Richmond off-topic postings

[calwinston]

'Task force looks to revitalize downtown Richmond'

Haven't we already taken this route with the Downtown Master Plan that was released last year July 9, 2009! Also how many active studies are currently going on? Well we have the Coliseum, Main St Staion(Still), BRT, Jackson Ward, Boulevard Gateway, Downtown plan(again), East End, baseball stadium, the list goes on. Time to get off your butts and implement the plans you already have on the tables before starting from scratch then maybe you will get somewhere! You know what will bring more tourism downtown? A mass transit system to get poeple around! You can think of all the major tourism city destinations in the United States. What do they have a mass transit system to get tourist from one place to another (except Orlando which is currently implementing its light rail system to connect to High Speed Rail). If you are like me I try avoiding to drive at all cost when I travel to another city! Bring back the streetcars! This is a low cost option to get tourist from one destiantion to another and its cheap to implement!

Richmond Times-Dispatch

http://www2.timesdis...gw09-ar-286359/

Why were they on Segways? Should we be promoting downtown as a walkable community by not having to use a segway to get around!

Downtown Master Plan Dover, Kohl and Partners

http://doverkohl.com...&type=2&image=1

[burt]

'Task force looks to revitalize downtown Richmond'

Haven't we already taken this route with the Downtown Master Plan that was released last year July 9, 2009! Also how many active studies are currently going on? Well we have the Coliseum, Main St Staion(Still), BRT, Jackson Ward, Boulevard Gateway, Downtown plan(again), East End, baseball stadium, the list goes on. Time to get off your butts and implement the plans you already have on the tables before starting from scratch then maybe you will get somewhere! You know what will bring more tourism downtown? A mass transit system to get poeple around! You can think of all the major tourism city destinations in the United States. What do they have a mass transit system to get tourist from one place to another (except Orlando which is currently implementing its light rail system to connect to High Speed Rail). If you are like me I try avoiding to drive at all cost when I travel to another city! Bring back the streetcars! This is a low cost option to get tourist from one destiantion to another and its cheap to implement!

Richmond Times-Dispatch

http://www2.timesdis...gw09-ar-286359/

Why were they on Segways? Should we be promoting downtown as a walkable community by not having to use a segway to get around!

Downtown Master Plan Dover, Kohl and Partners

http://doverkohl.com...&type=2&image=1

Cal, I like the Master Plan link but I couldn't open your RTD link so I'm posting it again.

http://www2.timesdis...gw09-ar-286359/

Remember, Richmond is a pretty hilly city, so those segways can be a blessing when you're moving from point to point.

There's an interesting comment in the 3rd paragraph from the bottom:

"Construction of a pedestrian bridge to Brown's Island is to begin in the fall."

Isn't there already a bridge at the foot of 7th Street connecting the island and Tredegar Street?

PS: Can anyone identify the downtown street corner from whence the segwayers are launching their tour? I can't.

Edited July 10, 2010 by burt

[calwinston]

Cal, I like the Master Plan link but I couldn't open your RTD link so I'm posting it again.

http://www2.timesdis...gw09-ar-286359/

Remember, Richmond is a pretty hilly city, so those segways can be a blessing when you're moving from point to point.

There's an interesting comment in the 3rd paragraph from the bottom:

"Construction of a pedestrian bridge to Brown's Island is to begin in the fall."

Isn't there already a bridge at the foot of 7th Street connecting the island and Tredegar Street?

PS: Can anyone identify the downtown street corner from whence the segwayers are launching their tour? I can't.

Hey Burt,

Theirs actually three bridges one at Tredgar Iron Works, one at 7th street, and one at Haxall Point connecting to Riverside on the James. Then 2 others connecting to Riverside on the James! The need to spend money on another one is puzzling me!

I also dont know where they are launching the segways from?

[calwinston]

These two Wall St Journal postings show just how Richmond has homes in every aspect of architecture and settings that appease anyone.

Richmond Historic-Monument Ave (The Fan)

http://online.wsj.co...YWORDS=richmond

Richmond Modern-Riverside Dr-Southside (Stratford Hills)

http://online.wsj.co...YWORDS=richmond

Edited July 15, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

Chesterfield and Hanover County have won the highest national award among counties in the digital-government arena by capturing the Digital Counties Survey 2010. Chestefield won in the 250,000-499,999 residents category and Hanover won in the 150,000-249,999 resident category!

Chesterfield County was among other top contenders categorized by population, including nearby Hanover County, and Maryland's Charles and Montgomery counties. Chesterfield County captured the top spot among competing counties with populations between 250,000 and 499,999. Northern Virginia's Loudon County was runner-up. The category's additional top 10 finishers included counties in California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada and North Carolina.

http://progress-index.com/news/chesterfield-county-wins-digital-counties-survey-1.892756

http://www.govtech.com/dc/surveys/counties/90/

[calwinston]

This is a great article about Richmond written by Stephen Koff from Cleveland.com (Cleveland Plain Dealer). Stephen Koff talks about the many other things to do in Richmond except visiting Civil War sites.

