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Richmond's Canal Walk

theriverpirate

By theriverpirate
in Richmond

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wrldcoupe4 Metropolitan Area

wrldcoupe4

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http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2010/02/24/developers-cling-to-reynolds-site/

Fountainhead Development and WVS Companies have joined forces to buy the six-acre Reynolds Packaging facility at 10th and Byrd streets in downtown Richmond. The property consists of historic properties that were originally tobacco factories and newer buildings on the property were used to manufacture aluminum foil products.

The development partners signed a contract to buy the property last week for an undisclosed amount. The property is appraised at more than $13.7 million.

Rick Gregory, a principal of Fountainhead Development, said the first phase will involve renovation of the tobacco buildings into about 200 apartment units. Gregory said his firm teamed up with WVS, which are the developers of Rockett’s Landing, to draw on each others strengths.

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burt Megalopolis

burt

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There's a young man named Phil Riggan who has taken some extraordinary nature photos in Metro Richmond -- many of which have been posted on this Richmond forum.

I've often kvetched about why Venture Richmond does little to enliven the downtown canals while otherwise doing excellent work in promoting Richmond.

I'd be willing to bet a quarter that my long-distance nagging from NYCity was a factor in authorities FINALLY adorning the naked flag poles at the foot of 5th Street with banners.

Phil has initiated a crusade to allow kayakers to paddle the canal westward from 12th Streert to the foot of 5th (at the dock across from my flags :whistling:.) It would permit them to exit the Pipeline falls gate in the floodwall near Riverside on the James and paddle up to Tredegar to relaunch. He submitted the idea to Venture Richmond and they have promised to get back to him in a couple of days.

Here's Phil's very interesting blog:

http://rotj.wordpress.com/

And be sure to click Phil's "older posts" after viewing the canal story.

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Cadeho City

Cadeho

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I'm not even sure if they can do that. Remember Haxall was a mill race and not a canal. It doesn't connect with the river like the Richmond Dock. It's a waterfall at the 12th street end.

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burt Megalopolis

burt

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I should have added the following clarification to the story about Phil Riggan's plan for use of the canal (Haxall Mill Race):

http://rotj.wordpress.com/

NOTE: Phil's plan would require portage of kayaks between the Pipeline gate in the floodwall to the Christopher Newport monument at 12th Street, a walk of about a city block; thence waterborne along the canal (Haxall Mill Race) to the existing dock on Browns Island across from Tredegar Street.

At present, kayakers who run the falls have to portage their craft all the way back to Tredegar Beach if they wish to run the rapids again.]

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  • 1 month later...
burt Megalopolis

burt

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Phil Riggan used to be on staff at The Richmond Times Dispatch. He is now Executive Producer of New Media for NBC12.

Phil is an excellent photographer and a devoted proponent of the James River Park System and Kanawa Canal.

The old Byrd Park Pump House on the canal behind the Carillon is a city-owned architectural gem.

See and read Phil Riggan's wishes for the property. This story with pictures is from Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/content/2010/jul/21/wish-list-james-river-parks-part-ii/

PS: You could spend hours enjoying Phil's blog which is accessible through this story.

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calwinston Hamlet

calwinston

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City officials are spending $1 million to see if its feasible to save the Mayo Bridge or replace it with a new bridge.

The city will launch a $1 million, federally funded study Monday to determine the condition of the Mayo Bridge, a 97-year-old bridge that links Shockoe Slip with Manchester on the South Side.

The three-phase study also will encompass the Manchester Canal Bridge, built one block south of Mayo Bridge on Hull Street in 1921.

The bridges will remain open during the five-month inspection in the study's first phase, though city officials warn that they will have to close lanes occasionally for work.

The city will evaluate the results of the inspection in the project's second phase, to be completed in March, and then make a decision by the end of next year on options for restoring or replacing the structures.

Rachel Flynn, director of planning development and review, said preserving the Mayo Bridge, also known as 14th Street Bridge, is a priority in the Downtown Master Plan.

"It's one of the last historic bridges we have," Flynn said.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/local-news/2010/jul/31/mayo31-ar-356291/

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burt Megalopolis

burt

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Phil Riggan has a nice story in today's Richmond dot com about the Canal Walk.

http://www2.richmond...nts-canal-walk/

IMO, there are three physical barriers interfering with an inviting canal experience.

One is the lack of a connection between The Kanawa and Haxall waterways through the Reynolds North Plant property.

Another, is a connection via locks on the New Market land near Mead WestVaco to the existing (though dry) canal bed. If filled with water, it would allow canal boats access as far upstream as the Byrd Park Pump House.

The third blockage is the Norfolk/Southern bastile bridge at The Great Ship Lock. The decrepit structure, which allows passage of about two trains per day, could be repaired to allow boats to traverse the Great Ship Lock between the Kanawa Canal and The James River.

Several of us on this forum have suggested docks along the eastern portion of the Kanawa Canal between an operational Great Ship Lock and 17th Street. The water is deep enough to allow a line of "ship shops" to moore along Dock Street under the rail trestle and become a sort of "waterfront" Carytown.

