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Category Archives: Tredegar
Theater Controversy On Channel 6
Click here for the story on Channel 6.
Well, this could have been a lot better, but it was certainly better than some previous coverage. It did not mention the historic Kanawha Canal (and how Venture Richmond’s canal history is WRONG), and still gave the mistaken impression it’s all about the Folk Festival (it’s not!), but at least it did acknowledge opposition. Thanks to our Overlook neighbor Nancy for appearing and making the case for reason.
Harvie’s Deed Contradicts Venture Richmond’s Flawed History
New documentation from deed research that confirms that the 30 foot wide tow path on the site of Venture Richmond’s proposed amphitheater is authentic and dates from at least 1801.
As documented in Henrico Deed Book 6, page 260, when John Harvie and his wife on June 26, 1801 conveyed to the James River Company his property for the canal and for the upper basin, he reserved the right to fish in the basin and reserved the condition of a “public Road” on the lower side of the canal not more than 30 feet wide from the edge of the water. In this deed, the tow path embankment was referenced as a “Dam” for holding back the water that was to overflow the upper basin.
In this 1801 deed, Harvie and his wife conveyed to the James River Company, “… the following portions or parcels of land, lying and being in the County aforesaid, near James River, that is to say one hundred feet in breadth horizontal measure, of the said land, thro’ which the said Canal passes in the present direction of the said Canal, and which shall not extend more than thirty feet horizontal measure below the lower edge of the water in the said canal for the purpose of a public Road being part of the land purchased by the said John Harris from Samuel Overton, and also all the land which shall be overflowed by means of the Dam or wall of the said Canal …” (Please see attachment, “Henrico DB 6, page 260.”)
This 30 foot wide public access is clearly shown on the 1848 Plat of Harvie’s land. (Please see attachment, “Henrico Plat 3-417.”)
The 1868 Pleasants/Bates map, which shows the Canal company owning a 45 foot property width on the the south bank of the canal, has an inscription in the canal that references this June 26, 1801 Deed: “From John Harvie, strip 100′ wide and ground covered by water of upper basin … Extending from lower Belvidere line to Harvie’s lower line June 26, 1801” (Please see attachment, “1868 Pleasants/Bates map, detail showing 1801 Harvie deed reference.”)
As John Harvie recognized early on, by harnessing the water power available in the canal, there was great potential for industrial development on his land between the canal and the James River. He was a highly respected businessman, who not only was a Director of the James River Company and former Mayor of Richmond, but was one of the original statesmen in the Virginia delegation who ratified the U.S. Constitution. Harvie could command concessions in his sale of land to the James River Company that assured adequate access on the tow path for his industrial interests.
Hopefully, this new deed documentation will end the mistaken effort to alter the south bank of the canal from its authentic 1801 configuration for sight lines for the proposed amphitheater.
Venture Richmond’s “Temporary Events” Should Concern All Richmond Neighborhoods
Is Venture Richmond planning to use the city ordinance that authorizes “temporary events” to circumvent zoning requirements?
Every neighborhood in Richmond should be watching this closely. Venture Richmond is proposing $500,000 in permanent alterations, which would damage the historic James River and Kanawha Canal, for its proposed “Tredegar Green” theater. But the theater is not a permitted use under current zoning. Remember, as reported in yesterday’s post, Jack Berry of Venture Richmond told the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association that “we would probably be open to the idea of renting it.” which is not the same story that was told to the Planning Commission.
In a bizarre twist, the City Planning Commission approved the “location” of the amphitheater although it is not permitted under the zoning, and no re-zoning application has been submitted. Apparently Venture Richmond may be relying on an ordinance, intended for yard sales and other temporary events, to try to force through the project without complying with zoning laws.
If you scroll to the very end of the ordinance below you will find the section on temporary events:
http://eservices.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/clerkstracking/getPDF.asp?NO=2012-234-2013-2
It refers to the definition section of the ordinance, which defines a “temporary event” as four events annually.
At this time, aggrieved neighborhood residents cannot appeal because the zoning administrator will not rule on hypothetical situations, and Venture Richmond received approval for the “location” of the project before applying for a Special Use Permit, re-zoning, or for work permits. If Venture Richmond can receive City permission to implement $500,000 work for “temporary use” of a development not permitted under current zoning, wouldn’t that also allow someone to put in a motorcycle race track in a residential zoning so long as they said they would stage only four “temporary events” a year?
