Category Archives: Kanawha Canal

Riverfront Railroad History

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Andrew McRoberts has written an interesting article in Richmond.com on the “Reasons Richmond Should Love the CSX Railroad Viaduct”.

Excerpts:

The C&O (now CSX) Viaduct is enormously long (about three miles in length). It starts beneath the Robert E. Lee Bridge near Oregon Hill Overlook, and stretches all the way to Nicholson Street and the former Fulton Yard (across Route 5 from Rockett’s Landing in far eastern city of Richmond). It allows a nearly at-grade (level) train crossing of downtown Richmond along the James River and the Great Shiplock for much of its length.

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In 2014, the viaduct is celebrating 113 years in its existence. And, as you know if you ever visit the riverfront downtown, the viaduct is still in active use by CSX Corporation

Like much of Phil Riggan’s articles in Richmond.com on the James River, this deserves reading.

I can’t help but wonder if this is a bit of public relations on CSX’s part, given recent concerns stemming from the Lynchburg explosion.

But, getting back to the history…The C&O Railroad Viaduct is a treasure, and Richmond residents should be aware of other important railroad history that is now threatened within sight of the Viaduct. A remnant of the Tredegar Branch railroad connecting the iron works on Belle Isle with Tredegar is slated to be destroyed by Venture Richmond for yet another amphitheater. These tracks sit on the towpath of the historic James River and Kanawha Canal. Venture Richmond’s plan is to lower the towpath below the historical level of water in the canal and in the process of irreparably damaging the canal, the old railroad line will also be scrapped. Alternatives, such as putting Venture Richmond’s largest stage on Brown’s Island, already leased to Venture Richmond, were ignored. It is unbelieveable that Venture Richmond is destroying the Tredegar Branch railroad remnant that is within the Tredegar Historic Site.

‘Tredegar Green’ Yesterday Afternoon

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While City Council was busy figuring out how to give away Richmond’s oldest PUBLIC park, I was doing some walking down at the riverfront. I was disgusted by what I saw:

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Cars are parked right next to the historic Kanawha Canal. Trash everywhere. Venture Richmond, the property holder, has allowed this very important historical site to become a trashy parking lot! Will there be any repercussions this time?
It is outrageous that the City government wants to give them tax exemptions on the land and let them build an unneeded amphitheater.

This is what happens when you have a corporate government that is not accountable to the public.

Skipping April Fools Day This Year

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While we have had some fun for past years’ April Fools Days, I am skipping this year. Its not the first time I have skipped, but this year in particular my heart is just not in it. For one thing, I am not sure if I could come up with anything as outrageous as what is really happening right now-

Venture Richmond is getting ready to alter and diminish one of Richmond’s most historic features, the James River and Kanawah Canal, designed and presided over by George Washington, for an unneeded amphitheater. Besides putting future restoration at risk, ‘Vulture Richmond’ is doing this by breaking promises to go through the Section 106 review process. This is after a historic wall was illegally demolished on property leased to Venture Richmond.

Board members of Venture Richmond are also behind the Monroe Park Conservancy, a mysterious and dastardly plan to privatize Monroe Park (for VCU). The City government is backing this plot, saying it does not have enough money to renovate and maintain the City’s oldest public park as a public park, despite dedicating millions of dollars to establishing a training field for a professional football team, that is owned by a millionaire. The local anarchists are doing a better job of defending the public interest than City government.

‘Vulture Richmond” is also behind an even bigger plot to force the construction of a minor league baseball stadium in historic Shockoe Bottom neighborhood, despite passionate, now international, public protest. This is the third or fourth time that this scheme has been tried, and one of the principles behind it is a developer who was convicted and went to jail for his part in a City Council bribery scheme. Again, it looks like promised historic preservation oversight is being finessed despite public promises.

The mainstream media has sometimes joined the fun of reporting April Fools Day stories. Maybe this year they can try reporting on the reality of these truly outrageous happenings.

Before Its Too Late…Today

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From richmondarchaeology.webs.com:

The current proposal to construct a baseball stadium in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom has given rise to public concern over the cultural and historical resources in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom district. In response to this public debate, history enthusiasts and preservationists, planners, students, scholars, educators, and members of the general public are invited to a one-day educational symposium on March 29th, 10:15 am to 4:00 pm at the Richmond Public Library in support of an archaeology of Shockoe Bottom… “Before It’s Too Late”.

The symposium brings together experts and scholars on Richmond’s archaeology, history, and historic preservation. The symposium will also discuss how the public can become better stewards of Richmond’s vast cultural and historical resources. Presentations will explore the archaeological review process with an emphasis upon Federal Section 106.

