Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Meeting This Tuesday Evening
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Category Archives: government
Fascism, Richmond-Style
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.
Max Lot Coverage In New RA-A Zoning Threatens Neighborhood
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.
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Meeting On Tuesday
City Leaders Are Again Talking About Relocating Open High
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
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, BylawsUpdates 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)—
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
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
Tell City Planners HANDS OFF!
From OHNA President Valerie L’Herrou:
It’s interesting that the city zoning folks keep telling us that the city doesn’t consider those blocks of the neighborhood north of the expressway to be part of Oregon Hill. But these pennants in the 100 block of S Laurel seem to indicate otherwise.
Also see earlier post: Pine Street ‘Heights’
‘Richmond300’ Committee Expresses Concerns About Neighborhood and City’s Alignment
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
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.