Category Archives: community

Richmond Folk Festival This Coming Weekend

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With beautiful weather, the festival season is here in Richmond, VA.

Many people are looking forward to fun events after a tragic pandemic year, and the Folk Festival is a Richmond favorite. It’s taking place this coming weekend and it’s noteworthy that it is free admission (though they do ask for donations).

Although it is celebrating its 17th year, this Folk Festival will be a bit more national artist-based than past years, which is understandable given the difficulty traveling with pandemic concerns.

It does not look like they are checking vaccination records for attendees, but they are taking some COVID-19 precautions.

OHNA Sponsors ‘Haunted House’ Decoration Contest

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From announcement:

There will be a contest for Best Decorated House at the first annual Oregon Hill Fall Festival, coming Saturday, October 23rd. In order to be eligible, please enter by 10/15 via email, with the subject line “Haunted House Entry.” Please include your address. There are going to be some amazing prizes! More info soon.

(Must live in Oregon Hill to enter)

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email announcement:

Good morning OHNA members,

I look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday at 7pm for our monthly OHNA meeting.

We will be meeting again at the Holly Street Playground, as there is not yet an indoor location within the neighborhood that is ready to host meetings. Please bring a chair, and if you can’t, a couple of picnic tables will be available.

We are also providing a Zoom link provided for those who wish to join remotely. This should allow for remote participation, including the ability to ask questions remotely — those in person won’t be able to see remote participants, but we should be able to hear them.

I have attached to this email
1. the agenda for the 27 September meeting (also pasted in below),
2. the minutes for the August meeting,

We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow evening.

Thanks,
Bryan

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 28 September 2021
7:00PM
Location: Holly Street Playground

(Editor’s note: please contact OHNA through their email, OHNARva@gmail.com, if you would like the Zoom link).

We ask that invited guests limit their presentations to no more than 5 minutes.
We ask that questions, comments, and suggestions be kept to no more than 3 minutes.
This meeting will be recorded.

Welcome

· Treasurer’s Report

Community Updates:

1. Lt. Brian Robinson, City of Richmond Police Section Lt, 4th Precinct
2. Officer Luke Schrader, Police Liaison, VCU
3. Mr. Tito Luna, VCU Liaison
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney

Updates

1. Proposed all-way stops on South Pine Street at its intersection with China Street (at Open High School) and South Pine Street at its intersection with Albemarle Street

· A survey has been posted and a link sent. If you would like to participate, the link is: https://forms.gle/UaA6n1jaVdN47MWg6

· Flyers were recently placed around the two intersections to alert neighbors to the proposed change.

2. Proposed Amendments to the Richmond 300 Land Use Plan/Neighborhood Coalition Update

· Move Oregon Hill from Neighborhood Mixed Use to Residential land use category (Randolph is in this category).

· If Planning will not move Oregon Hill to Residential, then change the maximum height in the Neighborhood Mixed Use category from four stories to two stories.

· Remove the clause that allows taller buildings along major streets.

o Idlewood and South Laurel between VCU and Idlewood are designated major streets

o The amendments were continued by Land Use Committee. City Planning staff have recommended that no amendments be adopted.

o The most recent hearing is scheduled for noon on Tuesday 21 September 2021. It was continued, yet again, to 3pm Tuesday 19 October.

3. Holly Street )Playground Cleanup

· Saturday 11 September cleanup at Holly Street Playground (grant funded) was a success. We are planning a follow-up cleanup day to complete the removal of invasive growth around the south and west fence lines.

Continued Business

1. Neighborhood fall festival.

· Scheduled for the afternoon and early evening of Saturday 23 October (one week before Halloween) in Pleasant’s Park.

· Will include events for neighbors of all ages – pumpkin carving, kid’s costume contest, house decorating contest, etc.

· Will also have a fundraising component for neighborhood projects, including an auction of donated items from local businesses and individuals.

· May conclude with a movie in the park.

· A park cleanup being planned for the week before the Fall Festival event, Saturday 16 October.

· Any new volunteers?

3. St. Andrew’s Association has listed 200-202 S. Linden St. and 912-924 Cumberland Street for sale

· All 18 units (19,625 ft. sq.) and 13 parking spaces are for sale. The lot is zoned R-7.

· The asking price is $2,750,000.

· It appears that the property has been sold; the purchaser appears to be the same developer who came before us with the SUP for 116 South Laurel Street.

New Business

4. Updates on 105 and 116 South Laurel SUP Applications

· Both applications will be heard at the Planning Commission on Monday 4 October

· The applicant for 116 South Laurel Street has not submitted in writing a commitment to placing a preservation easement on 103 South Laurel, as was agreed to as a condition of the neighborhood supporting the SUP.

2. VCU student party issues

· There have been several large, loud parties in the last few weeks. There are problematic, repeat issues in the 200 block of South Laurel, and the intersection of South Laurel and China streets.

· Report issues to both RPD and VCU. Keep track of: date, time, location, fraternity / sorority affiliation, names of individuals involved, names of landlords, etc.

· OHNA is setting up an online form to track problem party locations, so that we may follow up with RPD and VCU. We will keep a spreadsheet of problematic locations and fraternity / sorority locations, and regularly report this information to VCU.

3. Folk Festival update

· The Folk Festival will be held this year.

· “Resident Parking Only” signs will be posted at entrances to the neighborhood.

