Council considers funding for Shockoe Bottom study
Richmond City Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson wants to find out how -- and whether -- various plans for Shockoe Bottom are going to fit together.
As part of their review of the proposed fiscal 2009-10 budget, council members will consider setting aside $150,000 toward a planning study for the historic area.
Specifically, they want to look comprehensively at the proposed Shockoe Center ballpark development, bus transfer center for GRTC Transit System and slave-heritage projects of the Slave Trail Commission. The city money would be expected to be matched with private funds.
"The city has not seen a land-use concept for all of those projects to be put in one spot," Robertson said. "Something's not going to fit."
The idea of designating funds for a Shockoe Bottom study initially was met with resistance from Council President Kathy C. Graziano this week when it was likened to a master-plan update. Richmond has been working for nearly two years to draft, adopt and refine its downtown master plan, which includes Shockoe Bottom.
"How many master plans do we need to have?" Graziano asked.
She later softened when Robertson emphasized that the study would provide a more detailed look at how various projects might be coordinated. Graziano also cautioned against the city authorizing a study that could drive policy decisions.
For the past five years, SMBW Architects and BAM Architects have been working for the city on a plan for the Shockoe Bottom area, including the city-owned Main Street Station train shed and Seaboard building, plus nearby property, said Will Scribner, a principal with SMBW. Part of the work has focused on how the slave trail could be developed and the Lumpkin's Slave Jail site could be interpreted.
City Councilman Bruce W. Tyler said he was unaware of that work but believes the city will invariably need money to look at planning, traffic impacts or other issues in Shockoe Bottom.
He said the idea is not to hold up the city's review of any project. Mayor Dwight C. Jones has been asked to give preliminary approval of Shockoe Center by Aug. 1. Consultants hired by the Jones administration are due to submit early next month a report on the financial feasibility of the project.
"I think it's prudent to have some money available because our staff has already said it can't do it on its own," Tyler said.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or
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Reader Reactions
Got to agree with BC AA is where the talent is. Sorry James, but AAA is where quick roster fixes are stashed, and marquee players rehab for a day or two, not where the real prospects play.
Robertson is the QUEEN of expensive studies and focus groups. When will the citizens of this city ever realize that. She is a talker, not a do-‘er. If you have ever seen her on city council, she talks forever with no goal or end in sight. She pushes for focus groups or study panels on every issue. Nothing like a nice free meal by a catering team for the focus group.
I could agree with a study being formulated IF the free meals, drinks and slush were eliminated from the process. Bring your own drinks, snacks, lunch, etc..
It never ceases to amaze me at how city council is always chomping at the bit to spend our tax dollars in the most wasteful manner.
Ok, blow it up and rebuild in the same spot. But why should I pay for any of it with my taxes?
BC… AA ball may have one strong prospect per team. The rest are chunkers. AAA is where guys are called up from. AA ball is to AAA ball what the NBA development league is to the NBA.
And as for AA minor league ball, leave it to AA minor league towns. What a shame that the capital city’s biggest aspiration right now is to compete on the same level as Binghamton, NY and Reading, PA. It’s a small town mentality.
westoverres- “Burger forgot option 10, which would be to do nothing. Although I can’t figure out why, this is obviously what some people would like to do.“
Just look around the neighborhood, there is new construction everywhere. New businesses, new housing and established businesses that are doing great. It didn’t take massive government intervention to make this happen, so why is it suddenly a pressing issue that we commit public resources to an outrageously expensive civil construction project? We’re doing nothing now, and the neighborhood is developing just fine on its own.
Again, AAA Baseball is in no way better than AA Baseball. AA Baseball is where most of the major league prospects are. Most skip AAA and go to directly to the majors. AAA baseball is for career minor leaguers or those on rehab assignments. I would must rather see true major league prospects before that make the big leagues.
ezjim… the only way to “spruce up” The Diamond is to blow it up. It’s a grade A dump. It’s not worthy of A ball much less AA or AAA.
And why on Earth is a capital city with regional population over 1 million settling for AA ball? It’s just another sign that Richmond is a town, not a city.
Stick up your hands, Richmonders and those in the greater metro area because you are being robbed. The idea of cramming a ballpark into an expensive urban area runs counter to common sense unless we’re talking about a major league team. Sprucing up the Diamond along with some additional renovations along N. Boulevard is the answer. Plant a AA team there and lets watch it grow.
Who is doing the study?
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