Category Archives: community

Mayor Wants To Take Away Park Land For ‘Affordable Housing’

Posted on by
3

Mayor Stoney’s Biennial Real Estate Strategies Plan wants to use city land to promote affordable housing development and affordable homeownership.
To that end, it proposes taking City-owned parcels to the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust (MWCLT) for the development of affordable homes.

It is including at least two parcels in Oregon Hill’s Samuel Parsons Park in this proposal.

(and least people think this just about Oregon Hill, the Biennial Estate Strategies Plan also identifies other city park lands such as 1800 Maplewood in the Randolph neighborhood and 1901-1905 Conrad Street in the East End as building sites.)

Neighbors, understandably, are very upset. But so far, either the Mayor’s office, other City officials, the media, and the Mayor’s challengers in the election are ignorant of the proposal or don’t care.

Of course, many neighbors believe in and support affordable housing, and have done so historically in Oregon Hill and elsewhere.

But this proposal is bringing up bad memories from when other parts of the park were built on due to City government’s (and in particular, the Planning Department’s) ineptitude and callousness.

It’s part of the utter disregard for established neighborhood plans and the neighborhood’s dream for a Belvidere greenway.

Neighbors can’t help but see this as part of a coordinated attack on the Oregon Hill neighborhood in conjunction with the disastrous Richmond300 plan. If they were not aware of the target lines being drawn on the community before, they are becoming aware now.

Scenes From OHNA Meeting Tonight

Posted on by
Reply

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association met earlier this evening in Pleasants Park. Attendees for the most part kept socially distant and wore masks.

School board candidates Jenny Aghomo, Stephanie Rizzi and Dr. Decardra Jackson spoke.

Councilperson Stephanie Lynch also spoke.

In responding to a question about the Richmond 300 planning, residents were grateful to hear Lynch re-affirm her commitment to changing the future land use designation of Oregon Hill to RESIDENTIAL in the Richmond 300 plan.

Councilperson Lynch is holding a virtual 5th district meeting this Thursday.

Proposed Solar Project Violates Covenant

Posted on by
Reply

Dominion Energy has proposed to construct a solar array on top of the parking garage at its ‘Tredegar Campus’.

Some residents have received a letter from Dominion dated September 17, 2020 stating their intention to add up to 20 feet in height to the parking deck below Oregon Hill for a solar array.

While most Oregon Hill residents are probably in support of Dominion going solar, this appears to violate the “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” that was signed by by Dominion in 2001.

From Laurel Street resident Charles Pool:

Dear Mr. Sarfo-Kantanka, Dominion External Affairs Manager
According to the information provided on your website, the proposed solar collector on top of the existing parking deck at the Dominion headquarters on Tredegar street would rise to 108 feet in height. This is in clear violation of the “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” that Dominion signed in 2001.
According to this “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants”, Dominion agreed to limit the building heights to 65′ in this location where the parking deck is located. (Please see the attached “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” with the attached plat.)
As you know, we have one of the most famous and noteworthy views of the James River at the fall line from Oregon Hill park. Dominion has already obscured some of this view with their new trading building and older tower.
Some of us remember the battle in 2000 with Dominion to protect our view. As stated in the attached article by Michael Paul Williams: “Now, people in Oregon Hill worry that Dominion, having kept its riverfront property off limits, will ultimately block or mar the river view beyond its boundaries. The property belongs to Dominion. But the river belongs to all of us. Who gets priority? It depends on your point of view.”
While we probably all support solar power, this small number of panels could be put anywhere and it is not necessary to violate the “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” to put them in one of the state’s most important views.
Please let us know if Dominion will respect the “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” that you signed in 2001.
Sincerely,
Charles Pool

Morning Photos

Posted on by
Reply

Morning sun coming through the trees on S. Laurel.

Skyline at Spring and S. Laurel

Spring Street squirrel

The 821 Cafe on W. Cary Street is closed on Mondays.

Tech Exchange is closed on Mondays also. If the country ever does go to a smaller work week like some have suggested- will Mondays become a non-working day?

Hives seem to be doing ok.

VCU School Start Brings COVID

Posted on by
Reply

From the Times Dispatch:

Virginia Commonwealth University has 25 confirmed student COVID-19 cases and 11 confirmed employee cases, a university spokesman said Thursday afternoon.
…
VCU’s fall semester began on Monday. The school is offering in-person and online classes and the university’s dorms are home to more than 4,000 students in space designed for more than more than 6,200.

The university administration has created a ‘dashboard’ website to monitor cases of infection, but information is limited.

Neighbors are concerned about possible spread given the close proximity of the university and the number of students who live and visit Oregon Hill. There have been recent parties at residences in the neighborhood where masks were not used.

Some VCU students have publicly protested the re-opening of the university during the pandemic. They have also noted that the university has not refunded tuition despite many demands from students.

Will Richmond300 and City Planning Commission Ever Listen To Oregon Hill?

Posted on by
Reply

The resolution to amend B-3 zoning, CPCR .2020.033, is back on the agenda for the City’s Planning Commission on Aug. 3rd!
It is now accompanied by another resolution CPCR.2020.039: To declare an intent to amend certain properties in the B-3 General Business District.

The City belatedly added text for the CPCR.2020.039. The text for the Oregon Hill portion of the B-3 on W. Cary is hardly satisfactory: “Staff recommends including the area in the Richmond 300 planning process and looking at the area comprehensively.”

Since the planning department has ignored Oregon Hill’s concerns related to the future land use designations in the Richmond 300 plan, it is hardly a comfort that they look to the Richmond 300 planning process for rezoning W. Cary Street in the Oregon Hill Historic District!

National Night Out Rescheduled For October

Posted on by
Reply

It has been a very busy summer so far for the Richmond police – Black Lives Matter protests, changes in leadership, shootings, and (cowardly) anonymous threats from white supremacists.
So it’s understandable that the National Night Out date is postponed a bit….

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Richmond Police Department is rescheduling this year’s National Night Out.

National Night Out will be tentatively held on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 conditions in Richmond. Please watch RPD’s social media sites for updates.

National Night Out is designed to

1. Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;

2. Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts;

3. Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police‐community partnerships;

4. Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

As we get closer to the rescheduled date, RPD will provide updates on the status of 2020 National Night Out.

City Quickly Replaces Missing Stop Sign

Posted on by
Reply

Dear Mr. Sawyer,

I want to send a hearty “Thank You” for the fast work of Maintenance Tech III Andre Cannady for so promptly replacing the missing STOP sign in Oregon Hill! He immediately installed a temporary stop sign and after assessing the situation promptly returned and installed a new pole and sign. This was done within a half hour of receiving the report of the missing sign.

Mr. Cannady’s prompt work may have prevented an accident at this busy corner. Thank you so much for taking care of this issue so speedily!

Gratefully,

Charles Pool