· RPD will be patrolling adjacent neighborhoods; they will directly monitor non-emergency calls for faster response. Call non-emergency numbers for issues such as alleys being blocked by parked cars, etc.

4. Potential sculpture for Pleasant’s Park, by local artist Mickael Broth

The Next OHNA meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm Tuesday 26 October 2021. That meeting will be held in person with a Zoom option; the location will be announced later, and a link will be sent separately.

Bryan Clark Green, President
David Cary, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Chris Hughes, Co-Vice-President
Harrison Moenich, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer

School Bus Slighting Of Oregon Hill?

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Oregon Hill, in recent years, has grown its younger population- more households have had babies, and more families with children have moved into the neighborhood. It’s been a welcome trend and it speaks to the ‘good bones’ of this historic, urban enclave.

That said, Oregon Hill parents are concerned about the lack of transportation options for getting their children to school, and feel like the public system should be doing more.

“RPS school bus schedules are out. Not a single bus stop in Oregon Hill! It is like we don’t even exist,” is one message that was sent.

Of course, as the pandemic continues, many localities are dealing with a shortage of school bus drivers, and other resource problems, and many are wondering if virus variants of COVID-19 will lead to the schools closing again anyway.

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email announcement:

(Editor’s note: Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association can be contacted through this email: ohnarva@gmail.com)

Good morning OHNA members,

I look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday at 7pm for our monthly OHNA meeting.

This will be our second first in-person meeting of the year. Since St. Andrew’s is still not quite ready to host meetings (the Delta variant has forced them to re-think hosting any outside groups) and we couldn’t locate a suitable indoor location in the neighborhood, we will be meeting in our Holly Street Park. Please bring a chair, and if you can’t, a couple of picnic tables will be available. We are optimistic that soon, perhaps in September (?), we can return to St. Andrew’s.

We are also providing a Zoom link provided for those who wish to join remotely. This should allow for remote participation, including the ability to ask questions remotely — those in person won’t be able to see remote participants, but we should be able to hear them. We worked out most of the hiccups in the park, but please be patient with us if the remote option gives us any trouble on Tuesday evening.

I have attached to this email
1. the agenda for the 24 August meeting (also pasted in below),
2. the minutes for the 27 July meeting,

We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow evening.

Thanks,
Bryan

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 24 July 2021
7:00PM

Location: Holly Street Playground
Optional Zoom link: (Editor’s note: please contact OHNA for link)

We ask that invited guests limit their presentations to no more than 5 minutes.

We ask that questions, comments, and suggestions be kept to no more than 3 minutes.

This meeting will be recorded.

Welcome

· This meeting will be in person, in the Holly Street Playground, with a Zoom link provided for those who wish to join remotely.

· Treasurer’s Report

Community Updates:

1. Lt. Brian Robinson, City of Richmond Police Section Lt, 4th Precinct
2. Officer Luke Schrader, Police Liaison, VCU
3. Mr. Tito Luna, VCU Liaison
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney

Updates

1. Proposed all-way stops on South Pine Street at its intersection with China Street (at Open High School) and South Pine Street at its intersection with Albemarle Street

· A survey has been posted and a link sent. If you would like to participate, the link is: (Editor’s note: please contact OHNA for link).

· Flyers were recently placed around the two intersections to alert neighbors to the proposed change. .

2. Proposed Amendments to the Richmond 300 Land Use Plan / Neighborhood Coalition Update

· Move Oregon Hill from Neighborhood Mixed Use to Residential land use category (Randolph is in this category).

· If Planning will not move Oregon Hill to Residential, then change the maximum height in the Neighborhood Mixed Use category from four stories to two stories.

· Remove the clause that allows taller buildings along major streets.

o Idlewood and South Laurel between VCU and Idlewood are designated major streets

o The amendments were continued by Land Use Committee. City Planning staff have recommended that no amendments be adopted.

o The next hearing is scheduled for noon on Tuesday 21 September 2021

Continued Business

1. We are putting together a committee to plan a neighborhood fall festival.

· Tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday 23 October (one week before Halloween) in Pleasant’s Park.

· Will include events for neighbors of all ages – pumpkin carving, kid’s costume contest, house decorating contest,

· Will also have a fundraising component for neighborhood projects, including an auction of donated items from local businesses and individuals

· May conclude with a movie in the park

· Any new volunteers?

2. Park improvement committee – will look at both Pleasant’s Park and the Holly Street Playground

· Potential cleanup on Saturday 11 September (pending results of grant application)

· Another cleanup being planned for the week before the Fall Festival event, Saturday 16 October

· Any new volunteers?

3. St. Andrew’s Association has listed 200-202 S. Linden St. and 912-924 Cumberland Street for sale

· All 18 units (19,625 ft. sq.) and 13 parking spaces are for sale. The lot is zoned R-7.

· The asking price is $2,750,000

· It appears that the property has been sold; the purchaser appears to be the same developer who came before us with the SUP for 116 South Laurel Street.

4. The City has announced round two of the CARES Act program. This program offers relief on your City of Richmond utility bill for those impacted by COVID. A flyer, as well as an application for the program, are attached to the email that went out with the agenda. If you did not receive it, just let me know and I will be happy to send you a copy.

New Business

1. None.

The Next OHNA meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm Tuesday 28 September 2021. That meeting will be held in person with Zoom option; the location will be announced later, and a link will be sent separately.

Bryan Clark Green, President
David Cary, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Chris Hughes, Co-Vice-President
Harrison Moenich, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer