OHNA Expresses Strong Opposition To Victory Rug SUP

From email:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM: Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association

RE: Proposed Victory Apartment Special Use Permit application

DATE: October 6, 2012

RICHMOND: The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) has voted to strongly oppose the excessive density and lack of off-street parking for the proposed Victory Apartments at
407 S. Cherry Street. The current proposal is a 29 bedroom development in 18 apartments and one townhouse, with only 8 off-street parking spaces. This far exceeds that 6 units that
would be permitted under the current zoning.

“This proposal is a non-starter,” said OHNA President Jennifer Hancock. “Oregon Hill already has a tight parking situation because of our proximity to VCU, and the excessive density and lack of off-street parking of this development would exacerbate an already serious problem.”

The developer has rejected OHNA’s proposal for elderly housing in the old Victory Rug building that would need only half the off-street parking. The developer has also rejected OHNA’s proposal for a neighborhood-friendly business use of the building. “The developer has rejected every reasonable suggestion of the neighborhood association,” said Hancock.

OHNA has expressed particular concern over the city planning department’s misapplication of Riverfront District zoning regulations to the project to allow on-street parking to be used to meet the off-street parking requirements. Oregon Hill is not in the Riverfront District, and residents claim that they have been denied due process by the city.

The neighborhood expects the Special Use Permit to be soon brought to vote by the City Planning Commission. Over 113 of the nearby Oregon Hill residents have written letters of opposition to the proposed Victory Apartments SUP.

Contacts:
Jennifer Hancock, OHNA President
bookzen at comcast.net

Todd Woodson, OHNA Treasurer
candylandmusic at earthlink.net

For more background on this issue, please click here.

Hollywood Cemetery, Oregon Hill, and Civil War Tours

From the Valentine Richmond History Center:

Oct. 14 Hollywood Cemetery (2-4pm) WALKING TOUR
An extension of the daily “Highlights” tour, this version covers in more detail the cemetery’s unique history, landscape design, architecture, symbols and residents. Meet at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle streets.

Oct. 21 Oregon Hill (2-4pm) WALKING TOUR
Settled by Irish and Welsh ironworkers in the 1840’s, Oregon Hill is one of the oldest intact neighborhoods in Richmond and continues to thrive as a tight-knit, working class neighborhood. Includes a visit to St. Andrew’s Church and School. Meet at Laurel and Idlewood streets.

Oct. 27 NEW! Hollywood Cemetery: The Civil War (2-4pm) WALKING TOUR
From the Pyramid to the gravesite of Jefferson Davis, high above the James River, Hollywood Cemetery is the final resting place for thousands of Confederates. Come visit the graves of such notables as J. E. B. Stuart, George Pickett, Fitzhugh Lee, Jefferson Davis and many others whose stories continue to capture our imagination 150 years after the Civil War began. Meet at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle streets.

Reminder: Harvest On The Hill Sunday with Blessing of the Animals

From email:

For this year’s Harvest on the Hill, we are bringing back the Blessing of the Animals Booth! Bring your beloved pets for a special blessing and treats anytime between 3:30 to 4:30 pm at the Vigil table (ask any of the volunteers to point you in the right direction).

Take care,
Abbott

WEATHER UPDATE: Join us at Harvest on the Hill rain or shine! The leadership team is making arrangements to make us comfortable in the event of inclement weather with extra tents and umbrellas. Please dress warmly and bring an umbrella for intermittent showers should they blow through. When’s the last time you played in the rain? It’s fun! :-) Of course, we are still counting on a beautiful fall day!

“Renovation Station” Tomorrow

From email announcement:

Tomorrow Saturday October 6 from 2:00 until 5:00 pm William Byrd Community House (224 South Cherry Street) will host Richmond Women in Design’s First Annual Community Outreach “Renovation Station” with Storefront for Community Design.
At “Renovation Station” RWiD will be offering free design consultation to the communities of Oregon Hill, Randolph and Lake View and for that matter anyone in the Richmond area. Richmond Women in Design is a group of women architects, interior designers, engineers, landscape architects and graphic designers. And this is our way of giving back to the community in what we do best.
So if you are in need of some design help or have questions concerning your house or small business come by and we will help get you started. Bring your photo’s, plans if you have them.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

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 Federal Trade Commission released updated ‘Green Guide’ standards, which will hopefully lead to more truth in marketing.

Also, I suspect that the Sierra Club Falls of the James’ Recycling Breakthrough Contest has had its entry deadline extended and the Richmond Folk Festival’s Green Team could use more volunteers.

Harvest on the Hill This Sunday

From St. Andrew Church’s website:

Harvest on the Hill
brought to you by Gather Together
Description:
Harvest on the Hill is St. Andrew’s annual community fair held at the Grace Arents Garden behind William Byrd Community House.

