Baseball in the Bottom - The Suicide Squeeze Has Started

Well, I've been trying to stay on top of everything going on with baseball in Shockoe Bottom.  There have been numerous Richmond Times-Dispatch articles, Style Weekly blurbs, local blog posts, and now there are "Community Support Meetings," or "CSMs" for short.  These "CSMs" seem to be the opportunity for the developer, Highwoods Properties, to put on their dog-and-pony show and re-emphasize what a great idea baseball in the Bottom is.

I'm not convinced. 

To be clear, I AM a total supporter of bringing baseball back to Richmond.  We should never have lost baseball in the first place.  And if I knew where it was, I'd TP and egg Doug Wilder's house for being such a dip sh*t with the Richmond Braves.  THAT was a smart one, Mr. Mayor, being such an obstructionist about the ballpark that the Triple A Braves take off for Gwinnett County.  I mean seriously - Gwinnet County!?!

Second point of clarification:  I believe the Diamond has to be replaced, not renovated, and any ball club that comes to Richmond will require a new stadium.

BUT.....is Shockoe Bottom the right place for a ball park?  If so, why? 

Here's what I don't get.  There are a number of very specific negatives to the Shockoe Bottom location.  Given that there are so many negatives, and so much opposition, WHY do the developers keep pushing baseball in the Bottom?  In no particular order, here are some things I think are problematic:

1. All of the development is located in the flood plain.  Does anyone else remember Gaston and Isabelle?  The developers have said the baseball stadium itself "solves" the flood plain issue, but I don't know how.  Please explain. 
2. There is substantial community opposition to the Shockoe Bottom location.  [NOTE:  I just had to find somewhere in this post to link this article.  HI-larious.  Club Velvet, the cheesiest strip club in all the land, had a giant banner opposing baseball in the Bottom on its building.  I love it.].
3. The proposed development is adjacent to significant archaeological sites related to the Richmond slave trade.  The developers say they will preserve those sites, but I want more than mere platitudes.  Which land?  How will you ensure it is protected?
4. Financing the ball park requires a special authority to issue bonds, and the City will be repaid for its contributions with tax revenue from the stadium and related private development.  Several have said the revenue projections are optimistic, to say the least. 
5. The developers say there is adequate surface parking around the proposed stadium.  I'm REALLY skeptical on this one.  Has anyone tried to park Downtown, in Shockoe Slip, or in the Bottom during the business day?  You could circle for H-O-U-R-S.
6. The location isn't central to the region.  You've just made baseball further away for Hanover, Chesterfield and most of Henrico.  If we want regional cooperation on the ball park, shouldn't we prefer a more centrally located site?
7. The Shockoe Bottom location isn't easily accessible.  The developers are going to say that I-95/I-64 and the Downtown Expressway all connect right at the site of the ball park.  But that area is Richmond's own little Mixing Bowl.  Have you ever tried to get off at 18th Street during 5:00 rush hour?  That area is a death trap.  I can't imagine how it would work with stadium traffic.
8. In my memory, Shockoe Bottom has not been able to sustain consistent retail and restaurants.  It's been cyclical, at best.  What makes anyone think the ball park would change that?

I'm willing to be convinced that the Shockoe Bottom location is the better one, but so far I'm still on the Boulevard train.  I've explained why before, but here's the quick recap:

1. Currently already the site for baseball - although now we have no team, d*mmit - so already an acceptable and familiar location for the community;
2. More centrally located for the rest of the Greater Richmond metropolitan area;
3. Massive amounts of available surface parking;
4. Adjacent sports facility, Sports Backers Stadium, that could contribute to the conversion of the site to a more comprehensive sports and entertainment destination [NOTE: This is a new "pro" for me, in the past I have advocated for blowing up everything on site, and starting fresh.  I still think the Arthur Ashe Center needs to go];
5. Demographics in the immediate vicinity - Northside, Scott's Addition, the Fan, and the Museum District - that should support baseball;
6. No residential opposition;
7. Existing organic growth and development in the Boulevard.  This would be ADDITIVE to the momentum, not the "build it and they will come" BS we've seen in Richmond time and time again.

Again, I wish I understood why the developers are so adamant about baseball in the Bottom, when it's such a divisive issue and divisive location.  And if the developers are going to insist on this "build it and they will come" approach, then I think the ball park should go in Manchester.  It makes as much sense as Shockoe Bottom, and that community needs an anchor more than the Bottom does.

Oh, and to those who think us "native Richmonders" don't have much vision when it comes to Richmond - I can assure you, we have plenty of vision.  And long memories.  We just choose not to drink the Kool-Aid without checking it first.

Comments

[Tommerare]

Do yourself the favor of attending an informational meeting put on by the developers. I did going in thinking the Blvd was just fine and came out supporting the Bottom. It just works and they do a marvelous job of walking through every issue I’ve heard and explaining how either the thinking is either convoluted or in many cases, just plain wrong.
No currently paid taxes go into the stadium’s construction, the city has absolutely no recourse for the payment of the debt that is raised, it actually solves the flood problem in the bottom so that other development can be made to turn the area into a far more vibrant area and it appears that businesses are lined up to jump in including an unnamed company that wants its name on the new stadium.
It also frees up the Blvd site that currently generates ZERO in taxes to the city so that it too can contribute to the city. I personally like going to the Bottom but beyond touring the beautiful new train station where I’ve never seen another person, and visiting the farmers’ market a time or two a year, the Slip, the Fan and Carystreet have much more appeal. This changes all that and adds another wonderful and historic place for us to be proud of. As for history in the area, by all means preserve and cherish. What better way to commemorate a dark period in our nation's history than to have its roots associated with what could be a wonderfully lively and vibrant area? Come on Richmond, let's get with the program!