Tag Archives: development

Important Info on Proposal Bids for Development of Lots at the Ends of W 19th – W 20th Streets & Semmes Ave

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The Maggie Walker Land Trust has received three (3) bids for the development of the empty lot at the end of W 19th/W 20th Streets facing Semmes Ave. The City had previously transferred ownership to the Maggie Walker Land Trust. “The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust seeks to develop and steward permanently affordable housing opportunities to foster racially equitable communities” from their website.

Below is the link to Virtual Meeting and/or comments intended for the organizations making bids and residents in the area around the proposed development. The Meeting Time is set for April 18th at 5:30 PM via Zoom. There is also an option to leave a comment before the meeting at this link, as well

as the full proposal documents for each bid (FYI there are other properties around the city also included in this meeting):

https://www.richmondlandbank.com/next-meeting

You can join discussion on this with the wider neighborhood through the Springhill Neighborhood Association Facebook Group or the Springhill Email List. Jason Hendricks has already sent out an email to the group & made a Facebook Post.

Richmond BizSense published an article today 4/14/23 with additional information.

If there is interest we can have a quick meeting or chat about this over the weekend or Monday evening – feel free to get in touch.

Here is an overview of the three proposals from the meeting agenda (please visit the meeting link to see each individual proposal in detail).

Project Homes Sketches (12 Townhomes)

Commonwealth Catholic Charities Housing Corp. Sketches (20 Units for Seniors & Retail Space)

Habitat for Humanity Sketches (2 Units/Houses)

Springhill Residents Speak Out Against Crosland Development Plans

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This is footage from the City Council meeting on January 11, 2010, found on the Richmond City Council Reporter and Telegraph blog. Springhill residents and other neighbors were protesting including the Manchester on the James development in the set of projects being considered for Recovery Zone Facility bonds (Federal stimulus funds, essentially). Unfortunately, Crosland won the vote 8-1. We will have more commentary on the issue soon.

Urgent: Development Rears Ugly Head Again

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I’ve just been informed that the ill conceived Manchester on the James project is once again on the City Council agenda (Consent Agenda item 17). Although the project was approved last year, the slump in real estate made the developer change their mind. Now the city is trying to divert stimulus funds to offset the developer’s taxes on the project. All to build units that will send Richmond money to North Carolina.

Please come out to the City Council meeting tonight at 6pm to protest this corporatist scheme! Also, share this story with others – we need to get the word out about this. Finally, you can call the councilman for the Springhill neighborhood, Marty Jewell, at (804) 646-6050 and urge him to oppose the measure.

Springhill is a small neighborhood and particularly vulnerable right now. Don’t let your tax dollars be used to put money in private developers’ pockets, all to fund damage to a historic neighborhood!

UPDATE: More info from Hills and Heights, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and a government site on Recovery Zone Facility bonds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Thanks to Richard H. for following this issue and providing all these great information sources!

New Fire Station Coming

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Sherri Johnson shares some intelligence on a new firehouse that will be displacing a portion of Canoe Run Park. This comes via Lee Shewmake on the Woodland Heights Yahoo! Group:

We are about to get a new Firehouse #17.  I just received some additional details today and they are as follows:

Stimulus grant funds of approximately 3.2 million was awarded to replace station # 17 with occupancy to be complete by 2012.

Dewberry & Davis charged with examining potential sites of the Old Johnny Johnson Safeway between Bainbridge & Midlothian, a portion of Carter Jones Park plus the existing site, or a portion of Canoe Run Park on Semmes Ave between W 24th St and the old 7-11 building.  The latter was selected as the most viable. (Not enough funds allocated for the purchase of the old 7-11 building at its present price.)

The front of the station would face Semmes Ave.  No renderings currently available, but efforts to fit the structure in architecturally with the surrounding neighborhoods is a priority.

The architectural procurement process was just posted this week on the city website and EVA(?).  This is an excellent opportunity for resident Architects to bid on a “home turf” project!

In exchange for taking park property, the city is looking at improvements to the park such as lighting.  A portion of the existing trail will be consumed, so they are also looking at how to re-route the trail to maintain the total distance it now has.

There is no definitive statement with regards to the future of the old firehouse, which is listed as a contributing structure within our historic district.  It WILL NOT be retained for use by the Fire Dept.  The city may opt to reuse the building for another purpose or place it on the surplus property list for sale.

I have requested updates at regular intervals as the process moves forward, a presentation for the neighborhood once an architect has been selected, and an open process that involves the citizenry in the project.  I reminded Mr. Taylor (oops, did not write down his rank) that people who live by and/or frequent the park would appreciate the rear elevation having as attractive characteristics as the front and sides.  This was all the info I could get right now as the project is literally just beginning.  The Association will stay on top of this and distribute info as we get it.