Trees and Upcoming OHNA Meeting

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Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association president Todd Woodson recently sent out some reminders:

On November 30th, we will be planting 10 street trees in the neighborhood. Please join us to help plant these beauties provided by a grant from the Community Roots program at 9:30am at the entrance to St Andrews School at 820 Idlewood Ave. Bring a shovel and jug for water if you can. I’ve included a photo of our new trees below. Thanks for your help on this! This will be the last day Councilman Agelasto will be in office before Stephanie Lynch takes over so lets plant some TREES (we will have professional supervision)!!!.

The OHNA meeting on November 26th will include officer elections for the upcoming year. We will also vote on a motion to donate a remote weather station (up to 250 dollars) to Open High so they can keep meteorological records for Oregon Hill. This will be a great asset to our friends at Open in their science classes in learning about meteorology. We can also chart warming/cooling trends for the neighborhood. Please mark the meeting on your calendar.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

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This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality released a positive report that said Virginia recycled almost half of its trash last year, setting a record despite China’s ban on importing plastic and other solid waste. Furthermore, according to the report, the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, which includes Richmond and surrounding localities, had the highest recycling rate in the commonwealth — 59%.

Also, from a WTVR report:

One change is that many localities have dropped recycling glass because it is hard to find a market for that product. That is why DEQ is asking Virginians to minimize their use of glass.

“Citizens should try to generate less waste, like purchasing products with the least amount of packaging and those that are readily recyclable, such as aluminum cans vs. glass bottles,” said Anissa Rafeh, the department’s communications coordinator.

Glass can be problematic to recycle for several reasons, said Joe Romuno, director of national accounts for an environmental consulting firm called Great Forest Sustainability Solutions.

“Broken glass can contaminate other recyclables like paper and cardboard, lowering their value,” Romuno said. Moreover, broken glass can be a safety hazard to workers and can damage machines at recycling facilities.

Also, glass must be sorted by color in order to reprocess for recycling. “Glass is difficult to sort when broken, and if broken down too finely, it may become too difficult to reprocess,” Romuno said.

Be Prepared For Marathon Traffic

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Are you ready for the marathon?

One neighbor pointed to one thing in particular:

I’m hoping this Waze map of Marathon road closures is wrong (because this makes no sense to me) but it is showing the exit from the Downtown Expressway onto the roundabout at Idlewood as being closed. I didn’t see this on the other road closures map, so just an FYI in case this is, in fact, accurate. The Waze map is linked on the Marathon website so it should be legit.

From police:

The 2019 VCU Health Richmond Marathon is just days away! Thousands of runners will take to city streets on Saturday, Nov. 16. There will be numerous “No Parking” zones and street closures will be in effect as a result.

The Richmond Police Department is asking motorists to be patient and on the lookout for runners along the routes. Maps of the courses are attached.

Please be aware of signs restricting parking and detours throughout the city starting at 8 a.m. Friday Nov. 15 and continuing through 8 p.m. Saturday Nov. 10.

The following streets will be closed or modified during the designated times:

· Tredegar Street between S. 7th Street and Brown’s Island/2nd Street Connector will be closed from 10 a.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Saturday.
· South 5th Street between Bragg and Tredegar Streets will be closed from 10 a.m. Friday until 5p.m. Saturday.
· South 5th Street between Byrd and Bragg Streets will be closed from 5 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Saturday.
· Tredegar Street between Dominion Resources and Brown’s Island Way/2nd Street connector will be closed from 3 a.m. Saturday until 5 p.m. Saturday
· Broad Street between Arthur Ashe Boulevard and N. 10th Streets will be closed from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Saturday.
· Hermitage Road (northbound) between North Laburnum and Pope Avenue will be closed from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m. Saturday.
· North Mulberry Street between W. Broad and W. Grace Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· North 3rd Street between E. Broad and Main Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Cowardin Avenue (One/Southbound Lane) between Semmes Avenue and Lee Bridge from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Longview Drive between Scottview Dr. and Wallow Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Huguenot Road between Huguenot Bridge and Cherokee Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· Windsorview Drive between Wallowa Road and Forest Hill Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Riverside Drive between Huguenot Bridge and Scottview Drive from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· River Road/Cary Street Road between Maple/Libbie Avenue and Three Chopt Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Lee Bridge (2/Southbound Lanes) between Belvidere and Cowardin Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Brook Road (southbound) between Fauquier Avenue and North Lombardy Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Fauquier Avenue (North and Southbound sides) between Crestwood and Brook Roads from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· Westmoreland Street between Monument and Grove Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Forest Hill Avenue (westbound) between Windsorview Drive and Semmes Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Pope Avenue between Hermitage and Crestwood Roads from 4 a.m. Saturday until 2 p.m.
· Scottview Drive between Riverside Drive and Longview Drive from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Belvidere (1/Southbound Lane) between Lee Bride and West Main Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Wallowa Road between Longview and Windsorview Drive from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Grove Avenue (westbound) between Westmoreland Avenue and Maple Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Monument Avenue (westbound) between N. Mulberry Avenue and Chantilly Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Semmes Avenue (westbound) between Cowardin Avenue and Forest Hill Avenue/Roanoke Ave from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Bellevue Avenue between Hermitage Road and Bryan Park from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· North Lombardy Street between Brook Road and W. Grace Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Brookland Parkway (both sides) between Hermitage Road and Loxley Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· East Franklin Street between N. 2nd and N. 6th Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Grace Street between N. Allen Avenue and N. 4th Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· West Grace Street between Arthur Ashe Boulevard and N. Allen Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 9 a.m.
· West Main Street between Belvidere and Arthur Ashe Boulevard from 4 a.m. Saturday until 2 p.m.
· 5th Street between East Grace and Bragg Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 5 p.m.
· Arthur Ashe Boulevard (northbound) between West Cary Street and Hermitage Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Arthur Ashe Boulevard (southbound) between W. Broad Street and Monument Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 9 a.m.
· Crestwood Road between Pope Avenue and Fauquier Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· Maple Avenue between Grove Avenue and River/Cary Street Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.

