From email:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM: Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association

RE: Proposed Victory Apartment Special Use Permit application

DATE: October 6, 2012

RICHMOND: The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) has voted to strongly oppose the excessive density and lack of off-street parking for the proposed Victory Apartments at
407 S. Cherry Street. The current proposal is a 29 bedroom development in 18 apartments and one townhouse, with only 8 off-street parking spaces. This far exceeds that 6 units that
would be permitted under the current zoning.

“This proposal is a non-starter,” said OHNA President Jennifer Hancock. “Oregon Hill already has a tight parking situation because of our proximity to VCU, and the excessive density and lack of off-street parking of this development would exacerbate an already serious problem.”

The developer has rejected OHNA’s proposal for elderly housing in the old Victory Rug building that would need only half the off-street parking. The developer has also rejected OHNA’s proposal for a neighborhood-friendly business use of the building. “The developer has rejected every reasonable suggestion of the neighborhood association,” said Hancock.

OHNA has expressed particular concern over the city planning department’s misapplication of Riverfront District zoning regulations to the project to allow on-street parking to be used to meet the off-street parking requirements. Oregon Hill is not in the Riverfront District, and residents claim that they have been denied due process by the city.

The neighborhood expects the Special Use Permit to be soon brought to vote by the City Planning Commission. Over 113 of the nearby Oregon Hill residents have written letters of opposition to the proposed Victory Apartments SUP.

Contacts:
Jennifer Hancock, OHNA President
bookzen at comcast.net

Todd Woodson, OHNA Treasurer
candylandmusic at earthlink.net

For more background on this issue, please click here.