Category Archives: News

OHNA Letter To ‘Richmond300’ Planners

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From City announcement:

Richmond 300, the city wide master plan process, is still requesting feel back from the public through the online visioning survey. It takes 15-30 minutes depending on how much feedback you have.

Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/richmond300visioning

The image above is Urban Design Typology Map found in the Insights Report www.richmond300.com/insights

From October 1, 2018 letter (which refers to Page 9 of 5th District maps):

Dear Councilman Parker Agelasto and Steering Committee for the Richmond 300 master plan,

At the September 25, 2018 meeting of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA), the membership approved a resolution requesting that the 5th District map in the Richmond 300 master plan be corrected to identify the “Master Plan Future Land Use” of the Oregon Hill neighborhood as “Single-Family (medium density)” with “Community Commercial” in the Cary Street corridor.

We strongly object to the “Downtown General Urban Area” and “Downtown Urban Center” designations of Oregon Hill found in the draft “Master Plan Future Land Use” Richmond 300 map. We note that Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is identified with the “Downtown General Urban Area” and “Downtown Urban Center” designations. While these designations may be appropriate for this huge state institution, these designations are not appropriate for Oregon Hill which is characterized by modest 2-story single family homes.

As noted the in the Richmond 300 urban design typology, “Downtown is dominated by tall office buildings … the area mostly consists of financial offices, state offices, VCU Health, and Virginia Biotechnology Research Park.” This Downtown typology bears no resemblance to the modest single family homes of the Oregon Hill Historic District.

It is important to note that “Single-Family (medium density)” is the “Master Plan Future Land Use” designation for the Fan District and the Randolph neighborhoods with the “Community Commercial” designation on Cary Street along the Fan. Oregon Hill is characterized by having the same “Single Family (medium density)” as the Fan and Randolph. Historically, Oregon Hill and the Fan were created from the same Town of Sydney grid, and we should receive the same Master Plan Future Land Use designation of “Single Family (medium density).”
The Richmond 300 master plan identifies the “Single Family (medium density)” designation as being appropriate for the R-7 zoning, which is predominant in Oregon Hill.
We strongly believe that the Richmond 300 master plan process offers us an opportunity to remove the inappropriate Downtown General Urban Area, and Downtown Urban Center future land use classifications for Oregon Hill. The Master Plan Future Land Use for the historic Oregon Hill neighborhood should be changed to the appropriate “Single Family (medium density)” designation with “Community Commercial” in the Cary Street corridor.

Please let us know as soon as possible if these designations for Oregon Hill will be changed in the Richmond 300 master plan.

Respectfully,

Charles Todd Woodson, president
Oregon Hill neighborhood Association

Press Release from Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association On BZA Matter

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From press release:

For Immediate Release:

Monday, June 4, 2018

On Wednesday, June 6, 2018 in Richmond City Hall at 1PM, the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) and other aggrieved parties will have an appeal of a recent ruling by the Richmond Zoning Administrator heard before the Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals. We believe the Zoning Administrator erred on a ruling concerning the status of “Transitional Sites” and other issues relevant to application of the appropriate zoning parameters of a development within the Oregon Hill Historic District (as recognized on the National Register of Historic Places). We also believe this incorrect ruling, if it stands, bodes profound adverse consequences and loss of protections for other neighborhoods in our City.

We thank the Fan District Association, the Carver Area Civic Improvement League, the Forest Hill Neighborhood Association, the Church Hill Association, the Union Hill Civic Association, the Sherwood Park Civic Association and the Uptown Association for their support. Their letters of solidarity are attached. We stand together united with the conviction that we will accept nothing less than FAIR and LAWFUL rulings by the Department of Planning and Development Review according to the precise wording of the written statutes.

We look forward to making our case before the Board of Zoning Appeals.

