Category Archives: News

Article On Condemned Pine Street House

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From article in this morning’s Times Dispatch:

While a single dilapidated property can drag down values in a neighborhood, in many cases it wouldn’t be quite as literal as what’s happening to W. Thomas Wiles’ two-story row house at 418½ S. Pine St. in Richmond’s Oregon Hill community.
The condemned end unit next door, which shares a wall, roof and porch with Wiles’ property, has been vacant since late 2004, crumbling into ruin and pulling his house along with it, said Wiles, who keeps a binder full of code violations that the neighboring owner, believed to live in Maryland, has racked up with the city.
Despite eight years of phone calls and emails, he has been unable to get the city to do anything about the house besides tabulating code violations and tacking up bright-orange condemnation notices that have made it tough for Wiles to sell or rent his property.

There is also a related gallery of photos.

History Tourism

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While the City is supposedly working on its tourism plan, the Valentine Richmond History Center is refining and announcing theirs. Here are a few of the Oregon Hill/Hollywood Cemetery ones:

April 1
Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour (10-11:30am)
Monday – Saturday, April 1-October 31
Learn about the cemetery’s history, artwork, symbolism and famous residents, including two U.S. Presidents, writer Ellen Glasgow, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Generals George Pickett and J.E.B. Stuart. Meet at the rear of the stone structure on the left at the cemetery entrance, Cherry and Albemarle streets.

April 6
Civil War Sampler Bus Tour (1-5pm)
A comprehensive look at the unique role Richmond played as the Capital of the Confederacy. Includes Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom, Court End, the canal area, Hollywood Cemetery, Monument Avenue and the battlefields at Gaines’ Mill and Cold Harbor. Reservations: (804) 649-0711 x301. Meet at the History Center.

April 14
Hollywood Cemetery Specialty Walking Tour* (2-4pm)
An extension of the daily “Highlights” tour, this version covers in more detail the cemetery’s unique history, landscape design, architecture, symbols and residents. Meet at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle streets.

April 27
History Hounds Explore Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour (10am-12pm)
Dogs are invited to join their owners for this walking tour of Hollywood Cemetery, in partnership with the Richmond SPCA. Dogs must have current shots, mix well with others and remain on a leash. Owners are responsible for water and cleaning up after their dogs. Space is limited. Reservations: (804) 649-0711 x301. Meet outside the cemetery gates at Cherry and Albemarle streets.

There are even more in May. Check out the schedule by clicking here.

New Start Up: RVA Water Services

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Oregon Hill resident Nolen Blackwood has started a new venture called RVA Water Services.

RVA Water Services is a water based energy efficiency company focused on providing a water and sewer usage reduction program for multi-family properties by analyzing current usage and installing effective and efficient fixtures. These fixtures will be installed at no cost to the current owners with water and sewer charge savings split between owner and RVA Water Services over a fixed term. This model allows the owner to see positive cash flow from the beginning of the project and not requiring any capital outlay. Current technology allows for efficient fixtures to greatly outperform older products.
RVA Water Services is a member of Energy Star Portfolio Manager Program.

One of the catalysts is the proposal by the Mayor for Richmond’s water utility to switch to a conservation rate structure.

Blackwood has also asked neighborhood residents to help RVA Water Works win the 2013 i.e.* Start-Up Competition. Voting began yesterday and people can vote once per day for the next two days. RVA Water Works is listed under the Energy and Green Tech or you can follow the link to vote:

http://www.ie-rva.org/contest/start-up-competition-2013/rva-water-services/

School Board Proposes To Close Clark Springs Elementary

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From WTVR news:

The Richmond School Board has been considering closing two schools, as part of recent budget cuts.
Tonight, in a special meeting, board members put forth a proposal to close Clark Springs Elementary School and the Adult Career Development Center.
The plan calls for students from Clark Springs to be moved to John B. Cary elementary school.
A public hearing will be held at a later date.

From a neighbor:

I see that the School Board has decided to close Clark Springs Elementary School. This is the school near to Oregon Hill where we voted last election. Any thoughts on how this could affect our neighborhood? They still must have a public hearing. Could this cause a chilling factor on families with children moving to the neighborhood?

Peace Essay Contest Deadline for Entries is April 22

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From email announcement:

The deadline for entering the Richmond Peace Education Center’s 2013 Peace Essay contest is April 22, 2013. The theme for this year’s contest is “Learning to live in peace.” The writing prompt asks students to think and write about the roles their families or other care-givers play in teaching them about peace. They are further asked to write about how this teaching affects their actions in the community and the world; and to support their ideas with examples from their personal lives and from history and current events.

The contest is open to any elementary, middle, or high school student in Virginia. It offers a top prize of $100 in each of four grade divisions: K-3, 4-5, middle, and high school. Seven additional cash prizes are also awarded in each division.

Entry forms, along with contest rules and a conplete description of the writing prompt are available at www.rpec.org, or by emailing rpec@rpec.org.