In regard to the 106, I hope discussion will include the Kanawha Canal. Last I heard, seats were filling up up quick.

OHHIC Press Release: The City of Richmond and Venture Richmond renege on promised Section 106 review of the future Tredegar Green amphitheater

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From press release earlier today:

The City of Richmond and Venture Richmond renege on promised Section 106 review of the future Tredegar Green amphitheater
Doubts raised that the city will follow through on promised Section 106 review for the proposed Baseball stadium

The Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council (OHHIC) has learned that just days after receiving a final approval of the Richmond Planning Commission, the city and Venture Richmond have withdrawn the amphitheater project from the promised state and federal Section 106 review. Venture Richmond repeatedly promised the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, the city’s Urban Design Committee, and the City Planning Commission that the amphitheater’s impact on the historic James River and Kanawha Canal would receive a thorough and impartial review by the Va. Dept. of Historic Resources and the Corps of Engineers through the Section 106 process. Alternatives to damaging historic resources are carefully assessed with community input through a Section 106 review.

The James River and Kanawha Canal was built in 1785 at a great cost in human lives lost.. George Washington was president of the James River Company that built the canal. It may be the first transportation canal built in the United States with locks. The future amphitheater will damage the 18th century structure by lowering and removing half of the original canal tow path. This may be the first time in the United States that a structure on the National Register of Historic Places is damaged because it might block a spectator’s view of a band stage.

OHHIC Director Todd Woodson said, “It is outrageous that Venture Richmond is breaking its repeated promises to submit the amphitheater plan to an impartial state and federal review through the Section 106 process. We have spent a year researching the canal, and we have documentation that the current tow path and and embankment are authentic and will be greatly damaged by the amphitheater plan. We call on the Mayor, who is President of Venture Richmond, to honor the repeated promises to submit the amphitheater plan for a state and federal Section 106 review.”

The city has also promised a “voluntary” Section 106 review of the potential future site of the Shockoe Stadium. The city’s broken promise to submit the amphitheater for a Section 106 review should be a cause for concern by all city residents. Said Woodson, “We certainly cannot trust the city to follow through on promised historical reviews.” The amphitheater is to be built on city and on Venture Richmond property. Venture Richmond receives $2.87 million in public funding annually.

Bidding For The Public Interest

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Kudos to Mo for putting in the bid! I could not make it to Council that night and, honestly, I was a bit nervous about what bidding would look like, but I think everyone in Richmond who cares about parks should appreciate what she has done.

Looked over the two bids for the Monroe Park lease that were received from the City Clerk. (The conservancy bid confirms that the Mayor is still on the conservancy board.)
I must say that Mo’s bid looks head and shoulders better than the Conservancy’s. All that they can say is that they are hiring a fundraiser!

If Venture Richmond and the Mayor are going to insist on this type of stupidity (with Monroe Park, with ‘Tredegar Green’, with the flawed Shockoe stadium), then one of the things that citizens can do in response is to root for ol’ fashioned competition and more alternatives.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Venture Richmond allows for $1,190,000 in (no-bid) grants for Venture Richmond. We have all seen the billboards, the double page advertisements and read about the petition drive for the Mayor’s Shockoe Bottom stadium undertaken by Venture Richmond.

The City pays Venture Richmond to administer the canal concession and then Venture Richmond charges $6/trip. (Venture Richmond doesn’t even bother to put boats in the upper Haxall beside Brown’s Island, where there is a vacant boat rental house.)
The City pays Venture Richmond to administer Friday Cheers and then Venture Richmond charges from $5 to $10/admission (depending on show).
The City rents Brown’s Island to Venture Richmond (for what I assume is a nominal fee) and then Venture Richmond rents out the venue for $4,500 per day.
It is noteworthy that Venture Richmond does not have to compete or bid for city grants for the Clean and Safe program, canal boat concession, Friday Cheers or Folk Festival. Venture Richmond pays its Director $242,000 annually as a result of this sweetheart arrangement.

Is there anything that City Council can do to put a stop to giving Venture Richmond these no-bid grants and to put these items, including the canal boat concession, Clean and Safe program, Friday Cheers and Folk Festival promotions, up for bid?

“Imminent Destruction of George Washington’s Historic Canal”

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From ‘City watchdog’ C.Wayne Taylor:

To: News Media

1. “Tredegar Green” is the The City of Richmond Riverfront Plan designation for the land just west of Tredegar Iron Works.

