Probably in relation to the installation of new poles, Dominion has been texting customers in parts of the neighborhood in regard to planned power outages.
Dominion Sends Power Outage Notification
Reply
‘Is Oregon Hill Under Attack?’
“If you ask Valerie L’Herrou, she’ll tell you that there is a “historical feeling that Oregon Hill is under attack.”
L’Herrou, who is president of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, attributed that feeling to decades of mistreatment — from racist redlining that denied financial resources to residents, to Ethyl Corp.’s acquisition and demolition of historic homes, to being rent in two by the Downtown Expressway, to Virginia Commonwealth University’s attempt to snap up land and tear down significant landmarks.
Oregon Hill’s residents managed to weather Ethyl and the interstate, and to stave off VCU’s expansion bid. Had they not done the latter, the parcel of land on which L’Herrou’s house is built would now host a college soccer field.
But 43 years later, she said it seems as if the war is back on.
L’Herrou said residents are anxious about the city’s zoning overhaul process, which has deemed more than 80% of Oregon Hill’s buildings out of conformity with the current zoning ordinance. The so-called nonconformities will influence possible zoning changes, which L’Herrou and others fear could result in the demolition of the quaint historic homes that define the neighborhood in favor of large, modern developments.”
Many residents are very thankful for this attention by reporter Sam Parker and urge him to keep investigating. For Planning Dept. officials to not seem to care about the accuracy of the ‘pattern book’ that Richmond taxpayers paid for is shocking. This sadly corresponds with incorrect data from the ‘Richmond300’ team that declared that Oregon Hill was ‘mixed use’.
Hopefully the media spotlight will continue when the neighborhood is barraged later this spring, summer, and fall by crowds and noise from the new amphitheater and Brown’s Island concerts. It’s not lost on Oregon Hill residents that their stages are pointed right at the neighborhood.
The feeling is certainly one of being ‘under siege’.
Get ready to move those cars!
Street cleaning next week. Look for the signs.
Rolling Up The Bubble
In what some see as a sure sign of Spring, VCU workmen roll up the bubble dome that had been over the VCU tennis courts on W.Cary.
Not sure when these tennis courts will be demolished to make way for new construction…
Holly Street Playground Design Open House Tomorrow Evening
Tomorrow night at 5:30 pm at Pine Street Baptist Church, there is a ‘Design Open House’ for Holly Street Playground
Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow Morning
Tomorrow is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup.
Please go over what can be recycled.
NOTE: CVWMA (Central Virginia Waste Management Authority) has announced that all curbside recycling must now be INSIDE the CVWMA containers with lid closed. Items beside the container or on top of it will not be collected. In fact, incorrect setouts may not be collected at all. This is new as of July 1 for all our curbside recyclers, with the exception of townhomes/condos still using small bins. (And yes, this also applies to flattened cardboard boxes.)
Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. More CVWMA information can be found at this link:
https://cvwma.com/cvwma-locations/richmond/
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.
In national recycling news, it comes as no surprise that the EPA’s national recycling goal is under a lot of pressure by the Trump administration.
Say Hello To New Poles H0101DomE011 and H0101E0Dom21
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper At Pine Street Baptist Church
From Facebook event page:
Join us for our Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, March 4, at 6:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit the church benevolence fund, which allows us to help people financially throughout the year.
The cost for the dinner, which includes pancakes, sausage, baked apples, and beverages, is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 12-5, $25 family max.
This year we are happy to announce that singer and performer Joycelyn Oldlam Von Klein will be our musical guest.
https://www.jocelynoldham.com/about
If you are interested in attending, then please reserve your spot by emailing your reservation to info@pinestbaptist.com
We would love to see you at this community fellowship.
OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night
The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) is meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 25th, at 7 pm.
This meeting will be held online by Zoom. (Editor’s note: Zoom info redacted, please email ohnarva@gmail.com for that)
Proposed agenda and ‘other news’:
Welcome
Community and local Officials Updates: Police, VCU, RVA
Introduction to new VCU Police Chief Clarence Hunter
Committee updates:
Zoning, FoOHP, RvaPB, Bylaws
Discussions
Creating two working groups:
Neighborhood traffic safety workgroup to address intersection safety
Joint OHNA & VCU workgroup to address student/landlord problemsUpdating OHNA’s emailing and calendar systems
New Business:
——————————–O T H E R N E W S
Richmond Alert systems:
Richmond Ready
Text RVAREADY to 888-777
Visit: https://rva.gov/richmondreadyalertsDPU Utility Work Notifications
If you wish to subscribe to SMS text messages only, text RichmondDPUVA to 38276. There is also a mobile app available.VCU Alerts
Community members may sign up for VCU’s text message alert system to receive information about campus emergencies and cancellations.Richmond Zoning: “Code Refresh” events
February 26, 2025
4pm-7pm
Huguenot Community Center, Huguenot High School, 7945 Forest Hill AvenueFebruary 27, 2025
9am-12pm
City Hall – 1st Floor Lobby, 900 East Broad StreetFebruary 27, 2025
4pm-7pm
Richmond Main Public Library in the Basement Auditorium, 101 East Franklin StreetPanel Discussion on Housing and Richmond’s Zoning Refresh
March 11, 2025
7pm-8:30pm
TBDMayo Island Park Open House & Community Meeting
Weds, March 5 6 – 8pm
Marvel Studios – 300 E. Main StreetRichmond “I Voted” Sticker Contest
Submission Guidelines: Designs must say “I Voted” and include some reference to Richmond or Richmond People’s Budget. Digital or hand-drawn designs are welcome (hand-drawn designs must be scanned or photographed clearly). Submit your design by February 28, 2025 via the Sticker Design Contest Form email https://form.jotform.com/250425490476055 to info@rvapb.org—
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
David Shannon, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer
JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86
Snowy Riverside Park
