Due to pleas from neighbors, there is is street cleaning scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 24 for the sides of Laurel and Holly that didn’t get leaf pickup. Don’t forget to look for signs and move cars before they get towed. Special thanks to neighbors Jimmy and Fred for helping clear sidewalks and rake leafs into gutters this past Sunday in preparation.
While some local journalists have chosen to focus on VCU President’s performance review, they are missing some of the importance of VCU’s recent property grab on Cary Street.
VCU’s neighbors have relied upon VCU’s promise to abide by its Master Plan boundary when purchasing property. This promise is essential for removing speculation and inspiring a sense of trust between VCU and its neighbors. Unfortunately, VCU continues to breed community distrust with its actions. The history is not good: The Oregon Hill neighborhood at one point endorsed the VCU Master Plan 2020, which called for a small natatorium to be constructed at Cherry and Cary. In 2007, VCU abruptly changed its master plan, without community involvement, after a much larger recreational project was already submitted for state review. VCU still ignores “Issue 1” in regard to community relations.
In November 2014, VCU purchased the property at 9 W. Cary Street outside of its Master Plan boundary. In response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, VCU has confirmed that the VCU Master Plan boundary has not been changed to include the property at 9 W. Cary Street and that VCU did not inform its neighbors that it was purchasing property outside of its Master Plan boundary. VCU made no mention of the acquisition of the property was made at recent community advisory board meetings.
This appears to run counter to the Management Agreement between VCU and the Commonwealth of Virginia that states that capital projects must be “consistent with the University’s published Master Plan.” “Exhibit A … V. CAPITAL PROGRAM.
The President, acting through the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration or other
designee, shall adopt a system for developing one or more capital project programs that defines or define the capital needs of the University for a given period of time consistent with the University’s published Master Plan.” (Editor added emphasis for this post).
While the property in question (9 W. Cary Street) is not in Oregon Hill, and Oregon Hill neighbors are not against VCU’s Office of Continuing and Professional Studies receiving a new home, the fact that VCU continues to disregard its own Master Plan raises alarm bells for the surrounding community (and that includes more than Oregon Hill neighborhood).
Again, where is the accountability?
From a neighbor:
City called today to tell me that signs will go up on Dec. 18 and cleaning scheduled for Dec. 24 for the sides of Laurel and Holly that didn’t get leaf pickup.
After recruiting the help of several people, including a former City employee, Councilperson Parker Agelasto was able to find legal documents pertaining to deed restrictions on the Grace Arents school building that currently houses Open High School.
Links to large pdf:
Grace Arents School Deed Documents
Arents Grace School Deed actual
Neighbors are grateful as this will hopefully prevent the City from unwisely ceasing to use the building for the function for which the land was given to the city. Oregon Hill neighbors have largely been very supportive of keeping the successful Open High program in the neighborhood. Longtime residents also recall a somewhat similar situation some time ago where the City tried to sell off Pleasants Park, the ‘pocket park’ at Laurel and Albemarle (site of Laurel Street Methodist Church that burned down) to a developer, but re-located deed restrictions prevented it from happening.
In addition here is a photo of the deed whereby the St. Andrews Association conveyed the Grace Arents School property at Pine and China Streets to the City of Richmond in 1911 (DB 210c, Page 497; March 14, 1911). The deed specifies that the land will be used for a free school for city children.
A neighbor reports this morning:
water leak at idlewood and cherry has taken a turn for the worse. I noticed cars sliding on the long patch of ice that the leak turned into over night while trying to stop at the light. I called it in. I know someone else mentioned calling it in a week or so ago, but the city reported being unable to find an open case on the matter.
Here is a previous See Click Fix on it:
Issue ID: 1382972
Viewed: 8 times
Neighborhood: Oregon Hill
Reported: on 2014-11-30
DESCRIPTION
Cherry & Idlewood St.: The water is still seeping out of the manhole cover as of Sunday night. I think it had stopped for while on Sunday, but I’m not sure. It’s a fairly small amount of water. BY the way, does “Open” mean no one from the City has looked at this post yet? It’s a holiday weekend, so I imagine there’s not a lot of staff til Monday….
From Richmond Public Schools press release:
The Richmond City School Board is slated to take action on recommendations proposed for Binford Middle School during a special meeting scheduled Monday, December 15. The deferred action is based on feedback received from the public requesting additional information and discussion on the options presented.
At its December 8 meeting, the Board will receive a report and discuss findings from the district’s three community engagement sessions and
corresponding survey.
The news leaves many neighbors and Open High students, parents,and faculty concerned about the future of their program.
The district will host three community engagement meetings to allow the public to share their views regarding the proposed options for the future of Binford Middle School.
The Planning Commission will meet on Monday, November 17, at 1:30 pm in the 5th Floor Conference Room at City Hall. On the agenda is the final location, character, and extent review of the proposed roundabout for Idlewood Avenue between Oregon Hill and Randolph.
Please click here and here for previous posts on the roundabout project.
Editor’s note: I have been having difficulty receiving crime reports for the last week or so. I did reach out to Lt. Davenport from the Richmond Police Department and he did give me an update on car-break-ins:
From Lt. Davenport:
In regards to the car break-ins, there have been four reported in the last 30 days to RPD occurring in Oregon Hill. Three of those four involved unlocked motor vehicles and no property damage. The fourth was reported as locked and there was no property damage in that one either. These crimes have been curtailed for most of the year; however, I’ve seen an increase over the last month. I have 26 total vehicle break-ins occurring in Sector 413 last month with 65% of those involving vehicles that were unlocked.
Also, I will mention that Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s assistant Ida Jones posted this on his FaceBook:
5th District Residents we hear your concerns regarding leaf collection and we’re trying to get answers as fast as we can. Once we have a written statement from DPW (Department of Public Works) we will share. Thanks for your patience and understanding. ~ Ida Jones
From Councilperson Parker Agelasto:
As you begin penciling in your 2015 calendar, we hope that you’ll Save the Date for our 2015 District Meetings. All meetings start at 6:30 p.m.