Presentation To ‘Richmond 300’

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Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool, on behalf of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, made a presentation to the Richmond 300 Advisory Committee at the Main public library Wednesday afternoon. Charles shared strong concerns that new planning would lead to allowing 8-story tall buildings to be built in Oregon Hill and other historic inner-city neighborhoods. Before making the presentation, he passed out copies of OHNA’s recent letter to committee members.

Virginia War Memorial Veteran’s Day Celebration

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Tomorrow, 10:45 am – 12:00 pm

From their event page:

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1918, marking the first anniversary of the end of World War I – the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour.

This year, the Virginia War Memorial invites you to join our ceremony, hosted on the War Memorial grounds for the first time in 3 years. We will welcome Keynote Speaker, the Honorable Ralph S. Northam, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as we honor this 101st Anniversary of the original Armistice Day in 1918.

The program will also include the winners of the Middle School and High School 2019 Veterans Day Essay Contest reading their winning essays. Join us for the

Veterans Day is the federally recognized holiday that honors, remembers and thanks all who have served and who are currently serving whereas Memorial Day remembers those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. This event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available in the VHDA parking lot next to the War Memorial.

Stephanie Lynch Is Oregon Hill’s New Councilperson

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From the Times Dispatch article:

Stephanie Lynch won a special election for the 5th District Richmond City Council seat Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.

Lynch received just about 28% of the vote. Her closest opponent won about 16%. Eight candidates vied to replace Councilman Parker Agelasto on the nine-member council. She will take office Dec. 1.

There was some controversy from yesterday’s election:

Lynch prevailed in a contest that saw five candidates condemn another for distributing what they branded an “unethical” sample ballot.

Handing out the ballot in question were Williamson’s supporters, who distributed a flyer that mirrored the design of sample ballots issued by the Richmond City Democratic Committee. Williamson’s name was shown on the ballot handed out to voters even though the local committee did not endorse a candidate in the special council election.

In other election news, Ghazala Hashmi defeated and will replace Glen Sturtevant as Oregon Hill’s state senator.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

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This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news, major beverage companies have announced a new push for recycling.

Every year, an estimated 100 billion plastic bottles are produced in the U.S., the bulk of which come from three of America’s biggest beverage companies: Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Keurig Dr Pepper. The problem? Only one-third of those bottles get recycled; the rest end up in the trash.

Now, these companies are investing $100 million to improve recycling collection and processing. That money will be distributed through The Recycling Partnership, a Virginia-based nonprofit that works with local governments to improve recycling rates, and Closed Loop Partners, a New York firm that invests in recycling facilities and new research. The World Wildlife Fund will track the companies’ progress.

Time will tell if this really improves things or is just more greenwashing by corporations. Given the amount of plastic production, there are a lot of skeptics.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, plastic bottle recycling is being to create new material for road ways.

Special Use Permit (SUP)

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ORD. 2019-295 To amend Ord. No. 2012-200-2013-4, adopted Jan. 28, 2013, which authorized the special use of the property known as 407 South Cherry Street for the purpose of permitting multifamily use and the property known as 811 Albemarle Street for the purpose of establishing a single-family dwelling lot and a lot to be used for surface parking accessory to a multifamily use, to modify the number of bedrooms in the multifamily dwelling and to allow balconies, upon certain terms and conditions.
This ordinance was introduced and referred to the Planning Commission meeting on Monday, November 4, 2019, at 1:30 p.m.
Gay Blundon (Victory Apartments) presented his plan at a meeting of the Oregon hill Neighborhood Association back in September. The group voted to support his request for an amendment to his SUP.
After the Planning Commission it’ll go to City Council on November 12.