The second of the recently announced neighborhood-level Downtown Plan meetings is scheduled for Monday for the VCU, Monroe Ward, Oregon Hill, and Carver areas. The meeting will be at the William Byrd Community House (224 South Cherry Street) tonight from 6-8PM.
Josh Katz at richmond.com visits Mama ‘Zu and says of the service that:
“In all my years, I have never been treated as consistently awful as I have dining at Mamma ‘Zu, and I’ve been to Morocco. Everything, from the dank, subterranean inner ambience (great when trying to read the menu board, let me tell you) to the beyond-brusque attending service to their staunch refusal of every major credit card save American Express, works to make you feel glum.”
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Richmond residents can register to receive free training in basic skills during an emergency as part of winter preparedness as part of Survivor Day training sponsored by the City’s Office of Emergency Management. The four-hour training session in fire safety, first-aid, anti-terrorism and weather response measures will take place from 9AM to 1PM on Saturday, January 5, at the Landmark Theater.
I am troubled by what I am hearing from Pantele these days. It seems like he is playing politics with ADA school settlement/City of the Future money. Both Wilder and Council want to use the issue against each other, rather than solving the issue.
It sounds like the School Board chair, Braxton, is siding with Pantele and Council against Mayor, though that is not helping the schools or students either. Wolf is at least vocal and wants to see ADA solved, but I am not hearing much from our School Board rep, Carr.
If they are looking for “large renovation projects” (because that is what Pantele is insisting on), then Open High could certainly use a ADA elevator addition.
I find it disgusting that the City is giving 50 million to the VaPAF/downtown arts center, but can’t give squat to solve this ADA crisis NOW.
ADA Kids and parents are still suffering needlessly. Is the City waiting until they sue again? What’s it going to take, the National Guard, just like in Little Rock?
Proposal:
Fix up Open. Energy audit, put solar on the roof and make it part of the science curriculum, add ADA elevator and other needed items. Bring in Community High program from West End to Grace Arents building THOUGH keep Community High and Open High programs separate (keep good teacher/student ratio), Make sure at least some of the money from sale of Community High building sale goes back into school system (do NOT let developers have all the profits), Maintain Community and Open High’s building and standards (hello local media, they just won NATIONAL RECOGNITION!). Do NOT let Trani and VCU decide the future of Open High, but hopefully keep allowing Open/Community students attend some college classes. Bring in more community gardening and park service projects.
I would like to hear other suggestions.
For more info, contact Patty Parks at librarian@wbch.org or 643-2717.