Category Archives: government

City Takes Possession of 816 Riverside Park

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From Councilperson Agelasto’s FaceBook page:

As of last Thursday, the City of Richmond became the official owners of 816 Riverside Park overlooking the James River in Oregon Hill. This derelict building has long been a concern to the residents of the neighborhood. It also has a prime location for would be homeowners. The City is exploring how best to return the property to private ownership. Stay tuned for your opportunity to live in a historic house with beautiful views of the James River and Hollywood Cemetery.

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Some of the previous posts on 816 Riverside here, here, and here.

5th District Meeting Tomorrow/ No CAPS Meeting This Thursday

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From email:

Dear 5th District Resident,

The purpose of this email is to notify you of our 5th District meeting on tomorrow, August 14 at 6:30 pm at the Randolph Community Center (1415 Grayland Avenue). Agenda items include a Richmond Public Schools update from school board representative Ms. Mamie Taylor, a programming update from Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, a special presentation from GRTC regarding route updates, an update on City Stadium and a Richmond City Council legislative update.

We’d also like to remind you that we will host a community clean-up this Saturday, August 17th in the Carytown and Stadium neighborhoods. We will be meeting at 9:00 a.m. at the City Stadium parking lot (600 McCloy St.). If you are interested in volunteering please contact our office at 804-646-5724.

Sincerely,

Parker C. Agelasto
Richmond City Council, 5th District

Also, from email:

Good afternoon, all!

This is a reminder that there will be no 4th precinct CAPS meeting for this month, in keeping with our summer break tradition. (We also don’t meet in December).

Our next meeting will be September 19th, at 6 pm at Linwood Holton Elementary, as usual.

As always feel free to get in touch with me with questions, comments, or concerns.

Thanks as always,
Matt Toner
MPACT
(804) 646-1062- desk
(804) 357-6969- mobile
matthew.toner (at) richmondgov.com

More On VCU’s Illegal Sign In Monroe Park

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From email about the sign (see earlier picture by clicking here):

Dear Members of the Urban Design Committee,

Please allow me to express the profound horror felt by myself and many members of the community over your recent consensus to recommend approval of a huge metal VCU Billboard encroachment in the sidewalk right of way adjacent to the intersection of Belvidere and West Main streets. I have attached a picture of the sign as it was installed- by mistake within the park property.

Even when positioned on the sidewalk location recommended by your committee, this sign obstructs historic sight lines through Monroe Park and is inconsistent with the Monroe Park Master Plan as adopted by the city.

The Monroe Park Advisory Council labored for 8 years coming up with an exciting and comprehensive Master Plan to implement an historically sensitive renovation which will return the Park, which is Richmond’s oldest and most historic park, to the jewel it should be. The city has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in consultant fees as well as in crafting construction documents. Your bad recommendation undermines all of this hard work and capital expenditure.

The manner in which you came to your conclusion is especially troubling. Not only were stakeholders, to include the Monroe Park Advisory Council and the neighborhood associations adjoining the park not advised of the vote in advance, but neither was city council. The neighborhoods that surround and use this park will be severely impacted by this ugly and huge metal billboard encroachment. Furthermore, since you opted not to meet in August, the minutes of the July 3, 2013 meeting in which you arrived at your recommendation were not voted for approval and consequently not placed on your website. This left the stakeholders totally in the dark and created a fete accompli for VCU and this wretched sign. For all intents and purposes, this huge billboard incorrectly “brands” Monroe Park as a VCU Facility. As guardians of aesthetic matters in the city, I just can’t imagine what you were thinking when you recommended approval for this huge billboard encroachment.

VCU participated in the design and supported the final draft of the Monroe Park Master Plan. By submitting the application which is inconsistent with the Master Plan, they are again engaging in ethically questionable behavior. Oregon Hill and other nearby neighborhoods have suffered at the hand of the VCU administration through unbridled encroachment during the Trani years and obviously again now that Rao is president.

