Williams: View of James should be preserved

From the rear of her Libby Terrace home, Cathy Hayden can see the James River view that named our city, the dock where slaves disembarked and the landing where President Abraham Lincoln came ashore days after Richmond fell to Union forces.

"The people who live here feel like they are guardians of MICHAEL
PAUL
WILLIAMS
this view," Hayden said. To drive that point home, they invited Cynthia I. Newbille to drink in the setting during her campaign for the 7th District seat on the Richmond City Council.

Newbille is now the councilwoman-elect for this historic Church Hill neighborhood after her resounding victory Tuesday night. And Hayden is among the residents confident that Newbille shares their opposition to the proposed Echo Harbour riverfront condominiums, which they say would obstruct a defining landscape.

"She assured us," Hayden said yesterday. "We got her to say it about 10 times."

Nearby Libby Hill Park overlooks the bend in the James that a sign touts as "The View That Named The City." Richmond founder William Byrd II is said to have named the city after observing the James from this vantage point and being struck by similarities with the River Thames in the English borough of Richmond upon Thames.

"I've been to Richmond on Thames," said Libby Terrace resident John Dillehay, "and the view is almost identical."

Dillehay said bus guides start their Richmond tours at Libby Hill Park, which he sees as a potential tourism windfall. But, "I don't think anyone wants to come to a park and look at the backside of a condominium."

During the campaign, Newbille said she would not take a position on Echo Harbour until a final proposal is submitted. "Any project that would preclude views or access [to the river] is not the project for us," she said.

Libby Terrace folks remain nervous about Newbille's backing by Del. Delores L. McQuinn, the former 7th District councilwoman.

"She assured us that she was her own person," Hayden said, referring to Newbille. As a result, at least some folks in the neighborhood threw their support behind her.

"We felt that Cynthia got the idea that Richmond is on the brink of being this wonderful tourist destination," Hayden said.

Newbille was the clear front-runner in the council contest. Her résumé -- chief of staff to then-City Manager Calvin D. Jamison, former manager of the city's East District Initiative and, most recently, acting director of the nonprofit East District Family Resource Center -- impressed voters.

"She had the best credentials," Dillehay said.

"If she wants to get something done, she knows how to do it," Hayden said.

If so, Newbille should do this: Oppose the Echo Harbour project, which would jeopardize a signature vista. What we need on the riverfront is not another tony residential development but more public green space.

We must preserve the James River and the rich history along its banks. To obstruct it from view would be more than tragically shortsighted. We'd block the path to our future.

Contact Michael Paul Williams at (804) 649-6815 or .

Follow Michael Paul on Twitter @RTDMPW