Wilder is defending his stormwater utility proposal. As an environmentalist, I am not against the idea of a stormwater utility, but there is a lot more to this than meets the eye.
As Oregon Hill residents have stated, the pools of water are still pooling, and thankfully at least one mayoral candidate has taken notice…
Hunter Purdie grew up in Oregon Hill. The following General Assembly resolution will honor this fine man.
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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 602
Offered March 3, 2008
Celebrating the life of Hunter Coleman Purdie, Jr.
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Patron– O’Bannon
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WHEREAS, Hunter Coleman Purdie, Jr., of Richmond, age 86, a respected citizen and an outstanding educator and former band director at Douglas S. Freeman High School in Henrico County for 29 years, died on February 25, 2008; and
WHEREAS, Hunter Purdie served his country in the United States Air Force during World War II, and after the war, he earned an undergraduate degree from what is now Virginia Commonwealth University and received a master’s degree from the University of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, as a young accomplished musician, Hunter Purdie played professionally with local dance bands and was one of the original members of The Continentals; he also performed with the Tony Pastor Band, featuring popular singer Rosemary Clooney; and
WHEREAS, Hunter Purdie was a teacher at Varina High School before joining Douglas S. Freeman High School as its first band director when the school opened its doors to students in 1954; and
WHEREAS, a versatile teacher, Hunter Purdie taught choral classes and music in addition to his duties as band director; and
WHEREAS, possessing many musical talents, Hunter Purdie played with the Richmond Symphony, arranged the Douglas S. Freeman Alma Mater and published several of his own musical arrangements, and he was still active and playing bass guitar when he performed at the school’s 2007 class reunion; and
WHEREAS, Hunter Purdie retired from his distinguished career in education at Douglas S. Freeman High School in the early 1980s, but he remained devoted to the school and its students; and
WHEREAS, Hunter Purdie will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 58 years, Carolyn Upshaw Purdie, his many relatives and friends, and the students and faculty of Douglas S. Freeman High School; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine educator and outstanding Virginian, Hunter Coleman Purdie, Jr.; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Hunter Coleman Purdie, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.
As King, I announce the extension of Oregon Hill’s border southward to include Belle Island and its smaller islands.
There was time not so long ago when it looked as if the neighborhood would be cut off from the James River, despite its historic and natural connections to it. Ethyl Corporation had bought much of the land south of Holly Street and demolished the historical houses there. Dominion Power had bought James River Paper company and was annexing much of Tredegar Street.
Fortunately citizen ‘guerrilla engineer’ volunteers took it upon themselves to quietly build the wooden railroad tie steps from Overlook area down underneath the entrance ramp for the Lee Bridge to the old canal bed. Dominion Power volunteers then built the utility pole bridge across the canal to enable easier access to the river bank. The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association won two significant grants to help fund the greenway connection. These funds will be used soon to replace the current bridge with a more permanent one. It is clear that Oregon Hill will not give up its connection to the James River.
With so many residents enjoying Hollywood Rapids and other river amenities, it makes sense to go ahead and secure our own official claim on the island territories in the river. This annexation will guarantee access and as well as bestow more responsibility upon Oregon Hill residents for protecting said resources.
However, because James River Park Manager Ralph White and other City employees and volunteers have worked so hard to improve the environmental and recreational features of the river, I have decided to allow my fellow Aries, ‘Saint Ralph’ White, to continue to administer Oregon Hill’s newest territory on behalf of the City and all of its citizens. This arrangement will remain in effect unless there is a failure to protect the Park in the future.
I strongly encourage all my subjects to do their part for the James River .
Over the years, Oregon Hill’s boundaries have clearly changed. In fact, some wags say that the actual Oregon Hill neighborhood, as first established, existed mostly further east of it’s current location. Whole streets of row houses (and Pratt’s Castle in Gamble’s Hill) made way for institutional development, like the Virginia War Memorial and Virginia Housing Development Authority. Of course, the neighborhood has been steadily forced to give ground to the expansionist plans of Virginia Commonwealth University. Oregon Hill used to be on Main Street.