In closing, I find the way that this issue was handled by the UDC to be the exact opposite of transparent government. I sincerely hope that city council will investigate and make recommendations limiting the scope of responsibility of the Urban Design Committee if not completely redefining the body. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

Sincerely,

Charles T. Woodson

Landmark Organ Controversy

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WTVR is reporting on a controversy regarding the Landmark (isn’t it the Altria Theater now?) Theater’s organ.

Recently the antique Wurlitzer organ that Lunde once played upon was disconnected and stored away. There are only about two dozen of its kind left in the country.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Lunde.
The controversy over the Wurlitzer began last summer. Lunde says renovation management at the Landmark wanted to remove the organ, he claims he was told to open up a few additional theater seats.
After outrage from organ enthusiasts worldwide, city council assured Richmonders that the organ would not be moved. Lunde and others felt relief, that is until this week.
“They cut the voice out of the organ because you can’t play it,” said Lunde.
Just last week after Lunde got a tip from a friend, he went to the Landmark theater and found the cable to the organ cut, cement poured where the playing console used to be and the instrument resting amid a construction site.
“It’s a trust issue,” said City Councilman Parker Agelasto.
He and Council President Charles Samuels were called on the issue and began asking questions. Samuels was told by the administration that the approval for removal came from Richmond CAO Byron Marshall, who was at the time unaware of the organ controversy.

As one neighbor wrote to our Councilperson, “The Administration needs a good talking to on destroying historic resources…A very unnerving pattern has been unfortunately established…”

But honestly, is anyone surprised by this, given what has gone on? What’s next? Center Stage asking for a percentage of every pint sold to fix the organ?

Councilperson Agelasto Takes On Illegal Dumping

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WTVR recently had a report on illegal dumping in City neighborhoods.

Excerpt:

Farmer claims this year is the worst yet. She claims as renters move out, their belongings move out to the curb or the alley. Sometimes the items remain in public right of ways for weeks.
“This one has been out here over two weeks,” said Farmer as she points to several old mattresses left in the alley behind her home.
It sometimes takes weeks before someone calls the city for a bulk pick up. Farmer believes it’s wrong to create such a poor reflection of the neighborhood and to assume someone else is supposed to pick up after you.
“I think its people who are used to their parents taking care them,” said Farmer.
City councilman Parker Agelasto recently captured video of an illegal dump near his home.
“it’s out of control essentially,” said Agelasto, who claims he sees similar messes all the time all across Richmond.
He was so appalled by the recent dump however that he called Richmond’s Department of Public Works and the Richmond Police.
“We’re talking huge amounts of garbage that’s not their primary function, that’s cleaning up an illegal activity,” said Agelasto.
Agelasto then stuck around to capture images of the DPW clean- up. He claims DPW is backlogged with calls to pick up what’s been illegally dumped and it’s putting strain on them and the police to have to correct other people’s mistakes. He says it’s time for the city to crack down on those who do it.
“Wherever you’ve moved, we’re going to find you and you’re going to be held accountable for what you’ve done, you can’t do this,” said Agelasto.
Richmond Police also acknowledge a huge problem with illegal dumping in the city, mainly in area where there is a high density of student housing.

From Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s FaceBook page:

Thank you Catie Beck for featuring the issue about illegal dumping in Richmond. Many people are concerned about the timeliness of bulk pick-ups; however, I believe we need to turn attention to the problems that are taxing City resources such that they impeded our regular response times. This includes the illegal dumping that occurs when rental properties turn over near the beginning and end of the school semester.

I ask that all City residents that witness such activity 1) explain that such activity is illegal and request that the individuals correct the issue, 2) document it with your cellphone, and 3) report it to the Richmond Police prior to requesting a bulk pick-up.

As a reminder, garbage must be properly bagged and in placed trash cans. If it is more than can be reasonably accommodated in the trash can, it is the resident’s responsibility to take it to the City dump. You may call for a bulk pick-up; however, there is generally a fee for this service.

