Redevelopment on the Boulevard - Part II

There are some significant points about the proposed Boulevard development that I should have highlighted in my last post.  In no particular order, here are those points:

1.  The Boulevard proposal involves demolishing several pretty significant existing structures, including the Diamond, the Arthur Ashe Center, and Sports Backers' Stadium.  While it is apparently still an option, the Boulevard redevelopment may not include baseball at all. 

2.  At the same time the Boulevard proposal was announced, the City announced another major development project, also with Highwoods as the Master Developer.  The $363M Shockoe Bottom proposal includes mixed residential, commercial, and retail development, along with a baseball stadium and a museum dedicated to the history of the slave trade.

3.  The Boulevard proposal, as far as I can tell, would involve (i) the old Parker Field site on the North side of Robin Hood Road all the way back to Hermitage; (ii) the parcel(s) of land bounded by Boulevard, Robin Hood Road, Hermitage, and up to the far side of the Sports Backer Stadium; and (iii) the parcels on the east side of Hermitage Road currently occupied by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control.

4.  I say "as far as I can tell" these are the parcels involved, because it is very hard to tell from the d*mn drawings.  I've lived in Richmond all my life, and it took me 20 minutes to figure out what was what in the conceptual drawings printed by the newspaper.  I'm not even sure I've properly identified Boulevard.  I finally got myself oriented on the Shockoe Bottom drawings by identifying Main Street Station's clock tower and working back from there.  That's problematic, Mr. Developer.

5.  I support ripping down all those structures identified on the Boulevard drawings.  The land has such wonderful potential.  Let's do it right.  However, let's make Deal A contingent on Deal B.  In other words, it's fine to demolish the Boulevard structures IF we make sure the baseball stadium and the Sports Backers' stadium are redeveloped in appropriate location(s), and the Arthur Ashe Center activities have another home.  The Arthur Ashe Center seems to be extremely underutilized, and it's just plain d*mn ugly.  Can those activities currently held in the Arthur Ashe Center be moved to the Coliseum?

6.  On the Shockoe Bottom baseball stadium proposal, is it just me, or did we not have this very same discussion 4 years ago?  Wasn't there a group called "RBI" - Richmond Baseball Initiative (cute, huh?) - that pushed this same location, similar financing structure?  Weren't there serious issues associated with the Shockoe Bottom location - hello, 100 year flood plain - as well as serious community opposition?  Am I just hallucinating all that?  If not, what's changed?

7.  I need to figure out how to upload this schematic of the Boulevard plan from the newspaper hard copy, because I almost had a heart attack. THERE IS A PARKING GARAGE FACING BOULEVARD that takes up almost the entire footprint currently occupied by the Diamond.  What is the developer thinking?!?!  That violates just about every principle of urban design out there, and trust me, I am going to be out there protesting, marching up and down in a sandwich board, if that's the direction these guys plan on going.  No way, Jose.  I will support redevelopment with good design all day long, but having a parking deck front the Boulevard is NOT cool, not cool at all.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments.

Comments

[Paul]

I think that a Bottom stadium is the kind of infill development that will compliment nearby infrastructure. Flood control and drainage are a major part of this proposal. It would attract people downtown and show off the best of Richmond. It could provide the kind of synergy that Richmond has been waiting for. Similar urban stadiums in Norfolk, Louiville other places have been very succussful. The Canal Walk, museums and clubs and restaurants along the slip are already in place.

[Scott Burger]

I think it is wasteful to demolish so many Boulevard structures, though I agree with some of your points about under-utilized property. The Diamond needs upgrading, but can still serve Richmond well. Where is the commitment to green building and energy conservation that other cities and baseball stadiums are making? The Bottom stadium proposal is dumb and wasteful. Its a distraction from more important priorities for the City. Mass transit needs to be part of these plans.