Category Archives: government

City Leaders Are Again Talking About Relocating Open High

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TheRichmonder online news site is reporting that City leaders are (again) discussing relocating Open High School, possibly to the vacant Clark Springs elementary building. No mention of deed restrictions on the Open High (Grace Arents School) building or its future.

Because Open High’s model program works so well (routinely listed as one of the best high schools in the country), the City wants to change it (instead of replicating it).

It’s not enough to build a 7,000+ amphitheater next to the neighborhood, with stages and speakers pointed at the neighborhood and river parks. It’s not enough to change land-use and re-zone the neighborhood against residents’ wishes. City leaders seemed determined to dismantle neighborhood institutions as well. This latest news is only contributing to the feeling that the neighborhood is under attack and that the City leaders care more about developers than anything else, including the views of longterm residents.

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Meets Tuesday

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From email announcement:

OHNA MAY 27 2025 MONTHLY MEETING

Join Zoom Meeting: 7pm
(Editor’s note: Zoom link and password redacted. Please contact OHNA at ohnarva@gmail.com for that information)

Welcome

Approval of Minutes (Scott Racette)

Community and local Officials Updates:

Police, VCU, Commonwealth’s Attorney, City Council, RVA neighborhood liaison

Primary candidate introductions: Hear from candidates for two city constitutional offices: Tom Barbour Jr., running for commonwealth’s attorney (we heard from incumbent commonwealth’s attorney Collette McEachin at the April Meeting); incumbent sheriff Antionette Irving, and challenger for sheriff, William Burnett.

Committee reports:
Zoning, FoOHP, RvaPB, Bylaws

Updates and Continued Business

New Business:

Pleasants park: stage for events (Dave Pierandri: discussion)
Traffic calming (Doug Allen: discussion)
Iron fence: request to city to save (Charles Pool: vote)
Water meter at Pleasants Park (Charles Pool: vote)

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Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
David Shannon, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer
JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86
See events and more: https://ohnarva.org/

Paving will start THIS WEEK – Look for ‘NO PARKING’ signs

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From Amy Robins, Liaison for Councilmember Stephanie A. Lynch:

OREGON HILL NEIGHBORS!!! READ THIS and share with your neighbors.
Please pay attention to the NO PARKING signs for paving. Paving will start THIS WEEK (May 5). Their goal is to go as fast as possible as weather permits.
This may mean will will not be able to park on your street for several days and have to walk a bit further for parking. Please remember this is a short term inconvenience for a long term benefit.
Please make sure you all talk with each other as you see each other walking dogs, to your car, etc throughout the neighborhood so everyone is aware. Some streets tend to have high tow rates during street sweeping.
@everyone

https://www.rva.gov/public-works/paving

‘Richmond300’ Committee Expresses Concerns About Neighborhood and City’s Alignment

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Reeling from accusations that new ‘pattern books’ contain multiple serious errors with growing neighborhood concerns, the City’s ‘Richmond300 Committee has declared that grave misalignments must be identified and corrected.

New development on W.Cary Street in the Fan.

In order to dispel the acridity and seek more harmony, the Planning Commission has called on Maria Peach, a globally recognized teacher, speaker, healer, and writer, who known for her work on the chakra system and its connection to human psychology and spiritual growth.
Her fees were not available at press time, but City planners have expressed great confidence in this expert’s ability to properly diagnose and channel the root lines and ultimately help the City discover, decode, and harness its life force.

“We believe that by addressing the subtle energy matrix, we can open a powerful path for sustainable healing,” stated a member of the City’s Code Refresh Task Force. “We are putting all of our crystals on the table and going back to the maps so that we can solve blockages and imbalances. We want to clear the negativity for not just Oregon Hill, but all neighborhoods and residents.”

For their part, Oregon Hill neighbors have signaled that they are willing to do the meditation, breathing exercises, and shadow work necessary to realign and eventually come to an understanding.

“There is no direct mention of the chakras in the City Code. While this might seem like a cause for concern, it is important to note that viruses, hormones, ultraviolet rays, or even “the Trinity” cannot be found in the City Code either!” explained one enlightened neighbor.

Neighborhood Threatened By Re-Zoning – Comments Due This Weekend

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New development on W.Cary Street in the Fan.

This is very similar to what was warned about previously in a mock up from 5-years ago.