2. George Washington’s historic canal runs across the center of Tredegar Green.

3. Venture Richmond is preparing to destroy George Washington’s historic canal.

4. Venture Richmond has a grading plan pending before the city Planning Commission.

5. Venture Richmond revised its plan to dodge Department of Historic Resources review.

6. The revised plan was submitted to the city of Richmond Friday.

7. The revised plan was forwarded to the planning commission after 5pm Friday.

8. The planning commission meets on Monday at 1pm to consider the plan.

9. The public has not been officially notified of the revised plan.

While Venture Richmond may have the legal right to destroy George Washington’s historic canal, such action is contrary to the purposes of Venture Richmond. Venture Richmond is a nonprofit corporation established for the good of downtown Richmond.

Venture Richmond receives substantial financial support from the city of Richmond. Mayor Jones is the President of Venture Richmond. His administration submitted the application to the planning commission to destroy the canal.

GRADING PLAN

Venture Richmond and Taxes and Leases…

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Oregon Hill neighbors continue to investigate the private, non-profit Venture Richmond. What they are finding may be of interest to all Richmond citizens.

Venture Richmond is (allegedly) leasing the city property at Brown’s Island and the city property at ‘Tredegar Green’ each for $1/ year. The wording of the lease obligates Venture Richmond to pay to the city an amount equal to the city real estate taxes unless exempted. Even if exempted, Venture Richmond is obligated to pay to the city the city real estate taxes that would accrue by any sub-lessee, such as an entity sub-leasing the canal boat concession.

The city’s Finance Department has confirmed that they have no documents relating to the payment of these real estate taxes by Venture Richmond for the Brown’s Island or Tredegar Green leases nor do they have any documents relating to an exemption. The Finance Department has been in contact with the City Attorney on the issue. The real estate taxes for Brown’s Island alone would be over $70,000 per year. This appears to be similar to the situation encountered with the Redskins Training Camp deal:

“In a statement, city spokeswoman Tammy Hawley said the finance department was unaware that Bon Secours required an invoice to meet the payment as the terms were set in the signed agreement.”

This comes at the same time that Venture Richmond has applied to City Council for an exemption from real estate taxes for the property owned by Venture Richmond at Tredegar Green. The catch is that Venture Richmond is making this application for exemption during a moratorium on exemptions by designation. They are in fact seeking an exemption from the moratorium on exemptions. The assessor’s committee that examined Venture Richmond’s application for exemption unanimously rejected the application over a year ago, citing, among other issues, the high salary of Venture Richmond employees. Collectively the top four employees of Venture Richmond make over $640,000 annually.

It is even questionable if Venture Richmond has a valid lease on the city Tredegar Green property. State code requires that any city lease with a term of five years or more to be put up for bids. The City Clerk could provide no documentation that the Tredegar Green lease, which is for a term of over five years in length, was ever advertised for bids (in the same vein as the recent Monroe Park situation).

This is all coming to a head next Monday, March 17, 2014, when Venture Richmond’s proposed Tredegar Green amphitheater, which would do great damage to the historic James River and Kanawha Canal, is on the agenda of the Richmond City Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is supposed to review Venture Richmond’s lease of the Tredegar Green property, when it appears that this lease may not be valid. Equally strange would be for the Planning Commission to consider this item if Venture Richmond has not honored its (alleged) lease by paying the real estate taxes or by showing an exemption.

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) has asked that the City Planning Commission exclude the city property above the canal from Venture Richmond’s proposed amphitheater because that property is not zoned for an amphitheater. OHNA also points out that the city Tredegar Green property will be the logical location for the eastern terminus of the canal when the canal is rewatered. If the property above the canal is removed from the proposed amphitheater there would be no cause to damage the historic canal.

Riverfront Development ‘Community Conversation’ Tuesday

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Richmond, VA and Its Vicinity engraving
1863

The Valentine Richmond History Center collaborates with Richmond Magazine, TMI Consulting Inc. and the Future of Richmond’s Past to present this year’s Community Conversations series, conceived to engage the community in a dialogue about the region’s past and how that past can positively shape our collective future. Featured are a series of monthly discussions about various Richmond localities, from Shockoe Bottom to the Boulevard. A Richmond Magazine moderator will lead each discussion, illuminating historical and current-day perspectives that shape our understanding and experience of each location.

Riverfront Development with Jack Cooksey
Tuesday, March 4, 6-8 pm
F.W. Sullivan’s Canal Bar & Grill (Plaza Room), 1001 Haxall Point