From a neighbor:
An indoor cat got out on Wednesday night in the 300 block of Cherry/Idlewood intersection in Oregon Hill. Gray and White color. Pink collar with tag with name “Willow.” She has not come back and we have not found her. If you have seen or found Willow, please call or text Paula at 678-371-1174. Thank you!
From the Flying Brick blog:
New letterpressed bookmarks in lots of colors! Hand printed/ hand cut y’all. Selling for donation, sliding scale $2-5! You can pick ‘em up during open hours or at events that we table!
This is a speech that neighbor Todd Woodson gave to City Council this past Monday night:
Hi- I’m Todd Woodson and I’m here to speak for the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association. I have served as treasurer for the last 11 years. We have serious concerns on an sup proposal pending on the Victory Rug Building on S Cherry St. We feel there have been serious flaws committed and don’t think that fair or due process has been served to our residents.
some background info on sup:
The Victory Rug current parcel assessment of 270K has risen 236% in last 10 years. We believe this assessment is correct and fair for a building in this condition.
The parcel was bought at auction for 660,000 by developer.
a message was sent to developer from OHNA before closing on the property outlining inherent problems in developing the building.
Consequently, hardship cannot be used to justify the aggressive density requested with off street parking limited to only 8 questionable spaces. The proposal is for 29 bedrooms which would require somewhere between 30 and 45 parking spaces. Parking is already a hardship due to our proximity to VCU. This development is 2 1/2 blocks from the mammoth VCU recreation center.
The City has received 114 letters of opposition- no letters in favor—
A main concern is that in early October, neighborhood reps met with Mr. Jewell, the developer and Mark Baker of Baker Development Resources who is representing the developer on this sup. No concessions were made and the meeting was a disappointment. On Oct 22, the SUP ordinance was introduced. Sometime between then and Oct 30, Councilman Jewell solicited help in securing campaign funds from Mr Baker and an email was sent to other developers as well as to a networking group maintained by Baker. I mean no disrespect to Mr Jewell and am not an attorney so I cant say if this is illegal. I will say that the hundreds of residents facing hardship from this sup find the appearance of impropriety of major concern.
I have included the solicitation in your package.
————————————————————————-we feel it to be prudent and reasonable for the Council hearing on this SUP be postponed until after our concerns are fully resolved and the new council is seated.
We are anxious for a quality reasonable development at the Victory Rug Building and hope for an enterprise that has the best interest of the community at heart.
This Wednesday is a red Wednesday, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. They do not belong on the sidewalk after tomorrow night.
In recycling news, the US Navy in Norfolk is participating in a pilot program to recycle material from ship mattresses.
Don’t forget America Recycles Day on November 15.
Photo by Arthur Stephens
From City press release:
Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force to hold meeting (NOTE New location and date)
All residents are invited and encouraged to attend
WHAT The Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force will hold a meeting. (NOTE: The location and date schedule of this meeting are different from previously held meetings.) The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System. The meeting is free and open to the public and all residents are invited and encouraged to attend.
WHEN Wednesday, November 14, 2012
4:00-6:00 p.m.
WHERE Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau Offices
401 North 3rd Street, 2nd floor – Richmond, Virginia 23219
Located inside the Greater Richmond Convention Center at the Corner of 3rd & Marshall Streets on the 2nd floor.
Parking is available in the Greater Richmond Convention Center parking garage located at 3rd & Marshall Streets. Once you have parked, exit the garage and cross Marshall Street. Enter the Exhibit Hall building at the corner of 3rd & Marshall Streets. Take elevator to the 2nd floor. The RMCVB’s offices are to the right.
WHO Members of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force
CONTACT For more information, please contact Marianne Pitts, at 804.646.5935;
or marianne.pitts@richmondgov.com.
The new Plan 9 (sans records)?
With the elections over, neighbors are watching to see how they might effect Victory Rug building’s proposed Special Use Permit (SUP). Neighborhood leaders remain in strong opposition. The City Planning Commission’s consideration of the Victory Apt. Special Use Permit has been postponed at the developer’s request until Dec. 3. The assumption is that City Council will consider the issue the following Monday on Dec. 10.
An excerpt from the recent review in Style magazine:
Pescados China Street won rave reviews and was named critics’ favorite hot spot in Style Weekly’s 2011 State of the Plate. Unfortunately, according to co-owner and chef Todd Manley, fresh seafood was too narrow and expensive for the neighborhood. So Manley engaged his staff in a re-branding effort, settling on a global, eclectic menu with a variety of prices.
Eat Oregon Hill maintains Pescados’ décor and most popular menu items, but expands into new dishes. Seafood continues to be the main draw, while the other offerings are uneven in concept and execution.
The menu is divided into “eat small” and “eat large,” as well as “eat your greens” and “eat your sweets.” There’s also an “eat any time” section, which I think confuses rather than clarifies the classification system. It’s clear the chefs had fun creating the menu, shown by creatively prepared dishes such as carrots sous-vide and root beer air. Culinary influences extend beyond the Latin and Caribbean flavors of Pescados, with Moroccan, Southern and even Canadian dishes. The bar features innovative cocktails and house-made sodas worth trying.
According to the reviewer, there is still room for improvement:
In three visits, every seafood dish I eat is excellent and has me planning return visits, while almost every nonseafood dish has some flaws. The decision to keep the best of Pescados was the right one, and I hope a few improvements to the rest of the menu will keep Eat Oregon Hill a neighborhood staple serving creative and inspiring food.
Thankfully, the Richmond Voice newspaper is still on the case. You can click here for the pdf of their recent issue, which includes a story about the recent destruction of the historic Kanawha canal wall.
Supposedly, the Police Dept and the Dept of Public Works are investigating the matter, but Oregon Hill residents remain concerned that it will not be fully prosecuted. Perhaps more outside pressure will come to bear.