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Ask the Mayor: Fulton Gas Works?
09/18/2007 6:49 AM by John M
Richmond.com’s Ask the Mayor takes a look at Fulton Gas Works and the old Continental Can factory.
Mayor Wilder writes:
Eliminating blighted buildings is a major component of my plan to clean up our community and fight crime.
31st Street serves as a linkage between Church Hill and Williamsburg Road and an assessment will be made regarding that street being reconfigured to serve as a route to the Rocketts Landing development. While the City does not plan to purchase the Continental Can property, it’s obvious that some future action will need to take place as the site cannot remain as it is now.
Photo by 100wordminimum 3/1/06).
Funny thing. I LIKE those buildings the way they are.
I remember seeing a mockup by some land developers at a Fulton Hill Civic Association meeting where the Fulton Gas works metal structure was actually incorporated into the designs. It was cool but I still like a blighted building here and there…..that’s just me 🙂
Kimmy, strangely I do understand – it’s been there so long looking like it does, it’s hard to picture it any other way!
What I don’t understand is the Mayor’s comment about 31st Street.
I can’t visualize just how 31st Street could be reconfigured to “serve as a route to Rocketts Landing” – Rocketts is out Main Street, not Williamsburg Avenue. And my sense of distance may be off a bit, but I think Rocketts is a mile away.
I thought the plan was to straighten out Main Street where it makes the curve coming into town, that’s from something I read in a Fulton Hill Civic Association newsletter back about ten/twelve years ago. I recall they (the civic assoc.) had had a meeting with VDOT about road planning down in there, but other than a sign indicating truck traffic should exit Government Road and go over to Main Street, I don’t think anything came of that.
If you look at a map, the 31st street section they are referring to is where the $4 million retaining wall was just built to repair the corner of 31st and E. Grace after the large sinkhole from storm Gaston. Are they planning to knock down what they just built???
So long, Sugar Bottom. Those *are* some blighted-looking properties right there at the foot of the park.
I assume they’ll be able to work around the old house that’s beyond the Gas Works (but not visible) in the photo.
The can factory is the the old warehouse there at the intersection, correct? That’s an interesting structure. It’s a lot like the old Cold Storage warehouse, construction-wise…lots of big beams and wood floors. It’s also huge. It’ll be interesting to see what happens there.
I don’t understand the mayor’s comments about 31st Street either. We live close to Sugar Bottom near the foot of the hill and 31st Street.
Since Gaston, when Route 5 was closed, we’ve seen traffic increase sharply on 31st and E Franklin, as commuters cut through our neighborhood on their way to work. There have been 3 DUI’s in the past few years, totally 2 cars and taking out a utility pole as people speed down the steep hill on E. Franklin.
My point is — 31st is a residential street. I don’t understand how it could “serve as a route to Rocketts Landing.” Nor should it.
I also agree with Kimmy & Celeste. The old Fulton Gas Works is quite evocative and beautiful the way it is.
$10 to anyone who can get the Mayor to Tazer you like the kid at the “Ask John Kerry” speech.
Bridgette and Kimmy, don’t get me wrong, I’m not against progress nor would I oppose putting the Fulton Gas Works to use as something. I have to wonder how much it’s going to cost to clean it up to begin with, plus RRHA doesn’t move very fast – witness how long it’s taken them to build in Fulton Bottom. So I wonder if anything will happen in my lifetime!
J.C. – the house not visible in the photo is, I think, called the Woodward House. John and Mary Ellen Bushey restored it some time ago, lived there quite a while, then I believe they sold it. As I recall, they got it on the National Register, I don’t remember if it’s on the city list, too, but I’m pretty sure they even put some sort of historic easement on the property that surrounds it that they also owned. All of which goes towards my wondering just how the city intends to reconfigure 31st St.
Bridgette, I was wondering when someone who lives there would comment on the traffic situation. I know others in your area, up on 29th Street, who say it’s a real concern – speeding cars flying through, particularly during morning rush hour. Add the DUI stuff and you’ve got a real problem there. I think you are right, it should not serve as a route to Rocketts, in fact, it’s an area which needs traffic calming and some cops to enforce the speed limit – same as around the corner on Main Street, where cars come flying in from the east end going easily 50 mph. Good luck getting anything done about it!
Williamsburg Ave./Road runs parallel to Main St. Maybe 31st can be connected where it breaks between Broad and Williamsburg Road? This would be a quick way for Rockett’s Landing people to get up to Broad St. without going all the way up Main to 25th. 31st also goes all the way up to Nine Mile Road and Interstate 64.
For too long many who favor the old have watched this city, led my different, uncreative people tear down rather than call in those who appreciate what’s there. That building has potential. The Mayor should get together with a group of those who have helped save Church Hill, North and South and then make his decisions.
Right now we’ve a city in shambles, yet we are told it’s comin’ along.Frankly I miss MIller& Rhodes plus Thalhimers.
Why don’t we build instead of tear down???
Lu Motley
Lu,
I agree!
“Eliminating blighted buildings is a major component of my plan to clean up our community and fight crime.”
Instead of eliminating buildings, Wilder should be confiscating the blighted buildings that are long over due on taxes and have multiple unabated violations and resell them to the public for a dollar with the condition that the buyer guarantees renovation of the building within the existing zoning laws and within a reasonable timetable. This has worked well in other cities.
As for this type of policy violating personal property rights, an owner relinquishes his/her rights when they let their properties go unabated and tax delinquent for years on end.
I realize this doesn’t apply to the Fulton Gas Works (I too, do not want to see that building raised), but I do think is relevant to the conversation.
