Grace Arents Marker Gone Missing


Oregon Hill residents noticed last night that the Grace Arents historical marker that was next to the St. Andrew’s School on Idelwood has gone missing. A report has been made to the police. Considering the cost of this marker, if this is indeed theft/vandalism, it should qualify for grand larceny.

This is happening at a time of year when the neighborhood sees an uptick of vandalism with the arrival of VCU students. This is also happening at a sensitive time for Grace Arent’s legacy, with her historic affordable housing at Cumberland Linden having recently sold.

Residents Look Forward to ‘Mocha Gourmet Market’

From RichmondBizSense.com article:

After 25 years, a neighborhood market in Oregon Hill is under new management and set to get a half-million-dollar rebirth.

Fine Food Market at 700 Idlewood Ave. is now owned and operated by Ezaddin Alshami, who’s planning to renovate the store and rebrand it as Mocha Gourmet Market.

It’s the second local market for Alshami, who in December opened the Northside Gourmet Market in Barton Heights.

Fine Food Market had operated in Oregon Hill for over two decades, and during that time it was a client of Alshami’s ATM business TriTec ATM. That relationship led to a recent conversation about a sale.

“I talked to the owners and they were about done with it. We made an offer that they accepted right away,” Alshami said. “I’ve known the area for a long time and know the store’s potential.”

Alshami purchased the business and signed a new lease for the store. Alshami said the 46-year-old building has been neglected over the years, and that he’s preparing to renovate it and update the concept.

Be Prepared For Marathon Traffic

Are you ready for the marathon?

One neighbor pointed to one thing in particular:

I’m hoping this Waze map of Marathon road closures is wrong (because this makes no sense to me) but it is showing the exit from the Downtown Expressway onto the roundabout at Idlewood as being closed. I didn’t see this on the other road closures map, so just an FYI in case this is, in fact, accurate. The Waze map is linked on the Marathon website so it should be legit.

From police:

The 2019 VCU Health Richmond Marathon is just days away! Thousands of runners will take to city streets on Saturday, Nov. 16. There will be numerous “No Parking” zones and street closures will be in effect as a result.

The Richmond Police Department is asking motorists to be patient and on the lookout for runners along the routes. Maps of the courses are attached.

Please be aware of signs restricting parking and detours throughout the city starting at 8 a.m. Friday Nov. 15 and continuing through 8 p.m. Saturday Nov. 10.

The following streets will be closed or modified during the designated times:

· Tredegar Street between S. 7th Street and Brown’s Island/2nd Street Connector will be closed from 10 a.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Saturday.
· South 5th Street between Bragg and Tredegar Streets will be closed from 10 a.m. Friday until 5p.m. Saturday.
· South 5th Street between Byrd and Bragg Streets will be closed from 5 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Saturday.
· Tredegar Street between Dominion Resources and Brown’s Island Way/2nd Street connector will be closed from 3 a.m. Saturday until 5 p.m. Saturday
· Broad Street between Arthur Ashe Boulevard and N. 10th Streets will be closed from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Saturday.
· Hermitage Road (northbound) between North Laburnum and Pope Avenue will be closed from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m. Saturday.
· North Mulberry Street between W. Broad and W. Grace Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· North 3rd Street between E. Broad and Main Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Cowardin Avenue (One/Southbound Lane) between Semmes Avenue and Lee Bridge from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Longview Drive between Scottview Dr. and Wallow Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Huguenot Road between Huguenot Bridge and Cherokee Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· Windsorview Drive between Wallowa Road and Forest Hill Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Riverside Drive between Huguenot Bridge and Scottview Drive from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· River Road/Cary Street Road between Maple/Libbie Avenue and Three Chopt Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Lee Bridge (2/Southbound Lanes) between Belvidere and Cowardin Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Brook Road (southbound) between Fauquier Avenue and North Lombardy Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Fauquier Avenue (North and Southbound sides) between Crestwood and Brook Roads from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· Westmoreland Street between Monument and Grove Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Forest Hill Avenue (westbound) between Windsorview Drive and Semmes Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Pope Avenue between Hermitage and Crestwood Roads from 4 a.m. Saturday until 2 p.m.
· Scottview Drive between Riverside Drive and Longview Drive from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Belvidere (1/Southbound Lane) between Lee Bride and West Main Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Wallowa Road between Longview and Windsorview Drive from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Grove Avenue (westbound) between Westmoreland Avenue and Maple Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Monument Avenue (westbound) between N. Mulberry Avenue and Chantilly Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Semmes Avenue (westbound) between Cowardin Avenue and Forest Hill Avenue/Roanoke Ave from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Bellevue Avenue between Hermitage Road and Bryan Park from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· North Lombardy Street between Brook Road and W. Grace Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Brookland Parkway (both sides) between Hermitage Road and Loxley Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· East Franklin Street between N. 2nd and N. 6th Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Grace Street between N. Allen Avenue and N. 4th Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· West Grace Street between Arthur Ashe Boulevard and N. Allen Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 9 a.m.
· West Main Street between Belvidere and Arthur Ashe Boulevard from 4 a.m. Saturday until 2 p.m.
· 5th Street between East Grace and Bragg Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 5 p.m.
· Arthur Ashe Boulevard (northbound) between West Cary Street and Hermitage Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Arthur Ashe Boulevard (southbound) between W. Broad Street and Monument Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 9 a.m.
· Crestwood Road between Pope Avenue and Fauquier Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· Maple Avenue between Grove Avenue and River/Cary Street Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.

Recent Crime Reports

From CommunityCrimeMap.com:

ALL OTHER LARCENY
1XX S PINE ST
Aug 22, 2019 at 6:00 am
Data provided by Richmond Police Department (VA)📷

THEFT FROM BUILDING
6XX SPRING ST
Aug 22, 2019 at 4:50 am
Data provided by Richmond Police Department (VA)📷

BURGLARY/B and E/OUTBUILDING
3XX S PINE ST
Aug 22, 2019 at 12:48 am
Data provided by Richmond Police Department (VA)📷

HIT AND RUN
4XX S CHERRY ST
Aug 21, 2019 at 11:00 pm
Data provided by Richmond Police Department (VA)

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
9XX IDLEWOOD AVE
Aug 21, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Data provided by Richmond Police Department (VA)