Category Archives: editorial

Code Refresh is a Scam

Posted on by
Reply

Email sent last night to Mayor, City Council representative, planners, neighborhood association….

Mayor Avula,

I have to tell you, I have to let you know- this Code Refresh process is so horrible. I strongly object to the rezoning proposed for the Oregon Hill Historic District which would greatly damage the affordable housing and historic fabric of the neighborhood. But I am also mindful of other neighborhoods in this City that have no clue as to how this runaway train will hit them in the future.

Years ago, I went to Richmond300 meeting and pleaded for my neighborhood in person. Richmond300 was passed despite my neighborhood’s protest and a promised amendment. I have emailed comments repeatedly and told they don’t count. I went to a Westover Hills Code Refresh meeting at some pizzeria and added the little post-it notes in person, but I am told they do not really count. I went online to put some notes on the digital map, but it was not easy at all. I have worked in corporate IT and I found this website cumbersome, confusing, and distressing. I can’t imagine my more elderly and impaired neighbors even attempting to take part in this. Even the Sept. 28 ‘deadline’ is not clear to anyone. This is so stacked against us.

And believe me, Richmond residents are seeing how other parts of the City, the wealthier neighborhoods, are not being threatened or impacted by ‘Code Refresh’. The economic discrimination is OBVIOUS and NAUSEATING.

Despite the discouragement, I am emailing you, planners, and other people these recommendations, and I again ask that these be counted, considered, but also documented and made part of official records.
• All properties within the Oregon Hill Historic District that are currently zoned R-7 must be zoned RA-A.
• Maximum Lot Coverage in RA-A: The maximum lot-coverage ratio in the RA-A district shall be reduced to fifty-five percent (55%), matching the existing standard under R-7 zoning.
• The Oregon Hill Historic District, including the Jacob House boundary, shall be excluded in its entirety from the VCU circle of influence map. I REPEAT: • The Oregon Hill Historic District south of West Cary Street must be removed from the “VCU Node” circle, consistent with the Richmond 300 Master Plan.
• Parsons House Condominiums (Parsons Street Parcel): The zoning classification for the Parsons House condominium property shall be revised from RX-4 to RA-A.
• Field to the west of St. Andrew’s School: The zoning classification for the open field parcel north of the school shall be revised from RX-6 to RA-A.
• Cary Street Corridor: The zoning classification for properties fronting Cary Street shall be revised from MX-6 and RX-4 to MX-3.
• Residences North of the Alley Near Cary Street: The zoning classification for the existing R-7 residential lots north of the alley between Cary Street and Green Alley shall be revised from MX-6 and RX-6 to RA-A.
• Citywide duplex: Duplexes should be permitted citywide, as they are in RA-A.
• Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan: While not a function of the map, the Planning Commission should adopt and implement without delay the draft Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan
• All of the properties on the 100 block of South Pine, 100 block of South Laurel and 100 block of South Cherry Street, including 104, 106 and 106-1/2 S. Pine Street; 103, 105 and 109 S.
Laurel Street; and 117, 119, 121 and 123 S. Cherry Street must be zoned RA-A.
• All properties that are currently zoned B-3 within the Oregon Hill Historic District must be zoned MX-3, and MX-3 must be revised to have a 35 foot maximum height limit. These
properties include all of the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of West Cary Street which must be zoned MX-3.
• The RA-A zoning proposed for much of the Oregon Hill Historic District must not allow business use “by right”. Retail, dining uses and alcohol sales must NOT be allowed “by right” in RA-A zoning.
• The the maximum lot coverage must be no greater than 55% in the RA-A zoning, and the maximum height limit must be 35 feet.
• The two-story Parsons Row condominiums at 605 Spring Street must be zoned RA-A.
• The St. Andrews athletic field at 316 Linden Street must be zoned RA-A.
• MX-3 must be revised to have a 35 foot maximum height limit. All properties that are currently zoned B-1 within the Oregon Hill Historic District must be zoned with MX-3 with a maximum height limit no greater than 35 feet, consistent with the adjacent RA-A properties.
• Any rezoning must recognize the importance of, and encourage the use of, the Special Use Permit process which has served the neighborhood well.
• The affordable workforce housing in Oregon Hill must not be displaced by zoning that allows greater density.

I am sharing previous news posts in regard to Richmond300 and Code Refresh, with the hope that these will also be considered and documented.

