Category Archives: government

CenterStage, Altria Theater Exempted From Real Estate Tax

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From Style article:

Richmond CenterStage and its parent group ignited a minor furor in October when they revealed they owed $1.75 million in back real estate taxes and wanted the city to cover the tab.

Following a heated public hearing, City Council eventually consented to pay the bill. What was left unclear was whether the performing arts organization — which operates the Altria and Carpenter theaters — would begin covering its own real estate taxes.

As it turns out, that won’t be an issue because Richmond-area state lawmakers have CenterStage’s back. Both houses of the General Assembly passed legislation specifically tailored to exempt CenterStage from any real estate tax obligations.
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5th District SCHOOL Meeting Tomorrow

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Sorry for the late notice, but a reminder that there is a 5th District meeting about schools tomorrow morning-

5th District School Board Member Mamie Taylor is hosting a meeting tomorrow, Saturday January 31st from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at 2nd Baptist Church, 1400 Idlewood Avenue. Mrs. Taylor plans to discuss the proposed Richmond Public Schools Budget, the proposed bell schedule and the Superintendent’s proposed Academic Enhancement Plan. Light Breakfast will be served.

5th District Meeting Scheduled For Wednesday

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From City Council press release:

Councilman Parker C. Agelasto to hold a meeting for the Richmond Central 5th Voter District

All Richmond Central 5th Voter District residents invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) – The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District, will hold a district-wide meeting for the Richmond Central 5th Voter District. This is part of regular meetings Councilman Agelasto holds, which include information on his Richmond Central 5th Voter District goals and accomplishments; a thematic agenda of current interest; and, special guests. These meetings are free and open to the public and all Richmond Central 5th Voter District residents are invited and encouraged to attend. The planned agenda/discussion topics for the upcoming meeting include:

· Richmond Recycles Program
Ms. Darlene Mallory, Support Services Manager
Richmond Department of Public Works

· Richmond Stormwater Utility Program
Ms. Gay Stokes, Administrative Project Analyst
Richmond Department of Public Utilities

· Richmond’s Holistic Poverty Reduction and
Community Wealth Building Conversation
Mr. Thad Williamson, PhD., Director
Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

· Budget Discussion and District Updates
The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District

WHEN Wednesday, February 4, 2015
6:30-8:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
William Byrd Park – Roundhouse
Westover Road/Lakeview Avenue
600 S. Boulevard; Richmond, Virginia

WHO The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District

CONTACT For more information, please contact:
The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District, at 804.646.6050 (tel), or parker.agelasto@richmondgov.com (email)

Councilman Agelasto’s Upcoming Richmond Central 5th Voter District Meetings

Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Patrick Henry Elementary School of Science and Arts
3411 Semmes Avenue; Richmond, Virginia

Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
Randolph Community Center
1425 Grayland Avenue; Richmond, Virginia

Wednesday, August 5, 2015
BACK TO SCHOOL MEETING
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond – Southside Club
2409 Bainbridge Street; Richmond, Virginia

Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
William Byrd Park – Roundhouse
Westover Road/Lakeview Avenue
600 S. Boulevard; Richmond, Virginia

Wednesday, December 2, 2015
HOLIDAY PARTY
Virginia War Memorial
621 South Belvidere Street; Richmond, Virginia

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OHNA Meeting Next Tuesday

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From email:

Hello all

OHNA’s monthly meeting is Tuesday, January 27th at 7 pm at WBCH (William Byrd Community House).

Jack Berry, from Venture Richmond, will be at the meeting to discuss the proposed rezoning of the amphitheater below Oregon Hill to allow more events. This issue could potentially have a huge impact on the neighborhood in terms of more amplified noise, crowds, parking congestion, and public drinking. If you wish to have your voice heard on this issue, this IS the meeting to attend.

Also attending the meeting will be City Planning Director Mark Olinger, and City Councilman Parker Agelasto.

Thanks
Jennifer Hancock
OHNA

(Editor’s note: This will hopefully be a good opportunity to get questions answered. Click here for some suggestions.)

Update on Replacing The Illegally Demolished Tredegar Wall

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Pine Street neighbor Bryan Green, who serves on the City’s Urban Design Committee, has made a test panel for replacing the illegally demolished Tredegar wall. Because there isn’t enough surviving brick to rebuild the wall, he has ordered hand made brick from North Carolina. The test panel is by the sign in the Belle Isle parking lot.

Bryan thinks that they will start on rebuilding the wall as soon as they get in the proper mortar and when it warms up a bit. He hopes to supply some more details soon.

Tredegar brick test panel

Fences of Contention III

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An update on the Fences of Contention saga (Here are links for Part I and Part II):

Councilperson Agelasto spoke with the City Attorney about the 2nd Street Connector legal agreement and the $53,000 budget requirement for the fence. The original agreement has been completed and is now closed. The City has no further obligation to complete the fence. In order to fund the budget, this will require the City Council to approve a budget amendment.

Yesterday, the Planning Commission review was supposed to consider the authorization of the “location, character, and extent” of the fence, but due to other issues on their agenda, the meeting went on too long and the fence item was continued until the next meeting February 2nd. According to neighbors who did attend and spoke with officials after the meeting, the City administration is still trying to maintain that the fence was paid for through the authorizing ordinance (despite the City Attorney’s opinion.)

But looking back at the authorizing ordinance for the 2nd Street Connector (Brown’s Island Way), the plans were NOT included in the ordinance or the agreement attached to the ordinance.

If plans had been included, they would have been attached to the agreement as an exhibit. These are the only exhibits attached to the agreement:
Exhibit A. Description of the Property
Exhibit B. Project Area
Exhibit C. Description of City Property
Exhibit D. Project Standards
Exhibit E. [Payment Schedule]
Exhibit F. Lease Agreement
Exhibit G. Construction Plan Showing Curb Cut Overlaid on Exhibit B “Project Area”

Exhibit G is for item 2.d of the agreement:

(d) Grantor shall have the right to a curb cut within the area identified on Exhibit G as “Approximate Location of Future Curb Cut” with the precise location of the actual curb cut within that area coordinated through the City’S Department of Public Works’ Division of Transportation and Engineering to ensure that the location and construction of the curb cut complies with transportation safety standards. The curb cut shall be at the sole expense of the Grantor and Grantor shall restore the remaining curb to a condition deemed satisfactory to the City of Richmond in its reasonable discretion. Such right for the curb cut shall be evidenced by reservation by Grantor in the Grantor’s Deed.

Exhibit G has no other purpose in the agreement. The parties are not bound by anything in Exhibit G except what is described in 2.d of the agreement.

Harrison/Cumberland Intersection Likely Closed Till Monday

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From VCU’s LiveSafe app:

VCU has recvd information that Richmond City has plans to repair the water main at Harrison & Cumberland tomorrow morning. The pavement restoration will probably not be completed until next Monday. Harrison Street will remain closed except for the deck patrons until then. Richmond City is working aggressively to have the street open before the Men’s Basketball Game on Tuesday night 01.27/VCU Police