There are rail tracks all the way to Rocketts landing from the north end of Norfolk/Southern's bastile bridge. Installation of new single line trackage westward along Dock Street to 14th from the bastile bridge would allow for a street car line along the canal and river front from the Canal Turning Basin to the Marina at Rocketts.

Richmond talks and studies, but seldom is anything major accomplished.

Has there been any significant action since the Master Plan went thru charrettes and won City Council approval?

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burt Megalopolis

burt

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I should have added the following clarification to the story about Phil Riggan's plan for use of the canal (Haxall Mill Race):

http://rotj.wordpress.com/

NOTE: Phil's plan would require portage of kayaks between the Pipeline gate in the floodwall to the Christopher Newport monument at 12th Street, a walk of about a city block; thence waterborne along the canal (Haxall Mill Race) to the existing dock on Browns Island across from Tredegar Street.

At present, kayakers who run the falls have to portage their craft all the way back to Tredegar Beach if they wish to run the rapids again.]

I wonder if Phil has had any reaction from those who decide what may and may not be permitted in and along the Haxall Mill Race (more commonly known as the canal stretch along Brown's Island between 5th and 12th Street)?

His idea encouraging kayakers to use it makes a lot of sense.

And if the water is deep enough, I think a couple of the canal boats should be transported to the Haxall during events such as The National Folk Festival so that attendees could avail themselves of a short water cruise.

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  • 9 months later...
burt Megalopolis

burt

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I don't believe Venture Richmond operates canal boats during evening hours, but scenes like this photo should encourage them to do so. It would prove to locals and visitors that there IS the beginning of life and activity along the Canal Walk.:thumbsup:

From the OFF THE HOOKAH website

http://api.ning.com/...1G2i8/patio.jpg

NOTE: Why all the red umbrellas? Betcha didnt know that Virginia's ABC rules prohibit displaying unbrellas and awnings advertising booze -- like those Cinzano umbrellas you see all over Europe's out-door patios.

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burt Megalopolis

burt

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Off-the-Hookah is doing its part to liven up the canal walk:

http://api.ning.com/files/z0mnWILc-0oZjwcXRSxvxmBDz6yfuvI-jm7k*xPrDUnQHHXNVm1kyi9PUQhgrwWwwDWynXRh*cbP5OiAqi-7mJ*QG951G2i8/patio.jpg

Meanwhile, A group gathered today at the Country Club of Virginia to discuss proposed improvements along downtown's Canal Walk.

WVS Cos.and Fountainhead Development LLC have plans for the old Reynold's North Plant which is just upstream from OFF THE HOOKAH. Initially, about 220 apartments and a small amount of retail is planned for the Reynold's tract.

Breaking News from today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2011/may/17/more-support-sought-for-richmonds-canal-walk-ar-1045264/

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burt Megalopolis

burt

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Renderings in the PDF file in the Related box with this story about the Reynold's North Plant property are decidedly underwhelming, IMO.

There will be no physical connection of the two canals, nor will there be a full length walkway along the north side of the Haxall between the Italianate building and The Fed Reserve.

Also, I think the proposed architectural styles of rehabilitated buildings are less than inspired.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/business/2011/may/18/more-support-sought-for-richmonds-canal-walk-ar-1045264/

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  • 5 months later...
burt Megalopolis

burt

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Imagine tour boats, drawing less than 3 feet, passing through the Great Ship Lock, heading up the James perhaps as far as the tip of Mayo Island, then downstream to Rocketts Landing before returning to their berth at the foot of 17th Street in the canal. At that point, passengers could disembark or continue by water on one of the existing canal boats up to the canal basin at 14th Street.

The Great Ship Lock is operable. It's just that damned Norfolk Southern bascule bridge that is the barrier!

http://rotj.files.wo...010/07/3296.jpg

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burt Megalopolis

burt

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The new Foundry Park Bridge at the foot of South 5th Street to Browns Island will open Friday, December 2nd. It appears to be high enough to allow the passage of low-draught vessels if the shallow Haxall ever becomes a connector in the canal system.

Be sure to click on the gallery of photos in the Related box.

From Phil Riggan at Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...dge-ar-1469007/

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burt Megalopolis

burt

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Writer Michael Martz adds more info and new photos about the footbridge to Browns Island that will be dedicated December 2nd.

It seems the project still needs some funding in order to complete a circular brick plaza at the southern end and money to illuminate the bridge.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/local-news/2011/nov/19/tdmet01-browns-island-gets-a-new-bridge-ar-1469840/

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  • 4 months later...
Steve_ Unincorporated Area

Steve_

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Walked along the canal today at lunch and love the new murals along the side of the power plant - very cool and adds a great energy to that space. Even better was the views of the work being done on the big warehouse and the Italianate building! Cant wait untill Reynolds bldg comes down, Im very interested in how their going to handle that space between the canals,,,

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