Photo and comment by neighbor Charles Pool.
Clouds reflected in the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) building across Belvidere Street from Oregon Hill. The VHDA has applied for exceptions to the zoning code to build a large parking deck adjacent to the Va. War Memorials new deck. Since there is a shortage of parking to visit Belle Isle, will the VHDA allow the public to park in the deck on the weekends?
Some neighbors put together this flyer and distributed over 200 copies yesterday to residents within the proposed restricted parking zone.
It was produced with the disclaimer that it may have limited information due to space constraint, and that there may be more information related to the petition and city ordinance on restricted parking, but that all the information on it is accurate to the best of their knowledge.
Oregon Hill is the only neighborhood in VCU’s perimeter to not have a parking decal program. A previous proposal for one experienced much controversy and was abandoned.
Now, Laurel Street neighbor William Cabell has come forward with a new proposal for a smaller portion of the neighborhood.
Attention Oregon Hill Neighbors: please see the attached proposal for a parking plan for a portion of our neighborhood. We will hold a community meeting to discuss the particulars of this proposal on February 15th at 9AM in St. Andrews.
My aim is to build a plan that includes the concerns of businesses and churches in our community as well as respect the needs of residents. Once this conversation takes place, I will ask OHNA permission to proceed with petitioning the residents of the affected area.
Renters will be entitled to a vote on the petition and will be able to purchase parking passes with a valid lease in hand. I need 60% agreement to proceed. The city will then survey the highlighted area and determine if parking restrictions are necessary. Each address is entitled to 2 year long passes at $25 a piece. Homeowners are able to purchase a year long guest pass for $35.
Church events, dinner parties, or gatherings in the neighborhood within the times of 7AM-9PM (M-F) that require parking for more than 2 hours can contact the city and declare the event. This will void parking restrictions for the allotted time.
If you have any comments or concerns please direct them to the email provided. I know this issue is a sensitive one and not everyone agrees or will agree but think we can find a mutually beneficial solution to a long running problem. This is something I believe needs to be addressed and hope I have your support.
Your Neighbor,
William
CSX which owns the property beneath the trestles has blocked off access, thus eliminating approximately half the available parking.
The paved lot is still accessible but parking is no longer allowed in the gravel lot as you see here in an old Google Maps screenshot.
We reached out to Park Superintendent Bryce Wilk about the situation and there wasn’t much more information to share, “The parking area is under CSX ownership and is closed until further notice.” Wilk did also state that Venture Richmond, PRCF (Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities) and CSX are working together to find some solution. Details of the possible solution aren’t available at this time.
For Oregon Hill residents, this is very troubling. It’s not so much about the parking, since residents mostly walk down to the riverfront. For years neighborhood leaders have brought up more mass transit and shuttles to alleviate parking crowding at the Belle Island parking lot.
There is the concern that the City or Venture Richmond will try to force parking closer to Oregon Hill. In the past there have been suggestions that the portion of the North Bank Trail directly south of Oregon Hill be turned into parking. Regardless, residents expect more park visitors to park near the Overlook in order to use the park.
Even more worrisome is the possibility of losing public access. For generations, Oregon Hill residents have been able to walk more or less straight down to the James River, with little regard for railroad interference. Certainly, current Oregon Hill residents want to keep that ability.
Found this morning on the sidewalk on Laurel Street…the written part says “Thanks 4 Double Parking”
The funny thing is that it was written on the back of this anti-stress handout…
The following information was supplied by Fifth District City Council Liaison Amy Robins:
Dear Oregon Hill Neighbors,
Below you will find the results (minus personal information) from Parking Survey in a PDF. This is the same powerpoint that was rotating last night. The flyers and this survey were a tool to notify neighbors of the parking conversation. This survey as stated in the survey were never to replace the petition process. The results were to be used to draft a new petition with the help of city staff answering questions and clearing up misinformation. Neighbors wishing to have restricted parking have every right to petition their blocks. Oregon Hill neighbors can decide on porch steps whether they are for or against restricted parking.
Currently, there is no new petition. Last night’s meeting turned to an information session with DPW’s Lynne Lancaster & Steve Bergin. I thank the folks who stays throughout the evening and asked great questions.
The attached file shows all the 245 responses. Out of that number 175 people used an OH addresses. 115 responding lived south of Albemarle.
______
Copy/Paste from the survey:“This survey to collect feedback from the community regarding a potential restricted parking district (permit parking) in the Oregon Hill neighborhood. This survey will close on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 11:59pm. The feedback excluding personal contact information will be condensed and shared at the next OHNA meeting on Tuesday, August 28, 2018. At that time neighborhood residents will vote on the perimeters of a brand new petition. Perimeters: include the blocks, number of permits per household, and hours of restriction.