But, here we are. Oregon Hill residents have spoken up from the very beginning of the discussion, from the first ‘charrettes’ of the ‘Richmond300’ to the latest on ‘Code Refresh’ from the Planning Department. Every single step of the way, Oregon Hill residents and neighborhood association have reiterated support for protecting our historic streetscapes and keeping the R-7 zoning with its height limit. There have been heartfelt editorials and letters to the editor. There have been pleas to elected officials. There’s also pre-history on this, from street protests against demolition to smaller meetings with City officials about supposed overlays that turned out to be nothing but hot air.

But, again, here we are. Take a look at the proposed zoning changes. Even the RA-A designation would raise the height limit to 40′, incentivizing developers to demolish more houses and ruin the streetscapes of this nationally-recognized, historic neighborhood. It would undue decades of hard, preservation work by citizens who have stuck with this City for decades, through good and bad times.

In short, this is betrayal. It also speaks volumes on why citizens look askance at ‘focus meetings’ and ‘providing input’ – what do these things matter if the City government is going to always put developers over citizens?

Yet, one more chance to try to change minds-

From the City of Richmond Planning Department, Re: 300 Plan.

Proposed New Zoning Districts Survey
If you were unable to make it to the open houses, you can view the boards on the City’s webpage, and take our survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MYVYQCF) by March 31st to tell us your thoughts on the proposed new zoning districts.

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email announcement:

MONTHLY MEETING:
Tuesday, March 25 at 7pm. Agenda and link to join attached and below.
Join Zoom Meeting (Editor’s note: Zoom link redacted. Please contact ohnarva@gmail.com)

A G E N D A

Welcome

Community and local Officials Updates: Police, VCU, RVA, City Council
Committee updates: Zoning, FoOHP, RvaPB, Stop Sign Safety (Bylaws cte will present during “Discussions” portion of the meeting
Announcements:

April OHNA meeting to be in person, 6pm at Pine Street Baptist; supper, presentation from PSB.

April “Big Event” neighborhood clean up day with VCU student volunteers

Discussions
Bylaws Committee presentation and discussion (no vote)
New Business:
______________________________________________________________________

O T H E R N E W S:
Save the Date: April OHNA meeting and Pasta Supper!

April’s OHNA meeting will be in person Tuesday April 22 at Pine Street Baptist Church! Our hosts will provide a pasta supper, make a presentation about updates at PSB, and surveying neighbors about what role they would like the church to have in the community. We will begin early: 6pm. Hope to see you there!

Friends of Oregon Hill Parks news:

Holly Street Playground upgrade: The next FOOHP HSP upgrade event, an engagement and feedback session, will be April 24 at 5:30 pm at Pine Street Baptist Church
Holly Street Playground cleanup day: Sunday Apr 13, Holly St. Playground

Oregon Hill Easter Egg Hunt, Holly Street Playground, Sunday April 13 at 3pm

Oregon Hill Open Garden Day: May 17.
Add your garden to the tour! Email: Friendsoforegonhillparks@gmail.com

Historic Richmond is hosting a free community lecture, “Preservation is Planning,” Thursday, March 27th at 6 – 8pm, at Monumental Church (1224 E Broad St) https://historicrichmond.com/detail/preservation-as-planning-2/

Zoning “Code Refresh:”

Learn more about this project, review neighborhood “Pattern Books” and provide your opinion: https://www.rva.gov/planning-development-review/code-refresh [rva.gov]

Online survey ends March 31: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MYVYQCF [surveymonkey.com]

SIGN UP to receive updates from our City Council Member, Stephanie Lynch: http://bit.ly/4bUbRJy

People’s Budget (Participatory Budgeting)
It’s almost time to vote for the projects submitted, including an OH Dog Park. CLICK HERE to learn everything you need to know! You can vote:
Online – Vote from anywhere, anytime between April 1-15
In-Person – Visit a voting location on select dates in April

V O L U N T E E R:

VCU “Big Event” OH neighborhood Cleanup
Students will volunteer to help us in a neighborhood clean up, meeting at Pleasants Park on Sat April 5 at 9:30 am.
Volunteer for your street! Email: OHNArva@gmail.com

Joint OHNA / VCU Community-Student Problem-Solving Workgroup

Frustrated by students throwing loud parties and littering? Volunteer to meet with VCU police and students affairs staff to develop plans to integrate students into the neighborhood and reduce problem behavior. Email: OHNArva@gmail.com

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Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
David Shannon, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer
JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86

5th District Meeting Tonight

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Councilperson Lynch an the Byrd Park Civic League are hosting a 5th District meeting tonight..

