Community Discussions On Monroe Park and Idlewood Traffic Tomorrow Evening

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Scott

If you didn’t catch Friday’s Open Source RVA on 97.3 FM and http://wrir.org/, check out the podcast! Oregon Hill neighbor Charles Woodson of the Monroe Park Advisory Council talks about a controversial lease agreement that would give Richmond’s oldest park over to a private conservancy.

This should be required listening prior to attending the “Community Conversation” happening tomorrow evening at 6 pm at the Nile.

Join us as we collaborate with Richmond Magazine, TMI Consulting Inc., the Future of Richmond’s Past and local restaurants to offer our next series of “Community Conversations.” Each month we will discuss a locale in the city spanning from Shockoe Bottom to the Boulevard. Attendees will participate in a discussion with Harry Kollatz, Jr., senior writer with Richmond Magazine and author of two books on Richmond history: Richmond Ragtime and True Richmond Stories, who will facilitate a conversation on the significant events and changes that have occured in Monroe Park over time. By the end of the evening attendees will have a comprehensive view of the history of Monroe Park and how it has become the locality that we see today.

I know some neighbors will be missing this due to a conflicting meeting about the Idlewood roundabout project at the Randolph Community Center.

From Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s newsletter:

At 7:30 pm, the City’s Traffic Engineer, Tom Flynn, along with consultants from Kimley-Horn and Associates will meet with a task force of Randolph and Oregon Hill residents to discuss the problems and solutions in crafting a design for the a proposed roundabout along Idlewood Avenue.

The proposed roundabout has been a recommendation of the City Traffic Engineer with the City for about 10 years and was codified in the long-range Richmond Connects Multimodal Transportation Plan. In 2012, this had a series of public work sessions to make recommendations and included several modifications in March 2013 before being finalized in July 2013. The complete document is available at www.yesrichmondva.com/sites/default/files/documents/RichmondConnects.pdf.

The roundabout project was spearheaded by a coalition from Oregon Hill, William Byrd Community House, Byrd House Market, St. Andrew’s School, St. Andrew’s Church, and VCU. Due to the nature of the Downtown Expressway exit ramp and the traffic intersection at S. Cherry Street, this section of Idlewood Avenue is dangerous and poses a safety concern. VCU offered to contribute half of the cost of the project if the City contributed the remainder. These funds are currently in the budget and the City leveraged its share to receive matching funds from the State (meaning the City’s cost is only 1/4 of the entire project). That said, the concept is fully funded and a consultant has been hired to begin the design process with public input.

The Possibility Of Parking Permits

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Scott

Special thanks to Mr. Bergin for answering questions about parking decal regulations at last night’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting.

He sent this message this morning:

Hello all,

Attached as a PDF is the city code, Criteria for establishment of a
residential restricted parking district. I want to make a few points on
what we discussed:

1. You should have a minimum of 10 contiguous block faces, and as I
stated legal explained to me that if not contiguous, the separation of
blocks should be reasonable. Also, remember it is not blocks but block
faces.
2. Fewer than 60% of the properties within the proposed district are
owner-occupied. The calculation is based on the proposed district, not
an individual block face, and it is the property not the number of
households at a property.
3. There is nothing to prevent you from having different hourly and
time-restricted regulations in your district.

Please read section 102-301 which thoroughly discusses the process of
establishing the district.

Let me know when or if I can be of assistance.

Good luck and thanks,

Steven D. Bergin
Department of Public Works
Parking Division

Residentail Restricted Parking District

Traffic Concerns Grow

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Scott

The past few evenings have seen a LOT of traffic on S. Cherry Street. Neighbors attribute these gridlock conditions to a variety of reasons- VCU students coming back from winter break, VCU basketball schedule, audience attending Jersey Boys show at the Landmark, lane closures on Belvidere Street, construction on a water main at Cumberland and S. Harrison, etc. At one point it took over 20 minutes to drive in a car from the 600 block of S. Cherry Street to Cumberland.

Folks are also interested in knowing the status of the Idlewood roundabout project, and how Venture Richmond’s amphitheater plans (to be considered next at City’s Planning Commission on Jan. 21st) will impact neighborhood traffic.

Street Cleaning This Week

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Scott

Check for signs and be careful where you park your vehicles. It appears the City will be performing leaf removal and street cleaning this coming week.

Cherry Street neighbor, Jimmy, was doing his part to clean the sidewalk of leaves and other debris.

“Day of Infamy”, Also Don’t Forget the Christmas Parade On Broad Street

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Scott

Tomorrow the Virginia War Memorial will hold a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony.