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/25/ohna-deadline-to-comment-on-re-zoning-code-refresh-is-sept-28/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/25/comment-of-the-oregon-hill-home-improvement-council-on-proposed-rezoning/

I particularly point to this link directly underneath this sentence, as it gives a small glimpse of the huge corruption and subterfuge we have faced. The amount of time and energy that we have invested in battling VCU, City, developers in order to keep our historic community intact deserves more appreciation and recognition.
https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/25/some-historical-perspective-on-the-current-zoning/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/10/wric-reports-richmond-residents-demand-greater-community-voice-in-citys-code-refresh/

REFORM! REFORM! REFORM!:
https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/07/newspaper-coverage-and-ltes-bring-strong-calls-for-government-reform/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/07/04/max-lot-coverage-in-new-ra-a-zoning-threatens-neighborhood/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/03/28/neighborhood-threatened-by-re-zoning-comments-due-this-weekend/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/03/16/is-oregon-hill-under-attack/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/01/28/review-of-planning-review/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2024/10/25/community-hospital-saved/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2024/08/13/richmond300-code-refresh-meetings-this-week/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2024/02/28/editorial-save-community-hospital/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2023/03/29/neighborhood-association-opposes-demolition/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2023/03/09/top-down-planning-changes-threaten-neighborhood/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2023/02/09/bza-boogaloo-its-way-past-time-for-poole-and-pinnock-to-take-a-hike/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/12/12/meeting-on-city-initiated-zoning-changes-tomorrow-evening/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/08/11/please-send-an-email-letter-for-oregon-hill/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/06/28/victory-city-council-passes-amendment-resolution-unanimously/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/06/24/richmond300-amendment-for-oregon-hill-at-city-council/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/12/16/the-wayne-commission/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/12/15/city-council-votes-against-neighborhood-to-pass-richmond300-plan/

https://www.styleweekly.com/opinion-let-us-succeed/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/11/15/land-use-committee-meets-tuesday/

https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2020/nov/05/oregon-hill-neighborhood-open-speculation-destruct/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/10/05/planning-director-punked/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/09/30/mayor-wants-to-take-away-parkland-for-affordable-housing/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/09/26/olingers-storefront-canard/

https://www.styleweekly.com/guest-commentary-runaway-train/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/07/31/will-richmond300-and-city-planning-commission-ever-listen-to-oregon-hill/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/07/17/city-planners-scheme-a-last-minute-end-run-around-citizens/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/07/12/city-planners-determined-to-ignore-and-destroy-oregon-hill-community/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/06/05/richmond-300-plan-would-irreparably-damage-oregon-hill/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/11/15/presentation-to-richmond-300/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/10/29/richmond-300-continues-to-ignore-city-residents/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/10/16/taylor-lynch-williamson-and-da-silva-submit-pledges-to-the-neighborhood/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/10/16/ohna-letter-to-city-council-and-richmond300-committee/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/11/12/single-family-to-be-removed/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/10/15/ohna-letter-to-richmond300-planners/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/05/14/demolition-of-historic-buildings-on-w-cary/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/03/17/ohna-press-release-with-letter-in-regard-to-w-cary-development/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/03/16/public-demonstration-planned-for-sunday-afternoon/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/09/17/revisiting-a-history-of-assessments-on-small-house/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2012/05/02/ohna-letter-for-349-s-laurel/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2010/10/09/two-years-later-still-waiting-for-positive-step-by-vcu/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2009/11/29/editorial-filling-in-the-gaps-in-historic-urban-neighborhoods/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/10/24/ohna-president-asks-vcu-to-take-positive-step-for-true-community-partnership/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/09/10/belvidere-plans/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/09/10/1990-park-plans/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/09/06/what-might-have-been-or-what-could-be/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/07/19/rezoning-meetinggreen-drinks-at-built-gallery/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/06/25/re-zoning-and-the-disappointing-marty-jewell/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/04/30/last-house-on-100-block-of-s-belvidere-demolished/

…. I could also bring up the sordid history of the developer Salomonsky, City government, FBI, and Oregon Hill residents, but let’s truncate there for now.
The stink is already apparent and overwhelming.
In the end, I am not surprised by this disaster. It’s not about “racial justice”, density, or affordable housing. Pretenses of ‘working with the community’ are laughable. It’s glaring to any citizen paying attention that this whole thing, Richmond300/Code Refresh, is a scam, a plot designed to prey on longterm residents for the benefit of unscrupulous developers. When you combine this con job with other factors, including rising utility rates and the RRHA debacle, it has become very clear that the City of Richmond is at war with its less wealthy residents, wanting to eradicate and replace us.