Please stop and read through the city’s restricted parking district page before moving forward with this survey: http://www.richmondgov.com/…/RestrictedParkingDistricts.aspx. Please note that Oregon Hill’s district will be different from the Fan and Carver Districts since each neighborhood is unique. Please make note of the items that you like or do not like in the descriptions.
The Randolph Neighborhood Association is also moving forward with a petition for a restricted parking district starting along Harrison. You can learn more by visiting their website: https://randolphrva.com/…/restricted-decal-permit-parking-…/
Additional Information:
There are approximately 500+ houses in Oregon Hill.Two Schools:
St.Andrew’s School – 229 S. Cherry Street
Open High School – 600 S. Pine StreetTwo churches:
St. Andrews Episcopal Church – 240 S. Laurel Street
Pine Street Baptist Church – 400 S. Pine StreetSeven businesses South of I-195:
Peddler of Pine Street – 238 S. Pine Street
Monday – Thursday 11:00am to 9:00pm
Friday 11:00am to 10:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Sunday 12:00pm to 8:00pmFine Food Market – 700 Idlewood Ave
Monday-Sunday 9am-12amVinyl Conflict Record Store – 324 S. Pine Street
Monday: 12:00pm until 6:00pm
Tuesday through Saturday: 11:00am until 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm until 6:00pmRest in Pieces – 349 S Laurel Street
Mondays: closed
Tuesday-Sunday: 12pm-7pmPine Street Barber Shop – 224 S. Pine Street
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Friday: 9am-6pm
Saturday: 9am-2pmL’opossum – 626 China Street
Sunday-Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Saturday: 5pm-12amMamma’Zu – 501 S. Pine Street
Sunday: Closed
Monday-Friday: 11am-2pm; 5:30pm-10:30pm
Saturday: 5:30pm-10:30pmTourist Destinations/Amenities: Rest in Pieces, Hollywood Cemetery, Oregon Hill Overlook, access to the James River
Parks, Oregon Hill Linear Park, Pleasant’s Park, Holly Street ParkDue to financial and time constraints this survey will only be available via the internet. Neighbors without internet are encourage to attend the Tuesday, August 28 meeting at St. Andrew’s Church.”
“Please note OHNA has thrown out all petitions and previous ideas regarding the restricted parking area. We will be starting from scratch.
The streets running North and South include: South Cherry, South Laurel, and South Pine.
The streets running East and West include: Cumberland, Idlewood, Albemarle, Spring, China, Holly, and the Oregon Hill Parkway/S. 2nd Street.
60% of the block MUST sign the hand written petition for the DPW Parking Division to consider it in the study. This survey does not replace the hand written petition.
You can weigh in on each block or just select the blocks closest to you.
You can review the Fan’s application for:
Owners – http://www.richmondgov.com/…/Fan_2017_OwnersParkingPermitZo…
Renters – http://www.richmondgov.com/…/Fan_2017_RentersParkingPermitZ… ”_________
I’ll load the City Ordinance that allows for Restricted Parking Areas to the file area.General Information/clarification from last night:
– Neighbors approached OHNA to sponsor the petition. The City Ordinance states the civic association must be the one to apply. This is neighbor driven not city driven.
– Neighbors gets to decide on what will or will not be included in the ordinance if a new petition is generated. The ordinance must reflect the petition.
– Renters can get parking passes; in some district they are not eligible for guest passes. Parking passes and guest passes are different. Again, you all as a community can decide. Please note you can over sell a parking district.
– The base fee of $25/per permit and $35/per guest pass are set in the code and cannot be changed. These are annual fees. The fee helps cover the program’s cost.
– The neighbors gets to decide the district. A district must be 10 block faces.
– The neighbors get to decide the hours and days for restriction.
– The neighbors get to decide the number of petitions per household.
– The petition (if a new one is created) will include a for or against column.
– Restrictions would not be place directly in front of churches or businesses. Neighbors can make decisions to help protect businesses when drafting the petition.
– Please be sure to add all “for” responses together to see the discussion is closer than a land slide.
– The greatest push from neighbors was the 100, 200, and 300 blocks closest to VCU.
– Cars in violation of the parking restriction would be ticketed. The ticket is $50. Part of the fine would go into a fund to help support safety infrastructure like crosswalks and cleaning/sweeping roads/signs within Oregon Hill.
– The only time a car would be towed is if they had multiple outstanding tickets. This is a citywide practice not unique to restricted parking areas.
-Again, the attached file shows all the 245 responses. Out of that number 175 people used an OH address. 115 responding lived south of Albemarle.
If shared, please include all of the information above. Thank you.