This would truly open Pandora’s Box if any developer could implement any development, not permitted by zoning, by saying they only intended to use it four days a year. (Later, after the damage was done, they probably would say that it was a hardship to only be allowed to use such a facility four days a year.)
Folk Festival and Not Just the Folk Festival
RVANews.com and Richmond.com have good previews of some of the artists who will be at this weekend’s Richmond’s Folk Festival.
Speaking of which, one of the most disturbing things about the Venture Richmond theater proposal is how Jack Berry and others have been suggesting that its just about the Folk Festival. What’s even more exasperating how local media has gone along with this suggestion (The original title for this linked article was “Explainer: Amphitheater Project Will Decide The Folk Festival’s Fate”). As with VCU in the past, sometimes all I can do is post the truth.
The transcript of Silver’s recording of Berry’s presentation to OHNA has some important quotes:
“Thought about using the War Memorial Amphitheater …”
[Good idea. Why not??]
“We’re going to have a tented, new tented venue very large tent over on Tredegar on top of the steps..”
[Great. Why not put the large dance tented venue that needs to be on a level surface now on Brown’s Island in the new very large tent on Tredegar on top of the steps?? This would open up Brown’s Island for the large stage.]
“We don’t have any plans to add parking resources …”
[Parking requirements required by the current M-1 zoning are not met for the Venture Richmond property. Why not put the large stage on Brown’s Island where parking is not a problem??]
“I think we would probably be open to the idea of renting it.”
[This is not the same story that was told to the Planning Commission. This is not about the Folk Festival. It seems like this is more about Venture Richmond making money from renting this venue than anything else.]
As the Folk Festival (and Venture Richmond’s propaganda push) gets closer, expect more information and history to be shared on oregonhill.net. Why not use Brown’s Island and two smaller stages instead? It’s important to recognize that Oregon Hill is not against the Folk Festival, but the neighborhood association is strongly against the current ‘Tredegar Green’ plan that Venture Richmond is wrongly insisting on and arrogantly pushing upon our historic neighborhood.
UDC Did Not Approve Of Venture Richmond’s Proposed Theater; Planning Commission Decides Tomorrow; Overlook Condos Releases Statement, and Oh Look, There Is A Lease!
In case you did not not know already, the City Of Richmond’s Urban Design Committee did NOT approve Venture Richmond’s amphitheater, wait, sorry, THEATER plan this past Monday. Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association President Jennifer Hancock gave a great speech on behalf of the association, and Laurel Street neighbor Caroline Cox spoke in regard to the parking and noise problems associated with putting an amphitheater directly below Oregon Hill. Pine Street neighbor Bryan Green who serves on the Urban Planning Commission was one of four who voted against the plan.
Tomorrow, the proposal will be at City’s the Planning Commission (1:30pm, on the fifth floor at City Hall).
Meanwhile, the Overlook Unit Owners Association board has released the following statement:
1. Our Overlook community is made up of a wide variety of residents, including young professionals, working people of all ages, retirees, families with young children, graduate and undergraduate students.
2. We support the work that the City and Venture Richmond has done to develop the Riverfront and encourage more people to visit and live in the city.
3. Our residents enjoy the entertainment and other amenities available downtown, including concerts, festivals, parks, art galleries and restaurants.
4. We frequent and support the Richmond Folk Festival.
5. We believe that it is important that decisions made by the City and non-governmental institutions regarding the use of land be sensitive to the impact those decisions will have on neighbors living close-by.
6. We acknowledge that some alterations of the canal may be necessary. We support restoring the canal in a manner that will be both historically accurate by allowing canal boat traffic from Maymont to Third Street and the use of Tredgar Green as an amphitheater.
7. We prefer that the Tredegar Green area remain green and undeveloped, with only occasional use for amplified performances. We are concerned that a stage at the base of the Lee Bridge would disturb the peace of some members of our community if concerts were scheduled there regularly without restriction.
8. We note that loud events on a stage aimed directly at the Virginia War Memorial would destroy the peace and tranquility of that facility. The Virginia War Memorial is a sacred place for thousands of friends and family members of Virginia’s fallen veterans. We hope that Venture Richmond and the Virginia War Memorial can coordinate schedules to not have events on the same day, with priority going to the Virginia War Memorial.