Impression One: We were coming out of Sticky Rice, an Asian-eclectic restaurant (sushi and tater tots) on Main Street in Richmond's Uptown district, when we spotted small groups of 20-somethings walking, driving and biking by. They wore angular hair-dos, tattoos, piercings, skinny jeans, plaid shirts or T-shirts, nerd-cool hipster eyeglasses. This is not what a Yankee expects to find in the capital of the Confederacy.

Impression Two: We were seated in the Camel, a bar on Broad Street, when the crowd stood in anticipation of an infectious groove that hadn't even started. Gathering up front were a crazy-good drummer, tuba player, strutting trombone and trumpet players, all about to move, groove, call and respond as if a high-octane, multiracial New Orleans brass band was breeding with the scions of hip-hop and rock. This was No B.S. Brass, bringing its self-described stew of funk, break-beat and soul to the Camel's stage.

Maybe you've only thought of Richmond, some 100 miles south of Washington, D.C., as a place to visit Civil War sites (if you have thought about visiting the Southern city at all)..............

http://www.cleveland...arm_with_a.html

Edited July 20, 2010 by calwinston

[burt]

This is a great article about Richmond written by Stephen Koff from Cleveland.com (Cleveland Plain Dealer). Stephen Koff talks about the many other things to do in Richmond except visiting Civil War sites.

http://www.cleveland...arm_with_a.html

This is a neat story. It makes Richmond sound like the laid-back fun town it really is; and it's a relief to read about aspects of the city other than its history.

Wish I knew how to access facebooks, twitter and all that new stuff so I could read the comments on Koff's story.

[calwinston]

Is Richmond the best tennis town in America? If you think so you should vote at http://www.besttennistown.com/. Richmond is one of the top ten nominees!

[calwinston]

Richmond has made the list in Bloombergs Businessweek 'Top Cities for New College Grads'

Richmond is on the list because of its diverse economy and many attractions

Manufacturing, federal and state agencies, and educational institutions are among the reasons there are jobs in Richmond, even during periods that are difficult for the rest of the country. In recent years, semiconductor manufacturing has played a particularly important role in the city’s economy. Having major companies, including Dominion Resources (D), doesn’t hurt either. Probably the best-known company in Richmond, however, is Philip Morris (PM), which has been in the city since 1929. Sales and retail jobs abound on the listings. The city is also rich in attractions, which include the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, some historic homes, and the Library of Richmond, which features an original copy of the U.S. Bill of Rights.

P.S. It looks like the picture they have is about 5 years old! Very much infill development has gone on in the past years!

http://images.busine...p_cities/26.htm

Washington DC is also makes the list

http://images.busine...op_cities/3.htm

Edited July 22, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

A new water source may become reality soon for the Richmond area. The planned $200 million,1100 acre, Cobbs Creek Reservoir in Cumberland County may be owned by Henrico and Powhatan counties!

If built, the reservoir would draw water from the James River when it is at peak flow and store it for times of drought, when up to 47 million gallons per day could be pumped back into the river.

That would allow Henrico and Powhatan access to plenty of water in dry times. Goochland and Hanover counties, both of which receive water from Henrico, would also see an indirect benefit.

It is anticipated that the reservoir would take about 10 years to develop and fill with water and then cover the participating localities' water needs for half a century.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2010/jul/22/cobb22-ar-346352/

[Cadeho]

A new water source may become reality soon for the Richmond area. The planned $200 million,1100 acre, Cobbs Creek Reservoir in Cumberland County may be owned by Henrico and Powhatan counties!

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2010/jul/22/cobb22-ar-346352/

Where's Richmond in this? The counties get water while the city dries up huh?

[calwinston]

46,000 scouts, volunteers and military personnel beseige upon Fort A.P. Hill for the 100th anniversary of the National Boy Scout Jamboree. The jamboree has been held every year since 1981 at Fort A.P. Hill.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/jul/26/boysgat26-ar-350595/

http://www.bsajamboree.org/

Fort A.P. Hill is 76,000 acre facility located in Caroline County and is one of the largest military facilities on the east coast!

[calwinston]

Richmond is currently ranked 55th out of 100 metro areas in the latest Brookings Institution study Export Nation.

[quote]

AT A GLANCE

EXPORTS ANNUALLY

$5.0 billion

(Rank 55)

EXPORT SHARE OF GMP

7.8%

(Rank 82)

Richmond produces $5.0 billion in total exports. As a share of its total economy, 7.8 percent of what it produces was exported in 2008, supporting 36,264 jobs. Recent export growth in Richmond has been below average, expanding at 6.0 percent. Average wages in its largest export industry were $69,806, much higher than U.S. average. The metro has 3 export industry clusters. Finally, its major export industries are Chemical Manufacturing, Business, Professional, and Technical Services, Machinery Manufacturing, Tourism, and Royalties from Intellectual Property.

Edited July 28, 2010 by calwinston

[Cadeho]

Question.. do you guys see this add "Best in Richmond up to 90% off" from Groupon? I could have sworn I saw those treats shown at Broad Appetite... what place sells those?

