Category Archives: construction

10K Traffic on Idlewood

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Photos this morning of traffic on Idlewood, mainly from the Monument 10K race. You can see where it’s backing up 195 Belvidere exit.

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Speaking of Idlewood, Mayoral candidate/citizen activist Rick Tatnall recently inquired with Councilperson Parker Agelasto about the upcoming Idlewood roundabout project. Agelasto says that the project has been hung up by the Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority and legal paperwork for a small easement on RMTA property. There should be a resolution soon on this. It will then go out for bids and construction with the hopes of being completed this year.

GRC Update Update

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Paraphrased from neighbors who were able to attend yesterday’s meeting about the update to the Gladding Residential Center at Laurel and W Main:

Meeting with VCU yesterday and these facts came up- the new high rise first year housing building will be 12 stories tall, taller than both the Altria Theatre and the VCU School of Engineering.
VCU has posted on their web page drawings of the proposed dorm here:
http://www.housing.vcu.edu/grc-project/
Meeting attendees expressed concerns about how the sunlight in Monroe Park will be affected during certain times of year.
As of now, the private company leasing the property and building/managing the dorm WILL be responsible for taxes to the city but that issue still needs to be followed.
Nothing official yet but VCU is looking at disallowing the first year students living in the center from having cars as of the 2017 academic year.
To many peoples’ relief, the historic Branch Bath building will be retained and incorporated into the new building design.
There are concerns about the future of the rest of the lot. Residents do not want just a surface parking lot at this location or, on the other end of the scale, a building over four or five stories. It is important for the University to respect the scale of the adjacent Oregon Hill Historic District.
It’s important that VCU reiterate and hold previous promises that it will not expand into the south side of Cary Street or any further into the Oregon Hill Historic District.

Va. War Memorial and Hollywood Cemetery To Collaborate On ‘Tunnel of Honor’

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The Virginia War Memorial and Hollywood Cemetery directors are announcing planning has started for a giant new collaborative project, “The Virginia Tunnel of Honor”, that will connect the two institutions.

Design specifications are still in their infancy, but the concept is to expand upon the already planned underground parking garage expansion for the War Memorial and build a pedestrian tunnel from that point that would go underneath Belvidere Street roughly at Holly Street and have a corresponding entrance in Hollywood Cemetery. The tunnel, which would be roughly 60 feet underground at its deeper points, would be very finished and allow wheelchair access. It may include a branch tunnel to the North Bank trail area, if the City approves the concept.

The overall theme of this new collaboration would build upon the underground nature of the project and would be dedicated to “Virginia’s Fallen Secret Warriors” who have fought and died in clandestine conflicts around the world and throughout American history. This will include honoring ‘secret veterans’ previously and newly buried in Hollywood Cemetery.

Because of new, quiet tunneling technology, project organizers have told Oregon Hill residents that they will not be disturbed by this additional new construction, which will take at least three years to finish. Construction is not expected to start for at least another year.

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VCU-Community Meeting on the Gladding Residence Center Capital Project On April 5th

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From VCU Division of Community Engagement:

Tuesday, April 5
West Grace Street Student Housing – South
835 W. Grace St., Room 1004a
5:30 – 6:30 PM

VCU invites its neighbors to a meeting on April 5 to discuss VCU’s current capital project, Gladding Residence Center, located at 711 W. Main St. This project is part of VCU’s Housing Master Plan and is a public-private partnership between VCU and American Campus Communities. An article on the project appeared in the RTD on February 29.

This will be VCU’s fifth meeting with community members since May 2015. Project designs have evolved, thanks in large part to the community’s feedback. Thank you for your continued participation.

If you plan to attend, kindly RSVP at http://goo.gl/forms/4R8WiUcPVE

Homeless Concerned About Monroe Park Closure

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Television station WRIC has a news story on how homeless advocates are still trying to find temporary solutions for the announced, upcoming closure of Monroe Park for renovations.

Excerpt:

Without the safety of Monroe Park, things become even more difficult for the city’s homeless.

“It’s a place where people find community, so we’re trying to move (food & clothing) services to another location,” Izen said.

Some are pushing for Abner Clay Park to become a temporary gathering space, although the proposal has been met with opposition from some who live, work and worship nearby.

“Whatever we do, we need to make sure we still have those services including tree canopy and bathrooms,” said Izen.

There will be a public forum on Saturday, March 26 at Monroe Park to get the relocation plan moving forward. The meeting will start at 2pm.

Public Meeting Wednesday to Detail Main and Franklin Streets Separated Bike Lane Project

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From City press release:

Public Meeting to Detail Main and Franklin Streets
Separated Bike Lane Project
~Community meeting scheduled to obtain resident input ~

Richmond, VA – The initial design details for the proposed Separated Bike Lane Project, also known as a Cycle Track, will be available at a public informational meeting next week. The bike lanes start at Ninth Street on both Main and Franklin streets and end at Laurel Street. A separated bike lane is a path with the on-street infrastructure of a conventional bike lane however, it is physically separated from motor traffic and distinct from the sidewalk.

The meeting to review the plans will be on Wednesday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond Main Library, 101 East Franklin Street. Residents are invited to attend this meeting to learn more about the project, the roadway analysis and to review the designs as well as provide feedback and recommendations.

The City’s Department of Public Works and Department of Planning and Development Review will be joined by VHB, the consultant, to address questions and concerns during the community meeting.

This project was first proposed in the Strategic Multimodal Transportation Plan known as Richmond Connects and it was also included in the Bike Master Plan. Federal funds will cover 80% of the project’s $300,000 cost with the city providing $60,000 in funding.

Once completed, this cycle track will provide a continuous east/west route along with a connection to the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard.

For more information on City services, please visit www.RichmondGov.com.

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Riverfront Public Art Community Meeting Saturday

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From the FaceBook event page:

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Come give your input on the Riverfront Project that will be done in tandem with the T. Tyler Potterfield Bridge. There will be a conversation with the artist and then if weather permits we will walk the project site!

http://richmondvaannouncements.blogspot.com/2016/02/city-names-artist-for-riverfront-art.html