Shockoe Center planners lack deal for parking deck
The backers of a proposed ballpark in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom have not locked up access to a state parking deck on game days, despite a public claim that an agreement is in place.
Bryan Bostic, who is working to buy a minor-league baseball team to relocate to Richmond, was asked during a debate last week about the proposed Shockoe Center development whether his group had secured use of the state's parking deck at 14th and East Main streets.
"Yes, ma'am. Would you like to see it?" Bostic told debate opponent Jean Wight at the Public Square, hosted May 12 by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Wight, a Church Hill resident, responded that she simply was asking a question and wasn't requiring proof. But a day later, she contacted state officials and learned there's no such agreement, only discussions.
Pete Boisseau, a spokesman for Shockoe Center, said the developers have an "agreement in principle" for use of the state's 1,500-space parking deck. The agreement would be formalized as the Shockoe Center project progresses, Boisseau said.
He released an April 2 e-mail exchange between a representative of Bostic's group, Richmond Baseball Club, and Richard Sliwoski, director of the Virginia Department of General Services.
In his e-mail, Stan Joynes, an attorney with RBC, advised that Sliwoski likely would be contacted about after-hours use of the deck for Shockoe Center. Joynes added that it was his understanding that "parking would be made available consistent with the commonwealth's bond counsel's advice." Sliwoski responded, "exactly."
Sliwoski said this week that bond advisers would need to make sure that any outside use of the deck would not jeopardize the tax-exempt status of the bonds that were used for financing. That issue won't be studied, he said, until a formal proposal is submitted.
Wight said Bostic's statement was particularly disturbing because it came during a debate attended by Mayor Dwight C. Jones and City Council members.
Now, "I question their integrity on every other matter," she said of Shockoe Center's backers.
The ballpark is expected to attract, at most, 2,000 vehicles per game, according to the developers of Shockoe Center, which would include residences, hotels, restaurants and other uses.
Officials say the demand would be met by 4,100 existing spaces in decks and surface lots within a few blocks of the ballpark, as well as 820 new spaces that are part of the development's first phase.
In last week's debate, Bostic brought up the area's existing parking spaces in response to a comment from an audience member. Bostic's point was that many of the spaces are publicly owned and unused at night, when most games would be played.
"Let's leverage those investments" by making the deck available to baseball patrons, he said.
In 2000, when the city bought Main Street Station from the state, the city also agreed to a 30-year lease of 350 spaces in the deck at 14th and Main. The deal called for the city to pay $4.1 million when the deck opened in 2005, but city officials ultimately decided the spaces weren't needed, Sliwoski said.
"We mutually agreed that the state would let them out of their obligation," he said.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or
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Reader Reactions
How long is “a LONG time?“ Campbell Field was built in 2001 by the architectural firm Clarke Caton Hintz. Bostic stated the Bottom ballpark would be done by HKS.
BaseballFan12 said “By the way - it’s been a LONG time since construction costs have been this low, so you’re reluctance to build in “this economy” doesn’t hold water.“
Well if that’s the case then $60 million is too much. Highwoods renderings appear similar to Camden, New Jersey’s Campbell Field - a beautiful ballpark with a gable roof line ( http://www.michaelmancuso.net/Artists/7799/Images/827200680549PM_field.jpg ). Campbell Field cost 25 million although it seats only 6,425 (how much could 2,000 more seats cost?) ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell’s_Field )
There is a GLARING problem with renovating the Diamond that no one has addressed. If the “renovation” plan was similar to what was done in Albuquerque, where the entire grandstand was taken nearly down to the footprint, the project would take longer than one off-season. When Isotopes Park was built there was no baseball team in Albuquerque (their Dodgers AAA farm team of THIRTY YEARS had left town because they “...had a stadium that was in disrepair.“…sound familiar?) If the Diamond renovation was done properly, the AA team being brought to Richmond would have no place to play for one season. Eight months is not adequate time for construction of this magnitude. I believe this could be extremely problematic for the Bostic ownership group.
Also, don’t hang me for saying this, but a ballpark built in the 1970s and 80s in a symmetrical design became obsolete after Camden Yards was built in 1992. Most had a shelf life of about 30 years (Busch, Three Rivers, Riverfront, Fulton County and the list goes on). Think of a ballpark like a computer only on a grander scale (once the Pentium processor came along the 486 was instantly a fossil). I dare say the Diamond was the LAST symmetrical ballpark built in the country. Don’t flame me for saying this :-)
citycinic - given the opportunity to spend some of the city’s taxes on a project (of any type) in a better economic environment, in your ideal location, what would you suggest we do and where?
By the way - it’s been a LONG time since construction costs have been this low, so you’re reluctance to build in “this economy” doesn’t hold water.
baseballfan12: I’m concerned that you would even entertain the is responsible for any ot the projects you listed. The Convention had absolutely nothing to do with the BioiTech Park - VCU did. The Marriot was already there adn still never full to capacity. If you can tell me what a half-empty convention center has to do with a courthouse I’ll listen. The Performing Arts Center is a bust. I definitely woud not call the resurgence in Jackson Ward “major” and the Convention Center had nothing do to with that either. The Convention Center can take credit for being the site of a couple of shootings, though.
I agree that the INTENTION of the stadium prioject is to take back the city but the last thing taxpayers need is another INTENTION to finance.
I’m all for moving forward but not this project, at this location, at this cost, in this economy.
A lot of people seem to think the Diamond is some sort of Richmond monument we should be proud of.
I had the pleasure of walking through the Diamond last fall and the interior spaces look like a bomb shelter - AFTER the bomb went off. There are a number of utility and drainage issues associated with the Diamond that would be costly. The venue is oversized for our market and it’s urban design is not conducive to surrounding development because of the stairs required to access it and all of the surface parking around it. A renovation would require new accommodations for handicapped patrons which could cost $10 million alone. The design costs associated with renovations are far greater because you don’t know exactly what is there or how it has weathered over time.
I also don’t understand how anyone can think the traffic at the Boulevard is ideal. I live in Short Pump and drive by this location (and Shockoe) every morning. I get stuck in a 1-2 mile backup at this spot almost every morning. I’m rarely stuck at the Franklin St. exit - although it does happen.
If it would help me make my point, I’ll switch my screen name to Richmondfan12, but my point is the same. Other cities all over the country, our size and smaller, stood up a long time ago and said ‘mediocrity is not OK’. There are some AMAZING things to do in this city. But I think one of the most telling things about Richmond is that Innsbrook After Hours is drawing more people and better bands than Friday Cheers.
We are in love with our history, but afraid to do anything new. Whatever you did yesterday is history - was it great? If it was resisting a potentially ‘transformative’ city project, then it was anything but great.
Let’s look at the Convention Center, too. We’ve had a major renovation of the Marriott, the construction of the Hyatt, a federal courthouse building, a performing arts center, a major biotechnology research center, and a major resurgence in the Jackson Ward neighborhood. If you can’t see that the Convention Center had something to do with this, I’m concerned.
Also, Mrs. Wight used federal, state, and local PROGRAM money (see Public Forum info) to renovate her historic home. PROGRAM money is tax dollars - yours and mine. Her use of tax dollars benefited this community on a small, grass-roots scale. Other use of tax money (generated by the project) can benefit this community on a large scale. It takes more than home renovations to make a City - although it’s great that she did that. It seems like Mrs. Wight is allowed to use our tax dollars, but nobody else is. Is she untrustworthy because of that??
Please use your own minds to develop an understanding of what you want Richmond to be. Don’t always believe someone’s half-truths. Do your research - they’ve certainly made it available for you all to see. The INTENTION of this project is to stand up against mediocrity and take back our place as a city that can lead the way, not follow behind.
vcualumn.. Richmond really “smells” like a great city coming in from the south too..lol
Cabbage: Wow - thanks for shraing that information - I had not seen it before and found it very interesting. Even at $40 million, a new or renovated ball park is a much more feasable option than spending six times that amount on the Shockoe stadium and surrounding complex - a venue that majority of citizens have indicated they will not visit. The City has gotten into bed with Highwoods and seems intent on moving forward despite more intelligent options like the one you show here.
citycynic said “As for spit shining the Diamond - it can be completely overhauled for a fraction of what these bozos want to spend in the Bottom”
As many of you know Albuquerque had one the nicest ballpark renovations done in the entire country with completion of Isotopes Park ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes_Park )in 2003 for a cost of $25 million by HOK Sports (I would imagine construction cost in 2002 translates to at least 50 percent more today - maybe $40 million). Only two companies are widely know for superior ballpark construction: HOK (Camden et al) and HKS (Texas Rangers Ballpark and others). I could envision a beautiful ballpark on the Boulevard similar to Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_Pepper_Ballpark ) fashioned after Church Hill Downs. But the Manchester location would be the prize.
I say go for it. Richmond looks like a real city when you are driving up from the south.
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