Residents push back on Richmond jail at East End site

With jail planning approaching a more-detailed phase, the City Council has asked the Jones administration to explain its decision to choose the current site over ones offered in South Richmond.

via timesdispatch.com WILL JONES.

New jail should be built at the current site — and now

Does anyone really notice the Henrico County jail as they drive by the Parham Road government complex?

via timesdispatch.com MICHAEL PAUL WILLIAMS.

Whither City Stadium? VCU has an interest

At the request of Mayor Dwight C. Jones, the City Council agreed Monday on a fast-track basis to allow City Stadium to be leased or used by outside groups for less than one year.

via timesdispatch.com JOHN O’CONNOR AND WILL JONES.

505 – 507 Libbie Avenue – Letter to City Council

October 25, 2010

Re:  Ordinance 2010-197 – Demolition of two dwelling structures and construction of office building in residential zone.

Dear Honorable Members of Council ,

For the record, ordinance 2010-197 should be stricken.

First, the applicant should request a rezoning to Residential-Office.  While the city charter gives the Council broad powers to grant special use permits that are not detrimental to the public welfare, it is an abuse of power to allow a landowner to circumvent the rezoning process.

Second, the proposed development violates the city’s Master Plan.  The plan limits the applicant’s property to transitional uses that protect the existing character of the adjacent residential zone.   The applicant’s residential structure at 505 Libbie Avenue has already been converted to transitional office use.  The proposed redevelopment would destroy the residential character and transitional buffer intended by the Plan.

Third, Rachel Flynn, Director of Planning and Development Review, misrepresented the facts when she stated in her report that:

The surrounding properties are also located in the R-4 district. Six of these nearby properties are currently authorized by special use permits for office uses. One of these properties, located across Libbie Avenue from the subject properties contains a similarly sized building with approximately 9,100 square feet.

In fact, the two office use properties across the street have buildings with only 2,132 and 2,160 square feet.  The average floor area to lot area ratio is .24 (FAR).  The applicant’s two properties have existing buildings with 1,850 and 1,163 square feet and a .10 FAR. The applicant proposes to triple the floor area  to .32 FAR.

It would be irresponsible, in a residentially zoned transitional buffer area, to approve the demolition of existing single family structures and allow the construction of an office building with triple the intensity.  The proposal is contrary to the zoning ordinances, the Master Plan, and the public welfare.

I am attaching a PDF file with photos and illustrations.

Urban-revitalization tour explores Broad Street corridor

This year, the tour explored the revitalization along the Broad Street corridor and simulated the proposed “bus rapid transit” route that would run west to Willow Lawn and east to Rocketts Landing. The former bank building, which was Richmond’s tallest from 1930 to 1971, was one of the properties toured by about 150 people on four buses yesterday.

via timesdispatch.com Jeremy Slayton.

Club ordinance and strong communication keeps nightlife safe

RPD Lieutenant John Beazley is in charge of the area.

“Inside a club you might have 150, 200 people,” he said. “Outside on the streets you might have 1000 or 1500 people. So the problem that was being caused inside is really minimal when you compare to what could happen outside.”

via nbc12.com Laura Geller.

Libbie Ave. projects have Tyler juggling roles

A pair of proposed office developments along Libbie Avenue have Richmond City Councilman Bruce W. Tyler carefully maneuvering between his roles as a public official and a private architect.

via timesdispatch.com WILL JONES.

City of Richmond and Chesterfield County Awarded $400,000

The plan will incorporate an analysis of the corridor including zoning/land-use, traffic circulation/connectivity, streetscape, housing, infrastructure, demographics, public open space and community services ending in sector analysis, a community outreach strategy, a sustainability approach incorporating green building principles, green infrastructure and methods of mitigating environmental conditions, a market analysis, a housing strategy, a list of proposed incentives for businesses, property owners, and developers, and residences, an open space and recreation plan, adaptive reuse of vacant property and the identification of funding sources.

via blogspot.com.

Richmond, Chesterfield to get $400,000 grant for Hull Street Road study

The funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation will be used to hire consultants who will study a variety of issues, including housing, business development and transportation, for the corridor from about Belt Boulevard in the city to Walmsley Boulevard in the county.

via timesdispatch.com WILL JONES.

Another baby step toward mixed-use on Canal Walk

Partners Fountainhead Development and the WVS Companies had requested several changes to restrictive covenants put in place when the Canal Walk was developed in 1994. Those changes have now been endorsed by the executive committee of Venture Richmond, and director Jack Berry said he expects the full board to approve the changes within the month.

via richmondbizsense.com Al Harris .