I completely agree with neighbors and other City residents that the “Code Refresh” initiative needs to be scrapped and Rodney Poole and director Vonck replaced with competent people, determined to do what’s best for our community, and not just developers.

Sincerely,
Scott Burger

Three quick addendums:

As I mentioned, the wealthier areas of Richmond are unscathed by the rezoning and are shown (appropriately) in white (without color) in the proposed zoning map.

And speaking of Salomonsky, remember that Rodney Poole even appointed Salomonsky’s business partner, Brian White, to the Zoning Advisory Council.

Lastly, notice that on the proposed zoning map that planners are proposing 90′ tall buildings on Dominion’s property on Tredegar Street and the Venture Richmond (really DPW’s) canal property. In other words, the public can say goodbye to the public views of the historic riverfront, according to this proposed zoning map.

Newspaper Coverage And ‘LTE’s’ Bring Strong Calls For Government Reform

Posted on by
Reply

While local television stations bandied ongoing amphitheater concerns and new signs (more on those at a later time), Richmond Times Dispatch reporter Samuel Parker examined the details in regard to another City Hall threat against the neighborhood- rezoning.

Oregon Hill residents have been contemplating on this matter from the beginning- going back to the original ‘Richmond 300’ meetings on land use and calling foul on the narratives that came forth from them. City Hall brushed off the heartfelt complaints by neighbors and in what has become a horrible pattern, self-congratulated itself and celebrated dubious awards. The City government did the same thing with its water utility even as the water plant failed, something that surprised even longtime critics, exposing the real rot underneath.

Thankfully, in the last week or so, Mr. Parker, in a few in-depth newspaper articles, focused on who City’s Planning Department officials really are and brought significant light to conflicts of interest and tenures that should have ended decades ago.

Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool wrote a well-written and complimentary Letter To The Editor (LTE) in gratitude for Parker’s work and the Times Dispatch newspaper published it this past Saturday morning. Pool’s correspondence also served to underscore the result of Planning Department problems- “an illegitimate process with a bonanza of new zoning proposals by developers, for developers”, that have more to do with profiteering than City’s well-being or affordable housing. Pool also described some of the disastrous impacts of these current proposals on this historic neighborhood and strongly called for immediate reform.

(By the way, also see the poignant LTE (“Correspondent Of The Day”) from the president of Chesterfield’s NAACP, Nicole Thompson-Martin, on Dominion’s dirty fossil fuel ambitions – “Letter: Clean energy isn’t just cheaper, it’s more equitable”)

Cherry Street neighbor and former president of the neighborhood association Todd Woodson re-posted Pool’s letter on social media and further challenged the City government.

I’ve been civically active in Richmond, Virginia for 25 years because I love our historic City and recognize the amazing progress we can and must make to ensure equity and prosperity in all corners. That said, I have seen it so damn corrupt here in the past that the FBI has had to intervene, sending lawless developers and City Councilors to jail.
If you care about our community, please read this LTE in today’s Times Dispatch. We are on a precipice of destroying much of what’s good and beautiful in Richmond because the developer “foxes are in the henhouse”. Our Department of Planning and Review has acknowledged paying for and using compromised data to implement terrible zoning changes in our historic neighborhood. Oregon Hill was appropriately rezoned to R7 in 2002. R7 maintains the character of this family oriented enclave (which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places) while at the same time promoting a dense fabric of reasonably affordable housing.
I call on Mayor Avula and City Council to DO THE RIGHT THING! Remove the bad leadership from our Planning Commission and Department , scrap the current Code Refresh abomination and start from scratch with the added voices of environmentalists , social activists, historians and other grassroots community members. If it aint broke dont fix it. The current Code Refresh is simply Urban Renewal 2.0 and only benefits the greedy that are currently wielding power.

Mr. Parker does deserve gratitude and laurels for bringing more attention to longstanding problems with Richmond’s Planning Department, and citizens and residents are both cheering and adamant. Will Mayor Avula and City Council represent the citizens and residents of this city, or will they continue to cowardly adhere to developer money? (And yes, this does include issues with the new corporate amphitheater as well as debate over the future of public housing).

RCV Prize for a Richmond University SGA Increases

Posted on by
1

With students coming back to Richmond universities, and with student government associations meeting again, it is worth noting that no Richmond university student government association (SGA) has claimed the previously announced $1,000 prize.