We are excited to be hosting a 5th District Town Hall at Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary School (formerly John B. Cary ES) on Thursday, March 20 at 6pm.
Agenda
• Water Crisis / DPU Updates – Director Scott Morris (confirmed)
• Budget Update
• 5th District Updates
• Q&A
We look forward to seeing you there!

‘Is Oregon Hill Under Attack?’

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The Richmond Times Dispatch ran a front page follow up to an earlier article about how homes in Oregon Hill were deemed ‘nonconforming’ by City planning officials.

“If you ask Valerie L’Herrou, she’ll tell you that there is a “historical feeling that Oregon Hill is under attack.”
L’Herrou, who is president of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, attributed that feeling to decades of mistreatment — from racist redlining that denied financial resources to residents, to Ethyl Corp.’s acquisition and demolition of historic homes, to being rent in two by the Downtown Expressway, to Virginia Commonwealth University’s attempt to snap up land and tear down significant landmarks.
Oregon Hill’s residents managed to weather Ethyl and the interstate, and to stave off VCU’s expansion bid. Had they not done the latter, the parcel of land on which L’Herrou’s house is built would now host a college soccer field.
But 43 years later, she said it seems as if the war is back on.
L’Herrou said residents are anxious about the city’s zoning overhaul process, which has deemed more than 80% of Oregon Hill’s buildings out of conformity with the current zoning ordinance. The so-called nonconformities will influence possible zoning changes, which L’Herrou and others fear could result in the demolition of the quaint historic homes that define the neighborhood in favor of large, modern developments.”

Many residents are very thankful for this attention by reporter Sam Parker and urge him to keep investigating. For Planning Dept. officials to not seem to care about the accuracy of the ‘pattern book’ that Richmond taxpayers paid for is shocking. This sadly corresponds with incorrect data from the ‘Richmond300’ team that declared that Oregon Hill was ‘mixed use’.

Hopefully the media spotlight will continue when the neighborhood is barraged later this spring, summer, and fall by crowds and noise from the new amphitheater and Brown’s Island concerts. It’s not lost on Oregon Hill residents that their stages are pointed right at the neighborhood.

The feeling is certainly one of being ‘under siege’.

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) is meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 25th, at 7 pm.

This meeting will be held online by Zoom. (Editor’s note: Zoom info redacted, please email ohnarva@gmail.com for that)

Proposed agenda and ‘other news’:

Welcome

Community and local Officials Updates: Police, VCU, RVA

Introduction to new VCU Police Chief Clarence Hunter

Committee updates:

Zoning, FoOHP, RvaPB, Bylaws

Discussions
Creating two working groups:
Neighborhood traffic safety workgroup to address intersection safety
Joint OHNA & VCU workgroup to address student/landlord problems

Updating OHNA’s emailing and calendar systems

New Business:
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O T H E R N E W S

Richmond Alert systems:

Richmond Ready
Text RVAREADY to 888-777
Visit: https://rva.gov/richmondreadyalerts

DPU Utility Work Notifications
If you wish to subscribe to SMS text messages only, text RichmondDPUVA to 38276. There is also a mobile app available.

VCU Alerts
Community members may sign up for VCU’s text message alert system to receive information about campus emergencies and cancellations.

Richmond Zoning: “Code Refresh” events
February 26, 2025
4pm-7pm
Huguenot Community Center, Huguenot High School, 7945 Forest Hill Avenue

February 27, 2025
9am-12pm
City Hall – 1st Floor Lobby, 900 East Broad Street

February 27, 2025
4pm-7pm
Richmond Main Public Library in the Basement Auditorium, 101 East Franklin Street

Panel Discussion on Housing and Richmond’s Zoning Refresh
March 11, 2025
7pm-8:30pm
TBD

Mayo Island Park Open House & Community Meeting
Weds, March 5 6 – 8pm
Marvel Studios – 300 E. Main Street

Richmond “I Voted” Sticker Contest
Submission Guidelines: Designs must say “I Voted” and include some reference to Richmond or Richmond People’s Budget. Digital or hand-drawn designs are welcome (hand-drawn designs must be scanned or photographed clearly). Submit your design by February 28, 2025 via the Sticker Design Contest Form email https://form.jotform.com/250425490476055 to info@rvapb.org

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Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
David Shannon, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer
JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86