As King I declare Oregon Hill’s current boundaries as the following: to the east, Belvidere Street, to the west, Hollywood Cemetery and S. Harrison Street, to the north, W. Cary Street, to the south, the north bank of the Kanawha Canal.
This is necessary for three reasons. One is that VCU, the City, and other entities keep trying to play games with the official borders and that is unacceptable. Secondly, in addition to defining the current area, with this royal declaration, I am unilaterally acting to name Oregon Hill one of the City of Richmond’s Old and Historic Districts.
Some explanation may be in order: Oregon Hill already has Federal and State recognition as a historical district. “Oregon Hill is one of the best examples of an intact working-class Victorian (1837-1901) neighborhood in the United States.” It has many historic structures- from Grace Arents‘ legacy- the William Byrd Community House (the first free library in Richmond), the Arents School (Open High), St. Andrew’s Church, to earlier Quaker and free black buildings- the Jacob House, the John Miller House, and the Parsons House, to name a few. There is no doubt that it is worthy of being included as a City Old and Historical District.
For years, many preservationists have lamented that Oregon Hill had not received this status. If it was just a matter of getting a vote from the neighborhood association, it would have been done years ago. Unfortunately, it had required a petition drive that many absentee landlords and speculators would not want to take part in. With this decree, I bypass the bureaucracy.
While State and Federal status offers some protections, City designation offers more. In the past there has been concern from residents and property owners that going with the designation would surrender too much control to the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR), but since I am King and all final decisions come to my absolute authority anyway, there is now less concern with CAR’s power. I will hear neighbor appeals and rule accordingly.
Which bring me to the third reason for declaring the boundaries. As King, I reserve my right to expand them in the future. Since the City no longer annexes surrounding areas, I might as well annex on behalf of the neighborhood. To be announced…
In what is surely to bode well for future diplomatic relations with Southside, I attended a party last night off Forest Hill Avenue and was treated to a surprise coronation ceremony that recognized my new found position. It is good to be King.
Peak Oil vs. Global Warming vs. The Long Emergency and about a half dozen other scary phrases…
As the newly declared King, I intend to lead a war on fear itself by crafting a long term policy dedicated to the principle of self-sufficiency. With the price of a gallon of gasoline or a loaf of bread soaring, now is the time for Oregon Hill to start thinking about how to provide its own energy and food. This neighborhood is no stranger to faring for itself. Done properly, this strategy will only strengthen the neighborhood.
And it is important to recognize that this sort of thinking is already prevalent in many existing initiatives. The Grace Arents Community Garden, started by the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association and now administered by Tricycle Gardens, is just one of them. Obviously, even with the addition of outside produce sellers brought in by the Byrd Market, this one community garden will not be able feed all Oregon Hill residents. Community gardens should still be supported and grown, but they will most likely be stripped very quickly if crisis emerges, so private gardens are also necessary. Even if emergencies do not present themselves, residents will benefit from an abundance of fresh, less expensive food and an improved environment resulting from a determined ‘greening’.
Its not just fresh produce. While Fine Foods has a decent selection of beer, candy, and other materials, it is lacking in other categories. The Earthlings Organic Food Coop is a valuable enterprise for the neighborhood, but I am reluctant to count on the monthly truck delivery to meet all packaged food needs. Mama Zu’s, 821 Bakery Cafe, Mojo’s, and a soon-to-be-reopened Hollywood Grill offer options, yet it is clear that the neighborhood could use more. Stockpiling and emergency pantries are a must.