Just to refresh memories, in 2022, I, Scott Burger, pledged to reward whichever Richmond university student government is the first among Richmond university student governments to conduct a campus wide election of student government officers using ranked choice voting and incorporate ranked choice voting into its constitution/bylaws with a $1,000 prize.
(Please refer to the notes on the original post-
https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/11/16/1000-rcv-prize-for-a-richmond-university/)

In the last three years, this city, state, and country has seen some remarkably close elections, a few vote recounts, and much concern about voting and elections in general. Sadly, despite RCV progress elsewhere, and so much overall local change in general, Richmond politics is still languishing on its hotbed of apathy. It does not help that local media, including the college newspapers and media, have ignored this contest altogether, refusing to even mention it.

Some have suggested that I should just endow money directly to a university administration or department (as if I trust them to spend the money well!) or, completely ignoring the simple, grassroots approach to this promotion of RCV, should use the money instead to fund research or ‘a study’. As if there has not already been enough studies! Over 100 colleges and universities in the United States use ranked-choice voting (RCV) for student government elections. RCV is used at George Mason University, James Madison University, University of Virginia, and Washington and Lee.

I will state again that while I don’t think money should equal speech (I support www.MoveToAmend.org), for this contest, I am willing to make an exception.

I thought about doubling the prize amount, but between Trump’s tariffs and job threats from AI threatening the economy, I am not going to do that. I have decided to split the difference. I will increase my prize pool by $500. So, among the eligible Richmond university student governments, University of Richmond SGA, Virginia Commonwealth University SGA, or Virginia Union University SGA, the first SGA who satisfies the contest to my satisfaction will get $1,000. And now, the second one to do so will get $500. If there is not a second one within a year, the first winner will be rewarded the $500 in addition to the $1,000. Again, pay attention to the original caveats.

Remember, this city, state, and country need young people to lead. With emboldened fascism growing, we need to keep pushing for true democratic reforms that empower voters.

City’s Response On Belle Island Parking Lot Is Lacking

Posted on by
1

Another followup editorial…
Once the media inquiries started to come in, the City (Parks & Rec?) finally responded with a blanket statement:

For public safety and crowd control, on Amphitheatre concert days the Richmond Police Department closes Brown’s Island Way at S. 2nd Street and Tredegar Street and closes Tredegar Street between 5th and Brown’s Island Way, to vehicular traffic. This closure with the addition of closing the Tredegar Street parking lot helps ensure effective traffic and crowd management by providing organized staging zones, designated parking for staff and volunteers, and safe pedestrian access.

The City has entered into a paid, month-to-month trial lease agreement with Allianz Amphitheater/ Live Nation, granting use of the 60 parking spaces in the Belle Isle parking lot on select specific days and times to support event operations. This parking lot closure is a similar model used for RiverRock and Folk festival. The Tredegar Street Belle Isle parking lot is partially owned by the City of Richmond and Venture Richmond. Venture Richmond has also approved the use of their section of the parking lot for this endeavor.

Remaining dates that the Belle Isle parking lot will be offline for the month of July are:
Tuesday, July 15 (8:00 AM – 12:00 AM)
Wednesday, July 16 (8:00 AM – 12:00 AM)
Thursday, July 17 (8:00 AM – 12:00 AM)
Saturday, July 19 (1:00 PM – 12:00 AM)
Thursday, July 24 (1:00 PM – 12:00 AM)
Saturday, July 26 (1:00 PM – 12:00 AM)

Many of Richmond’s reporters did their usual copying and pasting of this press statement, and sadly, as expected, some added, in a very ‘Trumpian’ fashion, their own complaints about ‘complainers’ who challenged this ‘big, beautiful’ new amphitheater and the might of Venture Richmond. ‘How dare citizens speak up!’ was the chastising tone.

A couple of problems with this-

First of all, closing the Belle Isle Parking lot is contrary to the Venture Richmond lease agreement.

Secondly, they are closing the parking lot for entire days, and also from 12 noon other days, for employee parking, so this has little to do with security during events.

Brown’s Island Way is kept open most of the day. The Dominion Energy headquarters is at the end of Tredegar St. and these employees, of course, need access through Brown’s Island Way. This lot is not being closed for security, but to provide parking for amphitheater employees. (Or is there more to it? Neighbors who attended last night’s concert said that lot attendants told them that they are selling the lot as “VIP parking”, at least for last night’s show.)