Date(s):
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Time(s):
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location:
Grace Arents Garden
Link(s):
Gather Together
Contact Information:
Ashley Raggi
ashley.raggi at gmail.com

Byrd House Market This Tuesday

From email announcement:

Newly-Wed and the Newly-Named
will make their debut this week at Byrd House Market.
Congratulations to Alistar & Rebecca, and Origins Farm! Many Happy Returns of the Day for the rest of your Life!

A rainy Tuesday afternoon
70% chance anyway – but hopefully nothing like 2 weeks ago. Looking forward to your smiling faces and all the bounty that autumn has to offer a farmers market in our “fare” city. Don’t Forget the Hans S. Falck Lecture this Thursday evening at St. Andrew’s School auditorium. Details at wbch.org or hanssfalcklectures.blogspot.com.

Vendors this week: (not all are on the map, so here is the whole list!)
Agriberry – seasonal fruits (berries, peaches, apples…CSA
Foraged – palm readings and lovely things from nature found and assembled for your enjoyment
Ettamae’s Oven – breads, rolls, pies, pie slices (Stall #5 on the map)
Bill’s Produce / Heath Farm – seasonal produce, sustainably grown, lovely company
Nanas Homemades – jams, jellies, chutneys, peanut brittle, tea cakes, cookies, dainties…a keen observer and practitioner of the tasty
Cafe 2100 – spring rolls, sauteed tofu, rice and wheat noodles with pickled and steamed fresh vegetables…ready with
Limeades and More – limeades, lemonades fresh squeezed, bubble teas and fresh brewed coffee, made before your eyes
Faith Farm Foods – cow shares, eggs, Amish butter and produce, grass fed meats and poultry, goat cheese, honey, preserves, egg noodles, etc …CSA
Chocolate Cravings – dark and milk chocoloate bars, barks of assorted flavors, brownies…
Byrd Farm / Rural Va Market – seasonal produce, Byrd Farm honey, Billy Bread, peaches, goat cheese, mushrooms, eggs, chickens …CSA
amy’s garden – certified organic seasonal produce, cut flowers, …CSA
Epic Gardens – seasonal produce, edamame, cut flowers, eggs, plants …CSA
Tomten Farm – seasonal heirloom produce, including okra …CSA
Deer Run Farm – seasonal produce, melons, chickens, eggs …CSA
Caromont Farm – Cow cheese, spreadable, peasant,
Sub Rosa Bread – Evrim’s back with limited supplies of his famous bread (individual loafs and by the pound hunks) and even more limited supply of his soon to be famous croissants…CSA
Salt Pork – (retail of Sausage Craft) variety of locally grown pork sausages – Herbed, Italian, Bratwurst, Andouie and more
Becka’s Aloe Vera Juice – Va grown aloe juice in assorted fresh locally grown fruit and veggie flavors
Steve Haas Mushrooms – locally grown and harvested mushroom varieties
Tuckahoe Lamb and Cattle Co. – grass fed cattle and lamb, lamb’s wool, eggs, soup bones, ground meat, chops, sausages…
Robin Raver, CMT – chair massage (Stall #27 on the map)
Soul-Ice – naturally flavored fruit sorbet-style ices (accompanied by soul, R&B…)
Wild Heaven – wonderfully varied offering of fragrance and form – goat soaps, cremes, etc.
Shakhambari Garden – Indian Ayurvedic and native Appalachian medicinal and culinary herbs. We make natural, Ayurvedic herbal teas, powders, jams, and body oils for health and mental peace
Petal Palate – divinities and popsicles(!) flavored with fragrant herbs and flowers
Origins Farm – certified naturally grown seasonal produce and fruit …CSA

This is why you come, no?
SNAP / Credit and Debit Cards accepted
_____________________

Ana Edwards, Manager
Byrd House Market & Library Programs
Grace Arents Library & Education Center
William Byrd Community House
www.wbch.org / 804.643.2717 ext.306

Still Time to Volunteer for the Upcoming Folk Festival

This past Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the Virginia War Memorial hosted volunteer orientations for the upcoming Richmond Folk Festival. An Oregon Hill neighbor, Jamie Thomas, is serving as the volunteer coordinator for the festival. There is still time to sign up to volunteer. As the festival website states,

Last year, more than 200,000 people visited downtown Richmond’s riverfront to celebrate the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance traditional crafts, storytelling and food. The Richmond Folk Festival has become one of Virginia’s largest and most-loved events of the year and has been voted as the best musical festival in Richmond, 2 years running. The 2012 Festival will bring a new and similarly amazing list of performers, artists and exhibitors.

In particular, I know the Green Team, which handles recycling, is in need of able-bodied volunteers. The nice thing about the Green Team is that, while there is hard work involved, you do get the chance to hear a lot of the music and interact with the crowd. Please do consider signing up today by clicking here.