C. Todd Woodson, President
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, Inc.

(Editor’s note: Added a photo of Ginter Park’s letter below as well)







Overnight Solar Leak Prompts Neighborhood Evacuation

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A solar leak in Richmond’s Oregon Hill prompted the voluntary evacuation of nearly 100 homes near the intersection of Laurel Street and Spring Street. The leak was reported around 11 p.m. Saturday. Most neighbors were allowed to return to their homes around 2 a.m. Sunday.

Richmond Fire Department and Police Department responded to the area just after 11:00 p.m, along with Dominion Energy technicians. United Solar Neighbors’ representative Aaron Sutch was also on hand to comfort neighbors.

Laurel Street neighbor Tommy Birchett reported a strong odor in the area and saw solar streaks in the sky above his street, though a Holly Street neighbor who had recently installed solar in her residence says she did not see anything. A Dominion spokesperson said solar is still an experimental fuel, which is why it is must be kept under the utility’s control.

Crews closed Laurel Street between Albemarle and Holly in order to repair the leak.

This alarming event is somewhat similar to a gas line leak evacuation that took place this past Thursday in a West End neighborhood in Henrico. The main difference being that Henrico gas event was real.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 2, 2018

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From press release:

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, by unanimous vote of its membership, has passed a resolution supporting the conservation of the buildings on the 800 block of W Cary St that are threatened with demolition by Richmond developers looking to erect an apartment building on the footprint. These buildings, the oldest being circa 1840, are listed as contributing structures to the National Register of Historic Spaces and serve as a gateway to both the Oregon Hill Historic District and to Downtown Richmond. We have offered to meet with the developers and see how we can come to the table and figure out an alternative to tearing them down. It would be tragic to lose these valuable historic resources.

C. Todd Woodson, president
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, inc
302 S Cherry St
Richmond Va 23220
804-783-8829

Sierra Club Calls For Ending The MPC And Awards Neighbor For Activism

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This past week, the Sierra Club Falls of the James, the area’s oldest environmental organization, sent an open letter to City government concerning the deliberate cutting of trees in Monroe Park and the appearance of impropriety. In the letter, the Sierra Club suggested, among other actions, that the City’s lease with the Monroe Park Conservancy be terminated. The Shockoe Examiner posted the entire letter, minus some of the maps and photos. It is noteworthy that so far there has not been more media coverage of this detailed call for accountability and transparency from the new Mayoral administration.

Furthermore, today the Sierra Club Falls of the James announced that Oregon Hill neighbor Todd Woodson would be one of the recipients of the prestigious Green Giant awards. The award is being given in recognition of Woodson’s previous and current advocacy for Monroe Park and urban trees (including his previous service on City Council’s Monroe Parks Advisory Commission), as well as his promotion of animal welfare with the Richmond Animal Advocacy Alliance.

In the announcement, the SCOFOJ stated that City Parks worker Wyndham Price would also be receiving a Green Giant award posthumously. Price was an ardent environmentalist who helped with a variety of projects within and outside the park system. He was a familiar face around Oregon Hill and he will be missed.

The next SCFOJ monthly membership meeting, to be held Tuesday, February 14th (yes, Valentine’s Day) at 7 pm at the Science Museum of Virginia, will include a brief award ceremony for our Green Giants. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Announcing The First Annual Oregon Hill Jack O’Lantern Contest

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I have been wanting to do this for a while, and I think this is the year… I am hereby announcing the first annual Oregon Hill Jack ‘O Lantern Contest. First prize so far is a measly $20 from yours truly, however I am also announcing that I am looking for a local business to co-sponsor and help to significantly increase the prize money. (In other words, this could quickly become the ________/Oregon Hill Annual Jack O’Lantern Contest with the right advertising contract).

Creative Commons image- A Jack o' Lantern made for the Holywell Manor Halloween celebrations in 2003. Photograph by Toby Ord on 31 Oct 2003.

Creative Commons image- A Jack o’ Lantern made for the Holywell Manor Halloween celebrations in 2003. Photograph by Toby Ord on 31 Oct 2003.