If the illegal dumping persists, a lot of “personally identifiable information” can be obtained by simply looking at the garbage. The Richmond Police Department will use this information to investigate and make an arrest for a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

Certainly, this site has reported on on this problem in the past (here, here, here, here, and here) and it is exciting to have our new Councilperson address it. Hopefully his activism will spur more parties (landlords, VCU, THE RENTERS THEMSELVES, etc.) to take some responsibility.

Laurel Street Closure This Saturday

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From City press release:

For Immediate Release
July 31, 2013
For more information, contact:
Sharon North – (804) 646-5607

Street Closure – North Laurel Street
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Works

WHAT: Street Closure

WHEN: Saturday, August 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: North Laurel Street between Main Street and South Cathedral Place

BACKGROUND: The aforementioned area will be closed to allow for installation of an HVAC unit using a rubber tire crane.

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“Use of Certain Stones” – City Council Surprise

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I was going to wait until next week and the next Open Source show to report on the latest with the Kanawha Canal controversy, but then I spotted this in the agenda for tomorrow’s SURPRISE City Council meeting:

“Introduction of Proposed Ordinance to Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to Execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Richmond and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority Concerning the Use of Certain Stones from the Kanawha Canal.”

4th Precinct CAPS Meeting Tomorrow

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From email announcement:

Good afternoon everyone,

Apologies for the late reminder- I let this one sneak up on me a bit! Needless to say, our monthly 4th precinct CAPS meeting is this Thursday the 18th, 6 pm in the library of Linwood Holton Elementary School. We will have our usual updates from CAPS and RPD, with the addition of a short presentation on the recently enacted budget, and followed by our usual time for you to bring up issues from your neighborhoods.

Thanks as always,
Matt Toner
MPACT
(804) 646-1062
Matthew.toner at richmondgov.com

Letter and Article On Canal Wall Controversy

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Letter sent to Richmond Chief of Police:

Dear Police Chief Tarasovic,

It has been eight months since the demolition of the historic Tredegar wall on city property below Oregon Hill. At a regularly scheduled meeting on June 25, 2013, the membership of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) approved a resolution asking for a thorough investigation into the identity of the entity responsible for the tragic loss of this important historic asset and the processing of this entity through our legal system.

On Tuesday, October 16, 2012, an Oregon Hill resident witnessed a bulldozer purposely demolishing the Tredegar wall on city property. Within an hour of the demolition, contractors were photographed stacking the bricks on pallets, presumably for removal.

According to articles in the Richmond Times Dispatch, contractor Liesfeld admits that it was the contractor that demolished the wall. In the Oct. 20th T-D, Liesfeld identified NewMarket as the firm that hired them to demolish the wall. Later NewMarket, Dominion and Venture Richmond all denied that they hired the contractor to demolish the wall. Who hired Liesfeld to demolish the Tredegar wall on city property and what was the purpose of the destruction of this historic asset?

Dominion was apparently responsible for hiring the contractors for the 2nd Street Connector project, but according to Times Dispatch articles, Dominion states that they did not hire Liesfeld, and Liesfeld was not a sub-contractor for the project. Why was Liesfeld demolishing the 20+ section of the Tredegar wall if they were not a sub-contractor for the project or hired by Dominion?

The historically significant Tredegar wall was on city property and consequently was an important asset belonging to the citizens of Richmond, yet no effort has been made to identify the responsible party or to seek a suitable replacement wall in the exact location. This wall could possibly cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace.

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, a legally registered corporation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hereby requests that an investigation begin immediately and that the responsible party/parties be identified and subjected to due process under applicable laws of the Commonwealth.

Sincerely
Jennifer Hancock
OHNA, President

Click here to see article that appeared in today’s Times Dispatch.

Click here, here, and here to read some of the previous coverage on this site.