With these factors in mind, I give my second royal edict: GROW MORE FOOD. Start vegetable and victory gardens now. Using square foot gardening and sustainable farming methods, I am confident that my subjects can find many public and private places to fulfill this command. Residents do need to be careful to avoid contaminated soil, and more crabgrass and vermiculture is desired to help de-contaminate. Irrigation from rain barrels and beekeeping are encouraged. At this time, until tribute is demanded, citizens should feel free to sell and trade their crops without royal interference.
Again, this is the first of many coming decrees that will form my overall policy of self-sufficiency.
I have been President or Co-President or Acting President of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) for over four years now. No one has offered to take over that leading position, or that of moderator of this neighborhood blog, or that of owner of the neighborhood email discussion group. OHNA elections have been postponed or delayed for months, much to my disliking. Therefore, at the risk of a street beating by old-timers and taunting by college students, I, Scott Burger, hereby renounce all titles other than that of King of Oregon Hill. I declare my intention to rule by fiat as supreme leader of the neighborhood until I decide otherwise.
I recognize the potential concern that this assumption of power will create, and I assure my neighbors that I will continue my benevolent reign, with mind to fairness and order for all. In return, I do demand fealty, obedience, and respect, and, perhaps at some point in the future, tithe and tribute. At this time I am considering the appointments of royal advisors. For now I will hold my court at the same time and place as that of the regular OHNA meetings, 7pm of fourth Tuesdays at the William Byrd Community House.
I already formulated several royal decrees, and those will appear on this website in short order. Until notified otherwise, residents and visitors should still follow and respect the laws of the City of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States of America.
Scott Burger
One of the things that makes this site different from most of the other local neighborhood/community blogs is it’s relationship to the neighborhood association. I serve as President of the neighborhood association as well as manager/moderator of this blog. At this point, I am certainly willing to step down from one or both positions if replacements are agreed upon.
The topic of minutes is tricky. On one hand, the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) does want to be transparent and open, on the other hand, its important that neighbors feel free to speak at meetings and that standards are kept. I will try to offer these OHNA meeting minutes on this site whenever I can, however I also think it is important that they be approved by the Association before publication. This may prove difficult if quorum is not reached and the Secretary position remains unfilled. At tonight’s OHNA meeting, the January meeting minutes (taken by acting Secretary Silver Persinger) were approved for publication.
Continue reading
No response whatsoever.
From: scottburger@mac.com
Subject: Ordinance No. 2008-34
Date: March 14, 2008 1:56:25 AM EDT
To: PantelWJ@ci.richmond.va.us
Cc: Norman.Sales@Richmondgov.com
Dear President Pantele,
The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association takes a strong position against VCU’s request to close two alleys within the Oregon Hill Historic District. We believe that the legal requirements for alley closure established by the Richmond City Code Section 90-327 were not followed, and, therefore, the vote to approve the Ordinance No. 2008-34 closing was in error and must be reversed.
City Code Section 90-327 (2) specifically states that an ordinance proposing a city alley closure cannot be introduced until written consent is given by the owners of real property who have a right of ingress and egress from their own property to those portions of the alley to be closed and whose property is situated between the block boundaries encompassing a proposed alley closing. These written consents must be approved as to form by the city attorney and filed in the office of the city clerk.
It is our understanding that neither the City nor VCU obtained the written consent of the two property owners at 130 and 132 S. Cherry before the Ordinance No. 2008-34 was introduced, as required by City Code Section 90-327 (2). These two property owners have a right of ingress and egress from their property to the portions of the alley to be closed and their property is situated between the block boundaries encompassing the proposed alley.
President Pantele, we ask that you request the City Attorney to review this matter as soon as possible, and we request that Ordinance No. 2008-34 be nullified as not meeting the legal requirements of City Code Section 90-327 (2).
Sincerely,
Scott Burger
President, Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
In this Times Dispatch article by Tyler Whitney, it becomes clear that VCU is no longer being held accountable by government. Citizens have no recourse. Our elected leadership has sold us out.
“The new independence gives VCU the authority to acquire land without state approval, Bennett said.”
So much for the Downtown Master Plan…