Thirdly, the Allianz amphitheater is being given over $30 million in City subsidies and is a for-profit enterprise. They can well afford to rent another lot for their employees without depriving public use of the Belle Isle parking lot.

This parking lot closure is not similar to RiverRock and the Folk Festival, which are free non-profit events organized by Venture Richmond. Venture Richmond’s lease specifically allows them to close the Belle Isle parking lot for limited events, like the Folk Festival, that are organized by Venture Richmond. The Allianz amphitheater, by contrast is a private for-profit venue which is charging handsome prices for admittance and food. The Allianz events are not organized by Venture Richmond.

One point that may have been overlooked in all of this is that this lot is incredibly important for disabled access to Belle Isle. Southside access to the park is not the same.
Again, taking the only parking lot for Richmond’s most popular park for private functions is outrageous!

Lastly, if the lot is owned by the City of Richmond and Venture Richmond then is it a public parking lot or not? Upon further investigation, the land is owned by the City’s Department of Public Works. PUBLIC!

This is not the first time that the neighbors have fought to keep the Belle Isle parking lot open to the public for visiting the park.
In March 2021 a sign went up on the Belle Isle parking lot closing it to the public.

Oregon Hill residents immediately protested and pointed out that this was contrary to the Venture Richmond lease, and the lot was re-opened to the public the next day.
Now, once again, Venture Richmond is trying to close the only parking lot for Belle Isle for private functions.

It would be nice if local reporters could get off their duffs and not just reiterate whatever the local PTB (“Powers That Be”) feed them.
People complain about ‘complainers’, but there is more at stake than people think.

Fascism, Richmond-Style

Posted on by
Reply

Still no real coverage from the local corporate media, so another pointed editorial..,

Remember when “Brown’s Island Way” or whatever it is called was built, citizens were told it was for public access to the riverfront? Well now it is being closed down with barriers for a private amphitheater concert.

This is in addition to the Belle Island parking lot, owned by Richmond’s Department of Public Works, but managed by James River Park, being closed, except for use by the Allianz Amphitheater employees or their contractors or whatever.

Interestingly enough, the only ‘official’ statement on this was made by Venture Richmond and shared yesterday in a social media post by the James River Park.
It read:

IMPORTANT INFO -PLEASE READ
The Tredegar/Belle Isle parking lot, Tredegar Street, Brown’s Island Way, and S. 5th Street will all be closed from the morning of July 15 to midnight on July 17 for load in, load out, and general security of and for the Dave Matthews concert.

This post was later taken down in haste.

Again, it is important to recognize that closing the Belle Isle parking lot for private amphitheater use is in violation of Venture Richmond’s lease agreement, which requires the parking to be open for public use. In addition, there is nothing in the $30+ million tax rebate from the City about the amphitheater having the authority to take over the Belle Isle parking lot.

Taking the only parking lot for Richmond’s most popular park for private functions is outrageous!

Supposedly this is temporary, but it calls everything into question.

And, no, it is not nearly as egregious or horrible as ICE overreach, the gutting of federal agencies, or the use of armed forces against civilians, but make no mistake about it, when government colludes with corporate powers (and vice versa) to STEAL from the public and prevent public access, it is another form of fascism.

Here in Richmond, VA, we dress this local fascism in public/private partnerships like Venture Richmond, concealed by big institutions like VCU (that are increasingly under corporate influence), make excuses about commerce and tax flows, all the while hiding behind a mostly silent and bought City Council. Sadly, citizens who have been here a while are all too familiar with it. Our increasingly strained environment bears it the best it can.

Many just look the other way and cheer when Venture Richmond makes an entertainment announcement for the next ‘public’ festival. Don’t expect it be among the polite chatter for the ultra-wealthy attending their private ‘DMB’ bro fest this evening or next. Beer prices are more likely the topic of conversation.

Hopefully we will eventually see someone else write/say something about this small parking lot matter, but don’t forget this moment. And please don’t forget it the next time that Richmond PTB (Powers That Be) decide to limit or take away real public ownership of the riverfront, our neighborhoods, information, or anything else.

We have stepped over the line from dealing with an increasingly corporate society and government to living in fascist times.

Amphitheater Closing Belle Island Parking Lot

Posted on by
1

Editor’s Note: Closing the Belle Isle parking lot for private amphitheater use is in violation of Venture Richmond’s lease agreement, which requires the parking to be open for public use.

