5th District Meeting Tomorrow/ No CAPS Meeting This Thursday

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Scott

From email:

Dear 5th District Resident,

The purpose of this email is to notify you of our 5th District meeting on tomorrow, August 14 at 6:30 pm at the Randolph Community Center (1415 Grayland Avenue). Agenda items include a Richmond Public Schools update from school board representative Ms. Mamie Taylor, a programming update from Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, a special presentation from GRTC regarding route updates, an update on City Stadium and a Richmond City Council legislative update.

We’d also like to remind you that we will host a community clean-up this Saturday, August 17th in the Carytown and Stadium neighborhoods. We will be meeting at 9:00 a.m. at the City Stadium parking lot (600 McCloy St.). If you are interested in volunteering please contact our office at 804-646-5724.

Sincerely,

Parker C. Agelasto
Richmond City Council, 5th District

Also, from email:

Good afternoon, all!

This is a reminder that there will be no 4th precinct CAPS meeting for this month, in keeping with our summer break tradition. (We also don’t meet in December).

Our next meeting will be September 19th, at 6 pm at Linwood Holton Elementary, as usual.

As always feel free to get in touch with me with questions, comments, or concerns.

Thanks as always,
Matt Toner
MPACT
(804) 646-1062- desk
(804) 357-6969- mobile
matthew.toner (at) richmondgov.com

Laurel Street Closure This Saturday

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Scott

From City press release:

For Immediate Release
July 31, 2013
For more information, contact:
Sharon North – (804) 646-5607

Street Closure – North Laurel Street
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Works

WHAT: Street Closure

WHEN: Saturday, August 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: North Laurel Street between Main Street and South Cathedral Place

BACKGROUND: The aforementioned area will be closed to allow for installation of an HVAC unit using a rubber tire crane.

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Idlewood Roundabout Plan Becomes Funded and Closer To Reality

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Scott

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association President Jennifer Hancock announced good news in regard to the Idlewood Roundabout proposal by making public an email from Councilperson Parker Agelasto:

Our roundabout is finally going to become a reality thanks to Parker.

Thanks
Jennifer
OHNA

From: Agelasto, Parker C. – Council Member
Subject: Idlewood Roundabout

Hello everyone,

I wanted to provide an update regarding the Idlewood Roundabout. Each and everyone one of you contributed to a campaign to make this a priority. My fellow Councilmembers and the Administration heard you clearly. The project that has been discussed for nearly 15 years is finally going to be a reality.

Thanks to Brian Ohlinger for working with us to secure the $250,000 funding support from VCU for this initiative. This provided the necessary leverage for the project to get the attention of those at City Hall. Likewise the commitment from the St. Andrews Association to permit easements for the project made it very doable. The City has set aside $200,000 in the FY2014 capital improvement budget. This will leverage another $200,000 through VDOT’s revenue sharing program. The project thus has $650,000 and should begin over the next 12 months.

CAO Byron Marshall has been very helpful throughout the process. If you happen to see him, please thank him for his support of the Idlewood Roundabout. In the meantime, I will try to organize a public presentation on the project once the Department of Public Works has more specific information to share.

Sincerely,
Parker C. Agelasto
Richmond City Council, 5th District

Editor’s Note: This corresponds to number 5 of my own top ten issues for the neighborhood. With issues 4,5,6,7 all getting somewhat addressed (and a sincere hearty thanks to those who helped make that happen), it may be time to repopulate the list with some new issues.

Alley Work

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Scott

Some neighborhood alleys have been getting redone by City work crews. This one, which bisects the 500 blocks of Cherry, Laurel, Pine, received the smooth gravel treatment this morning.

Continue reading →

2nd Street Connector’s Official Opening On Thursday

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Scott

Despite continued questions and controversy, the Mayor’s Office released the following press release:

For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Wallace
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 (804) 646-2772 Michael.Wallace at Richmondgov.com

Mayor to Officially Open New 2nd Street Connector Road

WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones
Ellen Robertson, Richmond City Council Vice President, District 6
Parker Agelasto, Richmond City Council, District 5
Carter Reid, Vice President – Administrative Services & Corporate Secretary, Dominion
Bruce Hazelgrove, Vice President – Corporate Resources, NewMarket Corporation
Jack Berry, Executive Director, Venture Richmond

WHAT: Official opening of the new 2nd Street Connector road.

WHEN: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 3 p.m.

WHERE: New 2nd Street Connector Road
Street extends from 2nd Street to Tredegar Street
Richmond, VA

BACKGROUND:

Mayor Jones, members of Richmond City Council, Dominion, New Market Corporation, and Venture Richmond will officially open the new 2nd Street Connector road. Project represents the first completed project of the 2012 Richmond Riverfront Plan.

Free parking is available in the parking lot off of Tredegar Street just west of the American Civil War Museum parking lot.

# # #

Renovations Close Lane Of Laurel Street Temporarily Near Monroe Park

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Scott

From City announcement:

For Immediate Release
May 8, 2013
For more information, contact:
Sharon North – (804) 646-5607

Lane Closure – Laurel Street
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Works

WHAT: Lane Closure

WHEN: Monday, May 13 through Friday June 17

WHERE: Laurel Street between Cathedral Place and West Franklin Street

BACKGROUND: The northbound lane of the aforementioned street will be closed to allow for renovations at 801 W. Franklin Street.

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Letter to City Council On Historic Canal

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Scott

Neighbor Charles Pool sent this email to members of City Council yesterday.

(Ed. note: He received permission to send them an attachment of the “Tiller” magazine article, but I have not received permission to post that here. If I do receive it or a public website link to it, I will be sure to post it here.)

Dear Richmond City Council members,

Please take time to read the article entitled, “New Richmond Amphitheater Endangers Canal Plans” by Elizabeth Davis in the attached Winter/Spring 2013 edition of the “Tiller,” the wonderful publication of the Virginia Canals and Navigations Society (VCNS).

This article highlights the threat to the historic canal by Venture Richmond’s proposed amphitheater. If the canal bank is lowered as proposed, it would destroy the long-range plan of a canal boat trip to Maymont. Concern for our canal has arrived from as far away as Yangzhou, China, where the World Canal Conference “urged the people of Richmond, Virginia to prevent further destruction to the canal and to preserve, restore, interpret and wisely use this irreplaceable amenity for Virginia and her visitors.”

Other cities would be envious of our canal, running through the heart of downtown Richmond, that was promoted by George Washington at Mount Vernon, the canal company’s honorary President!

As noted in the “Tiller” editorial by Holt Messerly, “I want all people to enjoy this precious national resource for the betterment of Richmond, and for the preservation of our history and for the enjoyment of all — not just for someone to be able to cut the grass easier and see a straighter line to an amphitheater. We must look at the big picture and consider all of the areas as one big entity; a green way with a blue way …”

Continue reading →

Overlook Trail Work Coming up

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Scott

There was a meeting with contractors and City staff on site yesterday at the ramp below the Overlook at Oregon Hill. The paving of the area and addition of handicap railing will begin soon. Work is anticipated to begin within the next week to week and a half.

Please be aware that this area will be a construction site and not accessible during the project.

This work stems from state greenway grants that the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association previously applied for and won with the help of Napi Ippolito.

Brighter Corner

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Scott

Plans and more plans coming to fruition! Future home of Bunnyhop Bike Shop.

DPU Doing Work On Belvidere and Cumberland

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Scott