So…rules…let’s see…

Submission Info

OregonHill.net invites submissions for its first annual Oregon Hill Jack O’ Lantern Contest. Entrants should read the following rules, terms, and conditions before submitting any photos or documentation.

Eligibility

Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. All entrants younger than 18 years of age must submit a note of parental consent with their entry. All entrants must be a resident of the Oregon Hill neighborhood to be considered. Contest is void where prohibited by law.
Contest judges (which is so far just me) and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.

Entries

Entries will start being accepted from October 15, 2016 at noon through October 27, 2016 at 11:59 pm. A winner and runners-up will be announced and presented on OregonHill.net on Friday, October 29, 2016 at noon. Please submit entries by emailing a photo jpeg file, size between 200 kb and 1.5 mg, of the entry to info@oregonhill.net, including a (real) name and a (real) address. Submitted photo should be of a carved or altered pumpkin in front of address. All entries must be original, newly-produced works, created after October 1, 2016. Entries must be original creations, with photo by the creator, and not infringe on the copyrights of any other parties. Any entires suspected, in the discretion of OregonHill.net, to be in violation will be rejected immediately from the competition.
OregonHill.net does not grant entrants the right or access to photograph private property or use of its name to secure access. Entries may have multiple co-producers, but one should be listed as the primary contact upon entry. The fair dissemination of any prize winnings will be the responsibility of the primary contact. Participants may submit multiple entries, however 1 photo entry per email. All forms of photos that are not produced by the entrant must be credited to the original photographer. Entries containing immoral, defamatory, obscene or scandalous content, or any other content which, at the sole discretion of OregonHill.net, is not in the keeping with OregonHill.net, will be deemed ineligible. By submitting a photo entry, each participant represents that the photo submitted is an original work that does not infringe on the copyright or intellectual property right of another party, and each participant agrees to indemnify OregonHill.net, and its contest judges from all liability arising from any alleged infringement in this regard. Photographer retains ownership rights to the submitted photo. However, the winning entrants grant to OreognHill.net the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and license to use the photos and the winners’ names in perpetuity without compensation, notification, or other limitation or condition, both in conjunction with the competition and promotion of the competition and promotion of OregonHill.net generally.
OregonHill.net is not responsible for entries that are not received or not received properly, or for any technical problems with corrupt digital files, internet outages, computer failures, and the like. OregonHill.net is not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries. OregonHill.net is not obligated to acknowledge receipt of entries.

Judging

Entries will be judged by a panel made up of OregonHill.net editors and Halloween experts invited by OregonHill.net. Judges’s decisions will be final and binding.

To select the winner, entries will be by judged by awarding of points based on the following criteria: (1) originality (40%), (2) composition and coherence (20%), (3) quality of photo (20%), and (4) consuming/recycling/composting of materials (20%) (this can be signified by a statement of intent included with entry). In the event of a tie score, the tie will be broken by awarding the prize to the entrant with the highest score in the first of the above-listed criteria (in order of appearance) as to which there is no tie.

Prize

Prize consists of $20 in U.S. currency, prominent featuring on OregonHill.net, and bragging rights. Runners-up will receive prominent featuring on OregonHill.net, and bragging rights. Applicable federal, state, and local taxes on prize are the sole responsibility of the winner.

Lastly, OregonHill.net reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify, suspend, or cancel the contest for any reason.

I think that covers it.

In addition to possibly having a co-sponsor, there is the possibility that the contest judging will change to online public voting on OregonHill.net to determine winner, but that possibility may or may not happen for this year’s contest.

Oregon Hill On The Tourist Map

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Tourist maps are always fun for their distortions as well as their inclusions and exclusions.

The photo below is an excerpt from “The Character of Richmond”, circa 1990, made by Atlantic Graphics. It seems more oriented towards Fan businesses and notably left out all of the Southside. I got it from former Oregon Hill neighbor Greg Wells, who has a booth or two at Mixie’s in Mechanicsville. He has more copies of this map for sale, along with a lot of other cool memorabilia, Richmond and otherwise.