9. We ask that, if approved, amplified events at Tredegar Green be limited to no more than 15 days per year and not run past 10:00PM on weeknights and 11:00PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
10. If more events are scheduled for the site at the foot of the Lee Bridge, large crowds and parking issues in our neighborhood will move from an occasional inconvenience to a frequent problem. The Overlook development was approved by the City with the assumption that reasonable street parking would be available to residents, supplemented by limited off-street parking on our land. Frequent events that draw thousands to our neighborhood would destroy that basic assumption, resulting in an unfair burden on our residents.
11. We ask that a reasonable volume limit be put on performances at the amphitheater stage.
Also, Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool, when he has not been researching the history of the Kanawha Canal, has been asking the City a lot of questions. Under the Va. Freedom of Information Act, he requested on Aug. 26, 2013, “Any lease agreements or draft lease agreements regarding the use of City of Richmond property by Venture Richmond for an amphitheater.” His FOIA request was copied to the City Attorney. The use of City property for Venture Richmond’s proposed amphitheater is an item on the agenda of the Sept. 16, 2013 meeting of the Richmond City Planning Commission.
On Sept. 9, 2013, he received a response from a City employee on behalf of city administrator Byron Marshall, that “the City is not in possession of any records responsive to your requests nor is the City aware of the existence of any records responsive to your request.”
After receiving this response from the city administration that the lease did not exist, and after he notified all of the City Planning Commissioners that the lease did not exist, he actually received the lease agreement that someone else had independently received from the city attorney. Here is a link to the lease agreement, which the administration denied existed until two business days before the Planning Commission hearing:
http://eservices.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/clerkstracking/getPDF.asp?NO=2012-153-110
Among other things, this lease agreement is significant because it states that Venture Richmond must maintain the existing city parking for the public except for limited circumstance related to use of the property for an event like the Folk Festival. But Venture Richmond is proposing unlimited use of the proposed amphitheater which would be leased with no limit on the number of events annually.
60 Pages On Venture Richmond’s Amphitheater Proposal
In time for the UDC Committee meeting on Thursday morning, comes this OHHIC analysis of Venture Richmond’s amphitheater proposal (Pool). (This links to a PDF that is very large and may take some time to load).
Will the City and Venture Richmond consider these 60 pages or will they continue to blow off input from Oregon Hill residents?
UDC Meeting This Thursday
There are several items on the agenda pertinent to Oregon Hill for the upcoming City of Richmond Urban Design Committee meeting to be held next Thursday at 10:00am. These include curb extensions for Cumberland Avenue as well as new curb extensions at N. Laurel and W. Main Street as part of the Landmark Theatre renovations. UDC will be reviewing other items for the Landmark Theatre including lamposts, marquee, trees, etc. Perhaps of most interest is that Venture Richmond’s plan for what they call “Tredegar Green” is also on the agenda.
Tredegar To Merge?
Chris Dovi has an interesting blog post in Richmond Magazine about a possible merger discussion.
Three Richmond museums that focus on history may soon become more intertwined. The Museum of the Confederacy, the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar and the Virginia Historical Society have entered into discussions that may lead to a merger of the organizations.
The three museums have “a long history of cooperation,” says Jennifer Guild, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Historical Society, who confirms that the cooperation could evolve into a greater unity of the three entities. “All three of the museums are working together to determine what collaborations exist so we can make Richmond a premier Civil War tourist destination.”
2nd Street Connector’s Official Opening On Thursday
Despite continued questions and controversy, the Mayor’s Office released the following press release:
For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Wallace
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 (804) 646-2772 Michael.Wallace at Richmondgov.comMayor to Officially Open New 2nd Street Connector Road
WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones
Ellen Robertson, Richmond City Council Vice President, District 6
Parker Agelasto, Richmond City Council, District 5
Carter Reid, Vice President – Administrative Services & Corporate Secretary, Dominion
Bruce Hazelgrove, Vice President – Corporate Resources, NewMarket Corporation
Jack Berry, Executive Director, Venture RichmondWHAT: Official opening of the new 2nd Street Connector road.
WHEN: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: New 2nd Street Connector Road
Street extends from 2nd Street to Tredegar Street
Richmond, VABACKGROUND:
Mayor Jones, members of Richmond City Council, Dominion, New Market Corporation, and Venture Richmond will officially open the new 2nd Street Connector road. Project represents the first completed project of the 2012 Richmond Riverfront Plan.
Free parking is available in the parking lot off of Tredegar Street just west of the American Civil War Museum parking lot.
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