[calwinston]

This article from todays 'Style Weekly' has me "Lost in Translation"! I see the point of the article, but it goes into talking points of the charrette and abruptly ends and leaves you wanting more.

http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=30DBF12C90574F738F4B64821BE6FA2D

The contrast in personalities is stark. Similar planning sessions have drawn criticism for lacking diversity. Charrettes seem to be popular with the urban revivalists — most are young white professionals and artistic boomers — behind the city’s residential renaissance. The old-timers — who were here long before Church Hill became cool again — are less likely to traipse out for French dressing. They prefer flyers to e-mail blasts. A neighborhood meeting is a neighborhood meeting, isn’t it?

Why are we calling it a charrette? Can you please stop with the fancy names and get down to business in Richmond! Calling it a charrette does not produce a better result! Ive been to many planning meetings across the country and world and nobody sits down and says lets call it a charette(unless your in France). This just alienates people who think its a planning meeting for the wealthy and everyone else is not invited! People from all walks of life make a neighborhood not just a select few!

Edited July 28, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

Richmond is one of the top three finalists in the Best Tennis Town competition!

The grand prize for the 2010 Best Tennis Town will receive the following:

2010 Best Tennis Town title and trophy

$100,000 to be used for community wide programming or facility enhancements that the winning entrant endorses, as approved by the USTA

The community will receive the 2010 Best Tennis Town award during the 2010 US Open, at a date to be determined

http://www.besttennistown.com/

[Cadeho]

This article from todays 'Style Weekly' has me "Lost in Translation"! I see the point of the article, but it goes into talking points of the charrette and abruptly ends and leaves you wanting more.

http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=30DBF12C90574F738F4B64821BE6FA2D

Why are we calling it a charrette? Can you please stop with the fancy names and get down to business in Richmond! Calling it a charrette does not produce a better result! Ive been to many planning meetings across the country and world and nobody sits down and says lets call it a charette(unless your in France). This just alienates people who think its a planning meeting for the wealthy and everyone else is not invited! People from all walks of life make a neighborhood not just a select few!

Whatever. I sure wasn't alienated. They bring about those who are interested no matter what they're called. You try to reach out to the poor black community and they don't care... only project dwellers care when they think about revitalizing or trying to improve their general area... they rather have the status quo.

[burt]

Taking your doggy dog to malls and (yes) restaurants is more popular than ever in Richmond -- as long as the canines are on good behavior.

Here's an interestng story by Melissa Ruggierri from yesterday's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifestyles/flair/2010/jul/29/w-dogs29-ar-353543/

[burt]

This is a very long and interesting story about Ed Ayers, who is University of Richmond's President.

Ayers wants more interaction between the University and The City of Richmond.

UR is considered one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country and has about 4,300 students (that's half the enrollment at William & Mary.) 83% of UR students are from out-of-state.

It's also one of the most expensive. This year, with room and board, it will cost more than $50,000 to attend UR -- a price that Ayers defends.

"Only one third of UR students pay 'full freight', and even their education is subsidized because the actual cost is $70,000."

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ur01-ar-357025/

Edited August 1, 2010 by burt

[burt]

Turning Richmond Green.

The Governor is going to plant flowers at the bottom of his garden...as well as other growth to prevent run-off from Capital Square into the River James.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/aug/03/runsgat03-ar-410004/

[calwinston]

A new water source may become reality soon for the Richmond area. The planned $200 million,1100 acre, Cobbs Creek Reservoir in Cumberland County may be owned by Henrico and Powhatan counties!

http://www2.timesdis...bb22-ar-346352/

Henrico County approved Cobbs Creek Reservoir last night

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2010/aug/11/henn11-ar-421040/

Soon after they finish, you'll see signs everywhere touting new lakefront homes in Cumberland County!

[burt]

Henrico County approved Cobbs Creek Reservoir last night

http://www2.timesdis...nn11-ar-421040/

Soon after they finish, you'll see signs everywhere touting new lakefront homes in Cumberland County!

The new Cobbs Creek lake will cover about 1,100 acres in Northwestern Cumberland County. I think Swift Creek Reservoir at Brandermill in Chesterfield spreads over 1,700 acres.

No motor powered boats are allowed on Swift Creek lake. I wonder if that will also apply to the new Cumberland lake?

Anyway, it won't be completed for a number of years. If my memory of Cumberland is correct, I think the new lake will be west of Cartersville along the James River close to the Buckingham County line.

[calwinston]

Anyway, it won't be completed for a number of years. If my memory of Cumberland is correct, I think the new lake will be west of Cartersville along the James River close to the Buckingham County line.

It will take about 6 years to complete

http://www.cumberlandcounty.virginia.gov/announce/docs/CCR%20Newsletter-Sept05.pdf

[burt]

Twenty -- maybe thirty thousand dollars was raised during the Watermelon Festival in Carytown to help the Byrd Theatre:

From Will Jones in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/flair/2010/aug/13/byrd13-ar-424473/

Edited August 13, 2010 by burt

[burt]

Is anyone besides me having trouble with the time setting? I just noticed that Zuman posted on the Richmond Development thread today at 10:34AM and it's is actually 9:45AM. Maybe it's just my computer.

Edited August 13, 2010 by burt