A developer is eyeing Richmond’s City Stadium for possible development, but the community should also consider ways to make the 16.5-acre property near Carytown a better venue for athletic events, City Councilman E. Martin Jewell said.
Jewell, whose 5th District includes the 21,219-seat stadium, would not identify the developer but said the interest helped to spur three recent community visioning meetings. The sessions were conducted by Poole & Poole Architecture of Midlothian. The firm was working with Jewell at no cost, said Nea May Poole, a principal.
A letter sent out after the first meeting on Nov. 20 included no specifics but said "the open and collaborative dialogue produced a vibrant set of ideas." Jewell declined to elaborate.
"This is all so speculative at this stage of the game," he said.
Tammy D. Hawley, press secretary to Mayor Dwight C. Jones, said the city administration was unaware of the meetings.
"As well, we have not indicated to anyone that the site is available for development," she said in an e-mail.
The future of City Stadium has been unclear since early fall, when the University of Richmond moved its home football games to Robins Stadium on campus after playing at City Stadium since its 1929 opening. The city, which had leased the stadium to UR, is now allowing the facility to be leased on a short-term basis for events, such as a marching band showcase last month.November
Jewell said the meetings with residents were organized to see "what they would like to see there." He encouraged further discussion but said the community appears to favor retaining the stadium, at least in part for high school events.
"A city this size without a stadium is a little shortsighted," Jewell said.
Virginia Commonwealth University, which has discussed launching a football program, has acknowledged an interest in City Stadium and the land around it. Norwood Teague, VCU’s athletic director, could not be reached Monday. University spokeswoman Anne L. Buckley said the prospective developer is not VCU or its real estate foundation.
wjones@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6911
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