Monroe Park Lease Proposal

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Click here to download a Monroe Park Ordinance and Lease.
This will most likely not get voted on by City Council anytime soon. But it could provide an interesting discussion point at the ‘Community Conversation on Monroe Park’ next Tuesday at the Nile Restaurant.

As one neighbor remarked,

This lease is a pretty outrageous document! I am just flabbergasted that the City Council would consider such an arrangement:

The Mayor is given the authority to appoint one-third of the board, and the administration is given the authority to approve any changes to the planned improvements.

The Tenant (Monroe Park Conservancy) pays only $1 annual rent, and pays no real estate taxes.
The Tenant shall establish polices of the use of the park, subject to approval of Richmond’s Chief Administrative Officer.

The Landlord (the City) pays for any damages to the park.
The Landlord, with VCU, pays for all police and security.
The Landlord at no charge supplies all gas, water, electricity, sewer, and storm water expenses.
The Landlord is responsible for repairing and replacing all structural elements.

Will Mayor Jones Destroy History?

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From C. Wayne Taylor’s website, City Hall Review:

January 27, 2014
VIA EMAIL TO:
Ms. Lou Brown Ali, Chief of Staff, lou.ali@richmondgov.com
The Honorable Mr. Baliles and Honorable City Council
City of Richmond
900 E. Broad St., Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23219 USA
Re: George Washington’s Canal at Tredegar Green
Dear Mr. Baliles and Members of Council,
Mr. Dwight Jones, Mayor of Richmond and President of Venture Richmond, wants to drastically reshape George Washington’s canal at Tredegar Green. Only a portion of the channel bottom would remain authentic.
Mr. Jones claims the canal berm interferes with visibility from the northern portion of Tredegar Green to the southern portion. Mr. Jones knows that raising the ground level of the northern portion of Tredegar Green would increase visibility to the southern portion.
Why is Mr. Jones proposing to lower the ground level of the northern portion of Tredegar Green?
Sincerely yours,
C. Wayne Taylor, Publisher
City Hall Review LLC
CityHallReview.com
Copy: City Clerk, Better Government Richmond, News media, Interested parties

Vicarious Travelers Series 2014 Announced For Main Library

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From HI-Richmond Hostel :

Vicarious Travelers Series 2014
Best Kept Secrets: Outdoor Adventure Close to Home

Where: Main Branch, Richmond Public Library
101 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA
Phone: 804-646-7223

When: Saturday afternoons from 3 to 5 p.m., refreshments served

Feb. 1 — Exploring the East Coast by Hostel: Affordable Adventures for the Young at Heart
Jennifer Burnett- DC, Baltimore and Boston
Sarah Weisiger- Harpers Ferry and Cape Cod
Virginia Vassar- New York

Feb. 8 — Best Birding Adventures along the Atlantic Coast
Don Messersmith, retired University of MD professor

Feb. 15 — Weekend Paddling Trips in Virginia
Justin Doyle-James River Association
Lillie Gilbert-Wild River Outfitters

Mar. 8 — Bike Touring for all Ages; how to prepare for your first bicycle tour
Champe Burnley-Virginia Bicycling Federation
Ron Corio-Virginia Commonwealth University
Calvin Pletcher, retired

Welcome Tree Work

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Oregon Hill residents are delighted by work on their street trees. Old, dying trees being removed and new ones planted.

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From a neighbor:

Many thanks to Councilman Agelasto, Luke McCall and others for the new street trees in Oregon Hill! They look great!!

photo

Community Discussion on Shockoe Bottom Alternative Vision

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This Thursday evening at 7 pm there will be a meeting at the William Byrd Community House to discuss alternative plans to the proposed Shockoe stadium. This is the sequel to a previous meeting.

From the FaceBook event page:

We invite Metro Area Richmond residents to come learn about the history of Shockoe Bottom and an alternate vision for its future.

This is an opportunity for the African American community to weigh-in on an alternate plan for the Bottom.

Please feel free to direct any comments or questions to:

People for a Just Richmond Coalition
AJustRichmond at gmail.com
804-803-1453 (Voice Message)

We are including a link to the alternate vision for your review:
[http://shockoebottom.blogspot.com/p/our-proposal.html]

We are also including the No Stadium BlogSpot for additional information for your review as well…
[http://shockoebottom.blogspot.com/]

City Planning Commission Postpones Vote On Amphitheater

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Excerpts From the Times Dispatch article:

The Richmond Planning Commission voted Tuesday to postpone a vote on Venture Richmond’s amphitheater proposal for Tredegar Green after hearing concerns about the possible impact on future plans to re-water the James River and Kanawha Canal.
…
But commissioners continued a vote on a final plan review until early March to allow the City Council to take up an amendment to Venture Richmond’s lease that would require the organization to raise the height of the canal towpath to about 85 feet if, at some point in the future, the planned 83 feet proves insufficient to allow boats to navigate the canal west to Maymont.
The vote was unanimous with the exception of Commissioner Melvin Law, who abstained. The lease amendment was raised as a solution after the Planning Commission was advised that it did not have the legal authority to attach a future obligation to the property that’s not directly tied to Venture Richmond’s plans.
…
“I don’t want to put it at 85 feet just because somebody from Oregon Hill wants it that way,” Berry said.