From the Times Dispatch:

The event from 11 a.m. until noon Saturday will honor Virginians and all U.S. military who were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941.
The ceremony is sponsored by the Richmond Council of the Navy League of the United States. The Richmond chapter’s president, Milton Owen, will speak.
The program will include laying of memorial wreaths and special tributes to Pearl Harbor survivors who’ve been invited to attend.

From Wikipedia:

The attack on Pearl Harbor[nb 4] was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). The attack led to the United States’ entry into World War II.

The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. There were simultaneous Japanese attacks on the U.S.-held Philippines and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
…
There were numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan. However, the lack of any formal warning, particularly while negotiations were still apparently ongoing, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy”.

Also, don’t forget the Christmas Parade On Broad Street tomorrow.

South Cherry Street Traffic Congestion

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Scott

A neighbor took this photo yesterday evening. The City has been doing repaving and maintenance work on Main and Franklin streets and the theory is that this is the reason for the extra traffic.

Idlewood Roundabout Project Receives Funding From VCU

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Scott

This ordinance was passed by City Council last night:

Ord. No. 2013-209 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept $250,000 from Virginia Commonwealth University and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works’ Traffic Calming/Idlewood Roundabout project in the Transportation category by $250,000 for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Idlewood Avenue, Grayland Avenue and an off ramp from the Downtown Expressway.

Theater Controversy On Channel 6

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Scott

Click here for the story on Channel 6.

Well, this could have been a lot better, but it was certainly better than some previous coverage. It did not mention the historic Kanawha Canal (and how Venture Richmond’s canal history is WRONG), and still gave the mistaken impression it’s all about the Folk Festival (it’s not!), but at least it did acknowledge opposition. Thanks to our Overlook neighbor Nancy for appearing and making the case for reason.

Byrd House Market Sept. 10

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Scott

From email announcement:

The Goings On
First: The Food! I mean, really, SO good. Right?!?! You want to hop on your bike and ride right over!

2nd Tuesdays mean St. Andrews home canned marinara, pickle juice and other yummies. Soul Ice will be back this week and the ready to eats for dinner are from Phal’s and Ted & Kirsten’s. Herbal teas and medicinal plants from Shakambhari Gardens. We have breads and croissants from Margie’s, cakes and yam rolls from Bernie’s. Crocheted fineries and Felted toys from Pleased to be Crafting and Wandering Cow Farm. The best produce and fruit from Byrd Farm and Amy’s Garden and Deer Run Farm, Tomten Farm, Origins Farm, Agriberry, Heath Farm, and Epic Gardens. Sausages from Salt Pork, Mushrooms from Steve Haas, Yogurt, Milk and Cheese from Old Church Creamery, Herd Shares, butter and pasture fed beef from Faith Farm, Roasters and honey and jam and lordee it does go on…

Find recipes at EatGoodGrowGreat.blogspot.com or ask at the Byrd House Market Info Tent. We’d love to get some and share some!

Second: Did you not LOVE?
the acrobats from the Cirque Italia at last week’s market?? Shopper’s daughter Tegwyn certainly did!

As they left the Blue Lotus Collective crew “Nick and Friends” serenaded shoppers til market’s end. Pretty nice vibe all day.

Third: HURRAY for WBCH Byrd House Market and Byrd House Farmlet! The Whole Foods Market 5% Day was a great success – more than $5,700 raised for outreach, infrastructure and marketing for the farmlet and the market! This was especially groovy because the entire staff, executive director and board chair took shifts bagging groceries, handing out literature and sharing the great work of our agency and our nutrition education programs: the market, farmlet and community garden. What a payoff! Thanks to everyone who worked and shopped! Thanks to Whole Foods Market 5% Day and their 5th anniversary in Richmond!

Upcoming events:
September 20: WBCH CARNIVAL! 4:00 – 7:30 pm with petting zoo, giant inflatables, games and prizes! 5th District Councilman Parker Agelasto making a special presentation in honor of WBCH’s 90th Anniversary
October 22: National Food Day at the Market – Thank a Vendor Day!
October 21-25: National Food Day Week of events and opportunities with BHM and VCU.

byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com

See you at the market!

_____________________

Ana Edwards, Manager
Byrd House Market & Library Programs
Grace Arents Library & Education Center
William Byrd Community House
www.wbch.org / 804.643.2717 ext.306

Letter and Article On Canal Wall Controversy

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Scott

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.

Oregon Hill

News For Oregon Hill, in Richmond, VA

Category Archives: traffic