helene Ruiz)

Storytelling by Caroline, 4:00 – 5 pm

Facepainting by Madeline, 4:30 – 6:30 pm

Bike Rack located by the Square Byrd House Market Sign all market day!

Water for Pets available too!

Chair Massage

William Byrd community House is enrolling 4-year-olds for the fall Head Start and Early Childhood Education programs. Must be potty trained! Call 804-643-2717 for details.
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