Downtown
Historic Main Street Station: $29 million; Most of the money is from the federal government.
STREET UPGRADES: streetscape improvements on Franklin Street; $2.5 million.
FARMERS’ MARKET: $2.1 million.
A local freelance photographer arrested while taking pictures of the Occupy Richmond protest downtown has agreed to perform community service. In exchange, he says, prosecutors say they’ll recommend that his case be dismissed….He was handcuffed after walking into a crosswalk to get a clearer view….”Ian was arrested for trespassing in a public way, which is almost an oxymoron,” says Paul Fletcher, president of the Virginia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists…. styleweekly.com
….The murals that would sit in a historic district required the approval of the Richmond Commission of Architectural Review, which granted permission for nine of them….The murals that would sit in a historic district required the approval of the Richmond Commission of Architectural Review, which granted permission for nine of them…. timesdispatch.com
Commission of Architectural Review denies application for rear porch roof. Paper Number: 2012-R18.
March 15, 2012
VIA EMAIL TO: Bruce.Tyler@Richmondgov.com
The Honorable Bruce Tyler
City Council
City of Richmond
900 E. Broad St., Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23219 USARe: 2nd Street Connector Information
Dear Honorable Council Member,
The proposed 2nd Street connector would cause a major change in the character of the area. I think it is very important to fully understand the proposal and the various factors involved.
As you know, the administration has not been transparent in this matter. Economic Development even tried to charge me for copies of the documents discuss with city council.
Therefore, I request that you help insure that citizens have all the facts. Will you please provide or obtain answers to the following for the public and me:
1. Has an elevation rendering of the proposed crossing of the historic canal been presented to council?
2. Has a perspective rendering of the proposed connector been presented to council?
3. What is the acreage of the land that is proposed to be conveyed to the city west of the connector?
4. Why does the Planning Commission letter state that the area on both sides of the connector will be privately owned?
5. Why is there a proposed parcel boundary down the middle of the historic canal?
6. What is the acreage of the land that the city is providing for stormwater detention.
7. Does the stormwater detention facility essentially block access of city land to Tredegar Street?
8. Does the parking area connect to Tredegar Street or the connector?
9. How many parking spaces are gained or lost?
10. Does the city have the right to require that the connector be put on the Tredegar Ironworks parcel under alternative B-3 of the 1995 agreement?
11. Does alternative B-3 provide better topography to cross the historic canal and provide more clearance for boats.
12. Why was the connector project assigned to Development rather than Planning?
13. Has Planning been prohibited from commenting to citizens about the connector?
14. Has the planning director issued an analysis of the pros and cons of a connector?
15. Has the city traffic engineer issued a report on the connector?
16. Who prepared the traffic analysis report?
17. Has part of the traffic analysis report been redacted?
18. Is it correct that the connector is not shown on the Downtown Master Plan?
19. What elements of the connector are not consistent with the Downtown Plan and UDC Guidelines.
20. Why were the trees cut down after the Planning Commission reviewed the connector concept plan?
21. What happens if the city requires clearance over the historic canal and refuses to pay the cost?
I believe the following is correct:
22. Road construction grading will cut into the profile of the historic canal.23. The stormwater detention facility will cut into the profile of the historic canal.
24. Water flowed in the historic canal until about 1970.
25. Slave labor was used to construct the historic canal.
26. An 1880 bridge was built over the unused canal in a traditional arched style.
27. The historic canal is on the National Register of Historic Places.
28. The top executive at Dominion Resources received total compensation of $16.9 million in 2010.
I have attached copies of the documents that the Jones Administration attempted to charge me to have.
Thank you for your attention,
Copy: Council, Liaisons, Press
1 Attached file| 9.3M
James River & Kanawha Canal Locks 1-5
Between 10th and 13th Streets, North of Byrd St.
Richmond
Virginia
HAER No. VA-23PHOTOGRAPHS
REDUCED COPIES OF MEASURED DRAWINGS
WRITTEN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA
Historic American Engineering Record
National Park Service
Department of the Interior
Washington, D. C. 20240
….The City of Richmond has begun work to construct a pedestrian bridge across Kanawha Canal under the Robert E. Lee Bridge, located just east of the Oregon Hill neighborhood…. richmond.com
The statement said, “Stay tuned, more dynamic entertainment is coming your way,” but did not elaborate…. timesdispatch.com
….Two Richmond developers will turn five historic buildings, in the first phase of construction, into 175 apartments with 8,000 square feet of retail space. …”This is the linchpin project we have been waiting for the last 15 years,” said Jack Berry, executive director of Venture Richmond, a downtown advocacy group. “It will enable the completion of the Canal Walk from the Turning Basin to Brown’s Island.”… timesdispatch.com
[mayor Dwight C. Jones] has extended the management agreement…city doesn’t have time to seek bids for a new contract….intends to request proposals to hire a consultant….timesdispatch.com
After more than a year of announcements that speak of new developments, drama at First Fridays and various proposals being introduced and abruptly withdrawn, where does the city stand on the creation of a downtown arts district?…[councilor Charles R. Samuels] declined numerous interview requests, instead providing a written statement…. styleweekly.com