The only building still standing is the Parsons House with two chimneys in the upper right hand side of the photo. The owner of the canal boat building business at one time lived in the Jacob House.
The James River Splash and Dash is this Saturday, but advanced registration for it closes today.
A fundraiser for the James River Association, the James River Splash and Dash is a trail run and flat water tube event. Participants run a trail course, grab a tube, paddle (with their hands) across a stretch of the James, and run their tube to the finish line. After the race, JRA will be hosting an after party which will include live music, beverages from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and the RVA Street Foodies featuring Richmond food trucks.
The Richmond event is located near Belle Isle with the after party located at Historic Tredegar.
In the wake of the Lynchburg explosion, more people are looking at maps.
http://portlandtribune.com/sl/226325-88900-map-pinpoints-route-of-oil-trains-through-region
A couple of comments-
While I am concerned about train derailments, I am not freaking out because of this map. And in the event of a spill or explosion, I would hope the slope of Oregon Hill would protect the neighborhood from the worst of it. As it is, I am much more immediately concerned about resulting river pollution. This may or may not be scaremongering, but it is a subject worth more attention. I understand the James River Association will be sharing more information soon.
Do the City’s rules and regulations do not apply equally to everyone? If the Mayor happens to be the president of your organization, as is the case with Venture Richmond, do the City’s regulations apply equally?
As of Monday, July 7th, why is there no permit on the city’s web site shown for Venture Richmond’s ongoing amphitheater work on the City-owned property leased by Venture Richmond (the area above the canal)? While it appears that no permit was requested or issued for the City parcel, a City employee indicated that the City parcel work was included in the permit that was issued. But is this correct procedure?
In October 2012, the century-old Tredegar wall was illegally demolished on this same City property leased by Venture Richmond. Last week, silt fencing to stop erosion was not installed on the Venture Richmond property until after the public complained. As a result, dirt and debris was pushed into the wetlands.
A train derailment yesterday in Lynchburg train destroyed three oil tanker cars and spilled an estimated 50,000 gallons of crude oil into the James River.
Thankfully no one was hurt in the upriver incident, but it has raised local concerns. The Times Dispatch reports:
The spill also prompted Richmond utility officials to prepare to possibly switch to an alternative source for the city’s drinking water supply, which depends primarily on the James. With the river at flood stage, that isn’t likely, said city officials, who plan to use booms to capture any oil nearing the treatment plant.
The incident also cast a bright light on the rapidly expanding rail transport of crude oil from the Upper Plains through Virginia — and downtown Richmond — to terminals and refineries in the Northeast, raising safety and environmental concerns all along the way.
“It’s difficult to get Virginia to pay attention to this because they don’t think of their being part of the oil patch, but now they are,” said Fred Millar, an Arlington County-based consultant on hazardous materials safety who has warned Virginia officials of potential dangers from the transport of crude oil across the state.
Personally, while I am not panicking, I do know of a few neighbors who have filled water containers despite safety assurances. This may cause more scrutiny of trains going by the neighborhood along the Kanawha Canal.
V.45.28.229a
Richmond, VA and Its Vicinity engraving
1863
The Valentine Richmond History Center collaborates with Richmond Magazine, TMI Consulting Inc. and the Future of Richmond’s Past to present this year’s Community Conversations series, conceived to engage the community in a dialogue about the region’s past and how that past can positively shape our collective future. Featured are a series of monthly discussions about various Richmond localities, from Shockoe Bottom to the Boulevard. A Richmond Magazine moderator will lead each discussion, illuminating historical and current-day perspectives that shape our understanding and experience of each location.
Riverfront Development with Jack Cooksey
Tuesday, March 4, 6-8 pm
F.W. Sullivan’s Canal Bar & Grill (Plaza Room), 1001 Haxall Point
City workers removing dead sidewalk tree on 600 block of S. Laurel-
There have been a lot of City workers in the neighborhood recently-
Goodbye 816 Riverside Park– I will be curious as to how quickly the lot is auctioned and what it goes for.
Also, workers dealing with water main leak on China Street
I mentioned the Vicarious Travelers series earlier this week, but there is another event at the Main Library this evening-
Jan. 31 at 6 PM, director Dave Miller will present his documentary Breathing Life Into The Chesapeake at Richmond Public Library’s Main branch. Although not officially part of the RVA Environmental Film Fest, it is a free screening. Breathing Life into the Chesapeake was a Runner Up finalist in the first annual RVA EFF Local Documentary Contest.
Event Link: http://www.richmondpubliclibrary.org/eventListDay.asp?date=1%2F31%2F2014
Remember the 60 page report? Well now Charles Pool has expanded it to 106 pages. We can only hope intellectual honesty and historic fact will matter as the City decides on Venture Richmond’s plan. It is also important to again recognize that there is a compromise plan that Venture Richmond has so far ignored that would avoid cutting into the historic canal.
Because of its national importance, the James River and Kanawha Canal should not be altered, cut, lowered or filled for trivial reasons, such as for improving sight lines or making it easier to cut the grass. It is vital that George Washington’s 18th century canal be afforded the respect that it deserves so that this rare historic resource one day can be a restored “blueway,” a treasure for future generations of citizens of the Commonwealth.