Public Square draws debate about Shockoe Center and proposed ballpark
Published: May 12, 2009
Bryan Bostic says he envisions "our town square coming to life anew."
Baseball. Shopping. Dining. Job opportunities. Offices. Civic gatherings. Condominiums. Apartments. All in Shockoe Bottom.
"Since before our downtown department stores closed, our city has been trying to lure families back downtown. Club Velvet isn't going to do that," Bostic said tonight, referring to an adult-entertainment establishment in Shockoe Bottom.
The chairman of Richmond Baseball Club LC and a strong proponent of Shockoe Center made his case for the $318 million development and its $60 million ballpark tonight at the Public Square organized by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
About 230 people, among them Mayor Dwight C. Jones, attended the debate and question-and-answer session at the Times-Dispatch's downtown offices.
In addition to Bostic, speakers included Paul Kreckman, a vice president for Highwoods Properties, the developer for Shockoe Center; Church Hill resident Jean Wight, who is a Shockoe Center opponent; and Charlie Diradour, who believes a Richmond baseball stadium should be located on the Boulevard.
Last fall, developers announced the proposal for Shockoe Center, which the city continues to study. According to project organizers, new local and state taxes generated by Shockoe Center would be sufficient to pay the debt service on tax-exempt bonds used to build the ballpark. Diradour, owner/operator of a development company, said, "There ain't nothing free."
Wight contended that Shockoe Bottom's history should be preserved rather than be overcome by an entertainment complex.
"Throw your balls and have your special-price seating," she said. "But it gives nothing back that helps this community. Ball-team ownership is private, not public. Pay your own way. And don't tell us that we're missing this grand employment opportunity to sell peanuts on weekends.
"Unique heritage of that site is buried under and lost to incredible damage if [Shockoe Center] goes forward."
But Kreckman called Shockoe Bottom "quite simply the best place in the city to develop a modern ballpark as a catalyst for economic development around it."
Diradour countered, "The premise that minor-league baseball is an economic driver cannot be substantiated." He added that Shockoe Center would represent a ballpark built "in the center of a development of totally unneeded Class A office space, retail space, hotel square footage and more restaurant space."
The Richmond Metropolitan Authority, representing Richmond and Henrico and Chesterfield counties, owns and operates The Diamond. The only publicly released plan for a new ballpark on the Boulevard was submitted to the city last year by Opening Day Partners, a firm based in Annapolis, Md. That proposed facility, at a cost of about $40 million, would have 8,500 seats and an attached dome for various youth sports and life-skills development.
Diradour supported that concept.
A Shockoe Bottom ballpark was first proposed earlier this decade. That effort should not be confused with the Shockoe Center development, Bostic advised. "The Atlanta Braves brought in their own developer. It was a travesty," he said. "They proposed a plan that was not fiscally sound. Good idea. Great location. Awful execution."
The Atlanta Braves relocated their Class AAA franchise from Richmond to Gwinnett County, Ga., following last season because of the organization's dissatisfaction with The Diamond and the lack of a firm plan to replace it. This season is the first Richmond has been without professional baseball since 1965.
Before the end of the month, Richmond Baseball Club LC is expected to announce the purchase of the Class AA Connecticut Defenders. Class AA is the highest level from which a franchise is now available.
When the deal closes, RBC will submit a relocation application to Minor League Baseball, whose officials say they would like to see a plan for a new Richmond ballpark. The lack of a facility solution, however, is not expected to keep the franchise from relocating to Richmond. But a new ballpark will be needed to keep the franchise here long-term.
RBC will operate the Connecticut Defenders for the remainder of this season. The Defenders, San Francisco's Class AA club through 2010, will play at The Diamond until a new ballpark opens.
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or .
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .
Reader Reactions
wow frojunk, what an argument in favor of AA baseball in Richmond. You are sitting on your butt watching NHL ICE HOCKEY instead being at a minor league baseball game? Helluva of recommendation I say.
To “Yusaywhat” - as I understand your post- you say minor league baseball does not offer economic benefits to a locality, and that the only possible contribution is “community pride”? Well, I say “sign me up”! Last time I checked, I didn’t see many “I love Richmond” bumper stickers around (as I sit in my den watching the Carolina Hurricanes playing on national TV, in a beautiful, modern, PACKED arena down in little ‘ole Raliegh, NC). What do we really have to lose by trying something like this in the bottom (and DO NOT try to say we may lose some slave sites - NOBODY -save a small handful- cares, black or white!
I dont care what anyone says but next year when the Defenders move in get ready for a team that will be the talk of minor league baseball and probably be the team of the year since it will be STACKED with 1ST ROUND PICKS from the Draft from 2007-2008. Had 3-4 first round picks in 07 and the #6 overall pick in 08 and all 5 of them are raking the ball and dominating the mound Madison Bumgarner,Tim Alderson,Buster Posey,Brandon Crawford and Nick Noonan. Even if you dont like baseball these kids are the future of the Majors and can do alot of damage.
Out - I will criticize myself. You were speaking about community involvement, and I launched on economic development. Those are different things.
One the community involvement side, which is your point, I don’t know that the Braves did much. I’m not saying they did nothing, but still, not much. That is worse considering that they are owned by a huge corporate owner. Maybe you can educate me on this.
I believe that the R-Braves were a terribly promoted and very weak marketing operation. I believe that most of their attendance decline in recent years was not because of the facility or the quality of the play. In my opinion the R-Braves took on a bad attitude and drove people away. Being a visible and committed community partner would have presented a lot of brand loyalty, but I just didn’t see that.
Out - Go ahead and Google your heart out and see if you can find one independent (i.e. not developer sponsored) study that says that minor league baseball is an economic development driver. What you’ll find is dozens that say differently, and the only one that I can find that says that there is a benefit is based on “community pride” or “psychic value.“ Write back here with your results. By the way, Bostic’s reference to a Great Britain study ain’t what I’m talking about - let’s talk baseball, not cricket.
I love when people who know very little about minor league baseball claim that this ballpark and team will give “nothing” back to the community. The teams and front offices are often VERY involved in the community with a number of charities.
I love arguments that use superlatives….
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