OUR PUBLIC PARKS ARE NOT LIVENATION’s PARKING LOTS!

Once again, we see the City leadership/’business community’, Powers That Be (PTB), whatever you want to call them, putting corporate priorities over public ones.
Someone needs to SLAP THEM HARD IN THE FACE, otherwise, they will keep coming back, trying to TAKE from the public. (Like they are doing with their Richmond300 rezoning).

Max Lot Coverage In New RA-A Zoning Threatens Neighborhood

Posted on by
Reply

Although many people love small things about Richmond, Richmond300 and City planners seem determined to destroy them.

In addition to previous attacks…

The newly proposed 80% maximum lot coverage in the RA-A zone would be devastating for Oregon Hill and incentivize the demolition of homes in our historic district.

As neighbors have stressed, in the RA-A zoning proposed for Oregon Hill, the maximum lot coverage must be reduced to 55% as found in the neighborhood’s current R-7 zoning. Here’s a scale drawing to illustrate just how devastating an 80% maximum lot coverage would be for Oregon Hill:

From this illustration, it’s clear that 80% maximum lot coverage would devastate the historical and environmental setting of Oregon Hill.
The neighborhood would lose its historic houses and trees as developers would be incentivized to demolish!

Oregon Hill is already one of the densest neighborhoods in the city, and it is draconian to force even more density in this manner!

This July 4th, Oregon Hill, like much of the nation, protests tyranny and readies for revolt.

“The Oregon Hill Review” – “New zine a tribute to the small things people love about Richmond”

Posted on by
Reply

Well, given that citizens usually celebrate the birth of this country and its independence and freedoms, and right now it is building concentration camps- can’t say ‘Happy Fourth of July’ today.

But, making a big shout out to new, local, literary zine “The Oregon Hill Review”.

Many missed the it’s release party/reading last month, but relatively new, news source The Richmonder covered it and interviewed its creators.

https://www.richmonder.org/new-zine-a-tribute-to-the-small-things-people-love-about-richmond/

“Like most things in my life,” poet Mathias Svalina said of The Oregon Hill Review, “it started as a joke.”
Contrary to the “ironic gravitas” of its title, he envisioned The Oregon Hill Review as a DIY literary zine focused on small, forgettable, beloved things.
And then “the joke turned into, ‘Oh, yeah, I should just do that,’” Svalina said. He describes the first volume as “a collection of little love letters to Richmond.”

It is worth mentioning that the name of this neighborhood, Oregon Hill, is a bit of a joke. Richmond, the city, was founded to the east of downtown in Church Hill, and the story goes that this neighborhood, when it first began, seemed as far west as Oregon, thus the name.

But it is also meaningful and touching that this zine does celebrate the small things people love about Richmond. Hopefully, this small neighborhood is among those things, and Richmond, despite attacks by Richmond300 and City planners, will continue to hold it as dear as it’s visitors and own residents do.

(It’s also pretty great that donations for the zines are being directed to the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project (RRFP).

Beware of 3North

Posted on by
1

One neighbor deemed this proposed, obstructive monument “2001: A Space Idiocy“, aka “Quintessential 3North”.

3North is the same design firm that had so many trees removed from Monroe Park and too many other Richmond locations.

He also said it was missing its ‘uplighting’ spotlights and a lighted ‘Dominion Energy’ sign, not to mention a Bose speaker system with a limiter. (Then again, the Urban Design Committee already told them they had too much crap.)

Another remarked on the “floating coffin” seating.

Call it ‘shopping center chic’ or ‘modern brutalist’, but if the City agrees to their plan, 3North and ‘redevelopers’ could net soft fees of 10%, or around $3 million plus in City taxpayers’ money.

Of course, citizens could speak before the Urban Design Committee and Planning Commission on this matter…

Now Is The Time…

Posted on by
1

During its period of historic significance (circa 1906), there were 376 trees in Monroe Park. Monroe Park is Richmond’s oldest public municipal park, acquired in 1851.
In 2018, due to a botched and racially motivated “renovation”, over 40 healthy, mature trees were cut down, leaving less than 100 trees in the 7.5 acre park.
In Autumn of 2024, Richmond city council approved an ordinance removing the seats on the Parks and Rec Advisory Board of both EnRichmond Foundation and the Monroe Park Conservancy (who was responsible for the disastrous redux), deeming them nonfunctional entities.
Now is the time to plan for the reforestation of the park.
Sincerely,
Charles Woodson.
Richmond Va