Category Archives: traffic

Cherry Street Re-Connection?

Posted on by
Reply

I posted on this before, but new, conflicting information is still coming in.
Neighbors now say that they have heard this new ‘utility road’ from Riverside Park to where S. Cherry Street ends will be permanent.

In fact, Cherry Street used to be fully connected, as it looks on this old map:

Rumor is that neighbors as well as the City’s Parks and Rec Department are concerned by the lack of communication and what this road building is doing to create erosion behind Holly Street Playground.

Residents at the end of S. Cherry Street are also concerned about what this could mean for their enclave in the City, including the historic John Miller house which can be seen now from a new vantage point.

Re-Connecting Cherry Street to Riverside Park?

Posted on by
Reply

What is the City doing?

I suspect they are just creating a service alley before they figure out what they will do with 816 Riverside Park, but could this be part of a larger plan to reconnect Cherry Street with Riverside Parkway? Who has the skinny? Anybody, Historic Richmond?

Update: According to nearby neighbors, this relates to the larger plumbing work that is being done throughout the neighborhood.

Previous Canal Bridge Gone/2015 UCI Road World Cycling Race Looms

Posted on by
2

The previous canal bridge made from utility poles is now gone.

It is great to see people using the new canal bridge. (Though some jerk did dump a bucket of silver paint on it that had to be pressure washed off it). The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association may eventually throw a party to celebrate the new bridge. After all, its important to remember that it was that organization that secured the funding for it.

At the same time, one wonders how this plays into other riverfront planning. Evidently there are some high level meetings happening regarding Richmond 2015, the organizing committee charged with putting on the UCI Road World Championships.

Richmond 2015 has already come up with a course but will not disclose what it is for now. Officials say they want to work out contingencies before approaching affected communities.

The races will be disruptive to some residents because of road closings and the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to descend on the city.

But honestly, what is happening with the proposed ‘2nd Street Connector’? According to sources, C. Wayne Taylor’s questions are STILL waiting on answers from the City’s Economic Development Department.

Lots of Meetings Early This Week

Posted on by
2

I already mentioned the water pollution meeting on Wednesday, but there are a few other important meetings this week. Tonight the City’s anti-poverty commission seeks public feedback. While the meeting is in Gilpin Court, it would be interesting to include an Oregon Hill perspective. Tuesday, there is the monthly Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting, but earlier the GRTC Task Force’s Macro Subcommittee will meet-

From City press release:

Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force has established and will hold two subcommittee meetings

All residents are invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT The Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force has established and will hold two subcommittee meetings. The subcommittees include: the Macro Subcommittee, which will focus on long range transit planning issues, and the Services Subcommittee, which will focus on bus users’ service issues.

The purpose of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System. The meeting is free and open to the public and all residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

The two Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force Subcommittee meetings will be held as follows:

Continue reading →

Tomorrow Is National Bike to Work Day!

Posted on by
Reply

From announcement:

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is National Bike to Work Day and we will be recognizing this with the Mayor’s Bike Ride here in Richmond. There will be six (6) commuter bike convoys starting at various locations around the city converging on Monroe Park.

Elwood Thompson
Jennifer Wampler, Captain
Meet: 6:30, Depart 6:45

Bryan Park
Bud Vye, Captain
Meeting 6:20
Depart 6:30

Forest Hill Park – Stone House
Alan Cooper, Captain
Meet 6:30
Depart 6:45

Tricycle Gardens (Church Hill)
Michael Gilbert, Captain
Meet 6:30
Depart 6:45

Manchester – Plant Zero
Tom Bowden Captain
Meet 6:30
Depart 6:45

Laurel Park Shopping Center
Sheryl Finucane, Captain
Meet 6:20
Depart 6:30

The Deputy Secretary of Transportation David Tyeryar will deliver the Governor’s Proclamation, and then Mayor Dwight Jones will give a Welcome Address. At 7:30, we will depart from Monroe Park en masse for City Hall. I hope you will leave your car at home and join us for this fun event!

Jan Hatcher
Executive Director
Partnership for Smarter Growth

Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force Meets Thursday

Posted on by
Reply

From City press release:

All residents are invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT The Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force will hold a meeting. The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System. The meeting is free and open to the public and all residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

WHEN Thursday, May 10, 2012
4:00-6:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Department of Economic Development
Richmond Main Street Station – 3rd Floor Conference Room
1500 East Main Street; Richmond, Virginia 23219
(PARKING: Free parking is available on the west side of the building by using the Franklin Street Entrance and using the lot below the Interstate. When facing the Train Station from the Franklin Street Entrance, make a right and park towards the Clock Tower end. When facing the building from the parking lot, the entrance door to the Richmond Department of Economic Development is located on the right of the building.)

WHO Members of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force

CONTACT For more information, please contact Councilman Bruce W. Tyler, Richmond City Council, West End 1st District, at 804.357.6007; or bruce.tyler@richmondgov.com.

Continue reading →

Saturday’s Treasures And Then Some

Posted on by
3

From neighbor:

The estate sale at 409 1/2 S. Laurel will be back on this Saturday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Please come out and check out some treasures!

A lot of things happening around downtown this Saturday:

President Obama (and Coach Smart) is speaking at VCU, so beware of traffic craziness in that direction. (Maybe someone else will speak up…)

Although a bit out of the neighborhood, bicycle riders will converge at Dove Street and Richmond Henrico Turnpike at 10 am for the long awaited ribbon cutting of the Cannon Creek Greenway. It will be interesting to see how this and other greenway connections contribute to the Cap2Cap Trail (click here for their ride next weekend) and the East Coast Greenway. According to the latest riverfront planning, the East Coast Greenway will include the pedestrian bridge under Belle Island.

As mentioned here earlier, Oregon Hill’s closest branch of the Richmond Public Library, the Main branch, will be hosting the Friends of the Richmond Public Library Book Sale. Across 2nd Street from the Main library, the Richmond Hostel will be hosting a yard sale from 9 am to noon.

Also, Asian Festival at the Richmond Convention Center and Que Pasa Festival on the Canal Walk.

And then, closer to home, Medea Benjamin will be appearing at the William Byrd Community House from 7 pm to 9 pm at a Defenders meeting. Medea Benjamin is promoting her new book called Drone Warfare.

“Save Richmond’s canals, again”

Posted on by
3

A Times Dispatch guest editorial by Jack Pearsall makes a strong case for making Richmond’s historic canals a priority. There have been previous posts here on the proposed 2nd St. Connector, but Pearsall is more knowledgeable of the planning history that should negate it.

Here’s the beginning of his piece, but I urge readers to click here to see the rest of it.

Our historic canals should be saved so their future development can put Richmond on the map, as in San Antonio and Georgetown. But this opportunity could be mooted by well-intentioned pending schemes, which injure the canals in five places. There need not be this choice between canal and improvements.

In 1988, a canal committee of leading citizens designed a waterway for tour boats from the James River at the Great Shiplock to Maymont. The navigable James River & Kanawha Canal would be spliced with the millrace Haxall Canal. Renowned architect Carlton Abbott prepared plans and cost estimates.

Thanks to smart planning, much of the restoration was accomplished as part of the city’s Combined Sewer Overflow project. The rest remains unfinished, but possible.