City crew came to work on a broken water main at the intersection of S. Laurel and Holly Streets.
Category Archives: construction
Proposed Solar Project Violates Covenant
Some residents have received a letter from Dominion dated September 17, 2020 stating their intention to add up to 20 feet in height to the parking deck below Oregon Hill for a solar array.
While most Oregon Hill residents are probably in support of Dominion going solar, this appears to violate the “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” that was signed by by Dominion in 2001.
From Laurel Street resident Charles Pool:
Dear Mr. Sarfo-Kantanka, Dominion External Affairs Manager
According to the information provided on your website, the proposed solar collector on top of the existing parking deck at the Dominion headquarters on Tredegar street would rise to 108 feet in height. This is in clear violation of the “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” that Dominion signed in 2001.
According to this “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants”, Dominion agreed to limit the building heights to 65′ in this location where the parking deck is located. (Please see the attached “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” with the attached plat.)
As you know, we have one of the most famous and noteworthy views of the James River at the fall line from Oregon Hill park. Dominion has already obscured some of this view with their new trading building and older tower.
Some of us remember the battle in 2000 with Dominion to protect our view. As stated in the attached article by Michael Paul Williams: “Now, people in Oregon Hill worry that Dominion, having kept its riverfront property off limits, will ultimately block or mar the river view beyond its boundaries. The property belongs to Dominion. But the river belongs to all of us. Who gets priority? It depends on your point of view.”
While we probably all support solar power, this small number of panels could be put anywhere and it is not necessary to violate the “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” to put them in one of the state’s most important views.
Please let us know if Dominion will respect the “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants” that you signed in 2001.
Sincerely,
Charles Pool
Coming Down Saturday
Utility Work Planned For 600 Block of S. Laurel
Demolition of Historic Houses On Cumberland?
The entire row of houses on the 900 block of Cumberland has been surrounded by 8 ft fence. The St. Andrew foundation board, which owns the property, has not been forthcoming about their plans (and, close by, neither has the VCU administration), and many neighbors fear imminent demolition.
Its important to note that houses at 912-914 Cumberland Street and 200 and 202 South Linden Street, constitute one of the earliest examples of subsidized housing in Virginia and are part of Grace Arent’s legacy.
For many longtime residents this brings up ill will from a previous Linden Street demolition.
Neighbors Concerned About Pine Street Sidewalk Sinkhole
Oregon Hill Neighbors Watching The Corporate Moves!
From a watchful Oregon Hill neighbor:
Hi Scott,
As you can see from the attached photos, they completely removed the sandy beach in front of Tredgar that was very popular. They are also completely removing the Tredegar machinery, including the 35 ton wheel.I guess you saw the TD article today where Navy Hill also wants to tap the state sales tax. Before long they will be tapping the water rates!
‘Renovating’ Or Removing The Beach/’Renovating’ Or Removing The Exhibit
Public To Pay For More Corporate Takeover Of Riverfront
From (recently re-elected) Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association President Todd Woodson:
On Monday, December 16th at 1:30PM, the City Planning Commission will hear a conceptual plan presented by Venture Richmond for a $17 million, taxpayer funded “improvement plan”, including a CORPORATE HELICOPTER PAD and DYNAMIC LIGHTING PLAN for publicly owned Browns Island, located on a flood plain in downtown Richmond. Venture Richmond and 3north held a planning charrette last April and invited DOMINION ENERGY, ALTRIA CORPORATION, NEW MARKET CORPORATION, certain developers, attorneys and City planning staff yet excluded the stake-holding public from the conversation. After being approved by only 3 members of the ten member Urban Design Committee last week, the proposal is poised to be approved “under the radar” by the planning commission on Monday. If you aren’t interested in building a corporate helipad on public property with taxpayer funds, I would urge you to attend and speak out against this ill conceived plan!
Of course, the corporate media has been silent about this, as they do not want to raise the ire of Venture (aka Vulture) Richmond. Remember, Richmond’s leaders don’t want to PUT SCHOOLS FIRST! Remember, corporate corruption takes from the public– even if most citizens agree with the improvements being made, they should not be excluded from the public planning process!