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
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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.

An executive with the nonprofit Better Housing Coalition and a landscape architect are set to be appointed to the Richmond Planning Commission, despite concerns from a city councilman that it could end up with an anti-development bias. Lynn McAteer, vice president of planning and special projects for the housing coalition, and Doug Cole, a landscape architect and president of designforum, were recommended this week by the council’s Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee after interviews with four finalists.

Debate over the Echo Harbour development project proposed for the city’s riverfront began with differing visions. It gradually evolved into a test of wills—and now borders on a war of attrition. This trajectory is guaranteed to resolve nothing and satisfy nobody. Rachel Flynn, the city’s director of community development, has made plain her distaste for the condominium project. In April, she flatly refused the suggestion of a planning commissioner that her department review language submitted by the developers: “We’ve been talking with these developers for three years,“ she said. “We don’t agree. We’re not compromising anymore. If you want to compromise with them, go ahead.“

The building heights recommended by Richmond’s new downtown master plan aren’t the only obstacles to a proposed high-rise along the James River. Before the Echo Harbour development can be considered by the City Council, the Department of Community Development is requiring the developers to provide new and revised technical plans and studies on various aspects of the project.

The Richmond City Council last night gave final approval to changes to the city’s downtown master plan. Council members voted 9-0 to approve the amendments, which will guide decisions on development and public access along the eastern riverfront. The master plan has been in the works for two years, and officials have been dealing with changes since October.

Richmond’s Canal Walk is marching east as the Virginia Capital Trail. Simons Construction Co. started work this week on the city’s first substantial phase of the trail, a 55-mile recreational path being built between Richmond and Williamsburg. The $2.3 million section will extend about 3,500 feet from the floodwall near 18th Street to Great Shiplock Park.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones is restructuring the city administration to consolidate oversight of efforts to recruit development and to determine whether projects comply with zoning and other regulations. The city began advertising Sunday for a deputy chief administrative officer for economic and community development. The position offers a salary range of $111,957 to $168,732 per year.

A family says it plans to exercise its right to buy city property at the Richmond Intermediate Terminal, despite last night’s vote by the City Council aimed at delaying the transaction an additional seven months. The family of Richard Ripp decided to exercise its purchase option before Sunday’s deadline because it isn’t comfortable with the language of the extension approved by the council, family spokesman Michael Ripp said.

An agreement that would allow the family of Richard Ripp to buy city property at the Richmond Intermediate Terminal along the James River is set to expire Sunday. City officials are considering a seven-month extension to give the family time to work out a broader plan for development of the area—a prospect that could include the city and the proposed developers of Echo Harbour.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones took control of City Hall in January, promising an era of openness in the administration’s dealings with the City Council and reporters. “I’m going to take the muzzle off,“ he said, referring to employees who feared a backlash from Mayor L. Douglas Wilder if they spoke to council members or the news media.

A revised proposal for the Echo Harbour development east of downtown Richmond has been filed with city planners, but the project continues to face opposition for its effect on views of the James River from Libby Hill. The latest plan by USP Echo Harbour attempts to address those concerns by lowering building heights further, and it mixes a hotel and office space along with the condominiums and public riverfront improvements that were already planned.

A revised proposal for the Echo Harbour development east of downtown Richmond has been filed with city planners, but the project continues to face opposition for its effect on views of the James River from Libby Hill. The latest plan by USP Echo Harbour attempts to address those concerns by lowering building heights further, and it mixes a hotel and office space along with the condominiums and public riverfront improvements that were already planned.

The seemingly endless debate over the proposed Echo Harbour condominiums and Richmond’s downtown master plan hit a boiling point last night. Director of Community Development Rachel Flynn flatly rejected a suggestion from a planning commissioner that her staff review plan language offered by the developers for the site along the James River east of downtown.

The James River Park System gives Richmonders a wild, natural escape in the center of the city. The land would stay pristine forever under an idea that was floated 10 years ago but now is garnering support with the City Council.

Dwight Clinton Jones starts his new job as Richmond’s mayor on Thursday and will face a number of pressing issues. Among them will be filling key administrative posts and balancing the city budget in light of state cuts and a long-standing dispute between Mayor L. Douglas Wilder and the City Council.