I have seen more recent ones around town that leave Oregon Hill out, showing just the Virginia War Memorial right next to Hollywood Cemetery.

Anyway, this post also gives a little foreshadowing to an announcement coming this Thursday.

IMG_6557

This Week

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Coal Ash Stories film screening tonight.
(***Group Bicycle Ride to Event!***, Meet at Oregon Hill Overlook at 6:45, Enjoy Gorgeous Views of James River, Arrive at 7:00 to Rag & Bones Bicycle Co-op)

VCU-Community Meeting on the Gladding Residence Center Capital Project tomorrow evening.

Community Conversations: ReRVA – Public Spaces
Tuesday, April 5, 6-8 p.m., The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St., Richmond, VA
Continue the conversation.
Part of the Community Conversations series on revitalizing, recycling and re-imagining Richmond, find out how Public Spaces are being redefined throughout the city. Whether for recreation, environmental initiatives or reflection, public spaces are shaping why people move to and remain in Richmond. Event is free.

Mayoral candidate forum on Wednesday at VUU.

5th District meeting this Thursday.

Power Dialogue Friday, April 8, 8:30-noon at VCU, 2-5pm at UR Robins Center
The VA Power Dialog will engage college and university students from across the Commonwealth of Virginia in meaningful conversation with state regulators, officials, and peers on how our state will help meet the U.S. climate commitment of 30% cuts in global warming emissions by 2030. The day’s events will conclude with an interactive poster session and tabling. A collaborative network of twelve colleges and universities will host the event at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond. Registration is free. For more information and to register: BLOG.RICHMOND.EDU/VAPOWERDIALOG

Don’t forget about the Ukrop’s Monument Ave 10k this Saturday. There will be associated traffic closings.

The Tredegar book talk that was scheduled for last month and had to be canceled due to tornado warnings is being rescheduled for April 19th.

Volunteer Opportunity: Que Pasa Festival Saturday, May 7, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Canal Walk in Historic Downtown Richmond
Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (VAHCC) hosts the annual Que Pasa Festival as a celebration and showcase of Virginia’s diverse Latino community and businesses. The festival will include food, drinks, music, and a variety of games and activities for people and families of all ages. VAHCC is looking for volunteers to help us make this a successful and memorable event. Volunteers will provide assistance in a variety of tasks, including setting up and breaking down, admissions, and beverage sales, and volunteer shifts are available throughout the day from 6:00am until 9:00pm. Volunteers who stay for 4 or more hours get a free meal! If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please register here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form?EQBCT=9ff305896f8547e88f3dbb0352c9c50a

‘Tredegar Green’ – Still No Response To Neighborhood Concerns

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Venture Richmond, a very powerful special interests group, still has plans to apply for re-zoning the Tredegar Green property near Oregon Hill. Venture Richmond has talked about the need for Oregon Hill to compromise on the site’s planned use, and discussions between Venture Richmond and the neighborhood have been conducted over the last few years. However, the lawyer representing Oregon Hill, Andrew McRoberts, reports that there has been no reply from Venture Richmond representatives, not even a confirmation of the letter he sent outlining Oregon Hill’s very reasonable wishes over six months ago. All other inquiries by all residents of Oregon Hill had likewise been ignored (so much for “public-private partnership”).

The latest Venture Richmond communications to City staff reveal gross inadequacy:
No real commitment to event management planning- crowd, parking, trash, etc.
Sound levels are to be monitored, but this is meaningless because there is no decibel limit on sound, etc.
No height limitation (even though the DCC zoning would allow any owner of the property to build up to 95 feet in height by right — right in front of the Va. War Memorial’s view of the river!)

All the media has reported is that Jack Berry, Venture Richmond’s Executive Director, is planning to run for the position of Mayor of the City of Richmond. Perhaps he thinks he can do an even better job of putting off the public’s concerns than the current Mayor.