The city should pay fair market price for the properties of course.
I did not realize that the proposal is to tear down the building! Is there anything we can do to stop this?
Laura
I think the mayor/city intends to eliminate the blight not the building.
Thats whats wrong with Richmond,Va to many people hold on to/live in the past. As a new resident, thats what I find most troublesome about this town. Places/people have to evolve with the times. I have family that has lived in Richmond for a long time and honestly the city looks the exact same (if not worse) than it did when I was a kid.
I’m not advocating tearing down the building, I personally like new construction built within old structures, but if the existing structure cant accomodate new building plans, then its time to move on.
I’d much rather see some type of stores, condos, or whatever, then drive by a building thats looks abandoned. what good does that do for the community?
I have lived here 25 years now, and the city looks way better than it did when I first moved here.
I really want progress, but I see no purpose in simply tearing down buildings (especially ones with aesthetic and historic value like the Gas Works) in the name of progress.
New development must be conscious of the historical and architectural significance of our existing structures.
The City should pay fair market price for the house and sell it for a dollar?
Can I get in on that deal?
Wait wait folks! Where did we get so off topic that a bunch of people appear to be worried that the city is going to tear down the Fulton Gas Works?! I don’t see anything at all about that in the story!!! The city is just trying to buy out CSX so that they can remove contaminated soil, to ‘prepare the site.’ That project by itself could take years. NOONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT TEARING IT DOWN!!!
As to extending 31st Street NORTH towards Broad – huh? You’d have to flatten out a ravine, figure out how to work around the blocked end of the train tunnel (which is down there in Sugar Bottom, covered with kudzu), and go through Chimborazo Playground. I think everyone, from the mayor to j (who posted about it) needs to take a walk/drive around and check out the geography before making further suggestions!
I’m not meaning to sound at all angry, upset, or anything even near impassioned here, just trying to be practical, that’s all!
Thanks Celeste. At this point in time a good environmental clean-up should be a priority. Without that, any development is at best suspect.
The Fulton Gas Works site is perfect for future development. There is already plenty of space (possibly underneath the Gas Works building but also definitely outside of it) to accomodate all of the ridiculous parking requirements that are imposed upon new development/revitalization in urban areas. I can definitely see some sort of cool Mixed Use development similar to Rockett’s Landing doing quite well there.
Though he did say “eliminating blighted buildings,” I’m hoping that the Mayor actually meant “blighting influences,” which would adress all of the environmental and debris/waste issues on the site rather than the buildings , which, to me, don’t seem all that bad. That iron cylinder on the site could also become some sort of neat public art display (similar to Charlottesville’s Art in Place program). Okay, enough of my crazy ideas.
The environmental clean up is the reason that property has sat, unused, for so long. No one would purchase it because the soil abatement is going to to be so costly.
I am suprised that the city is finally chipping in to help….
I would also hazard a quess that the abatement program will require alot of those buildings to come down….
Yes, it was that statement “eliminating blighted buildings” that had me worried, especially the way the questioner claimed the building was an eyesore in the Richmond.com piece.
I agree with Tiny. Wilder’s statement “eliminating blighted buildings” sounds like he wants to tear down buildings, doesn’t it?
As for the city buying blighted properties and reselling them for a dollar to the public is a policy that many cities have undertaken. The cities are investing for the betterment of the community and stimulates public reinvestment in blighted neighborhoods where there was none. And yes, it is a good deal for people who qualify, usually low-income folks. Not multiple-property owners/investors like you, Bill.
I think a part of the agreement may be that persons purchasing the property agree to renovate the property and live in the property for an agreed amount of time. I do not believe that Cities purchasing properties at fair market value and selling them for one dollar as you suggested makes sense. I would love to hear about the many cities that have purchased properties at fair market value and have turned around and sold them for $1. Inquiring minds want to know the many cities that have implemented this program and what percentage of low-income folks have taken advantage of the referenced generosity. This could be a great model for Richmond.
Richmond currently has a program that allows individuals to purchase properties that have delinquent property taxes. But in Richmond’s case the properties are put up for bid. As far as I know, there is no income-level requirement for participating in this program.
I have never been called a multiple-property owner/investor before, but I appreciate the compliment. Nice to know someone is acknowledging my contributions to bringing back Historic Union Hill. Thanks.
Bill,
If you’re interested in programs like I’ve mentioned and think that they would be a good model for Richmond, then do some research and get something going. That would be a contribution.
I’m certainly not one for living in the past as D. suggested above. Development of property for the sake of it doesn’t seem to be a reason for knocking down abandoned buildings.If building more stores and condos is a need that is identified by Richmonders and then that need is fulfilled, well I think that’s wonderful.
What I loathe is seeing folks coming from who-knows-where deciding to build another strip mall or developing for the sake of developing. Sprawl is killing us.
Thoughtful, meaningful progress is what I’d like to advocate. Because something isn’t aethestically pleasing to someone isn’t a good enough reason to start knocking things down and using us more resources, IMHO. Better yet, returning spaces to their natural state would be something of a novelty and the Gas Works space seems like a plot of land that could use a century of rest.
Interesting dialogue. Thanks neighbors!
I don’t think they’re talking about connecting 31st from Grace where the new wall is to the Sugar Bottom portion south of Franklin and east of Libby Hill Park (which needs a makeover badly). I think it’s more of making another road parallel to Main to reach Rocketts Landing which is not just what’s being built off Route 5 at the moment. That is phase I and it will extend at least to Nicholson St. That whole area is about to rediscovered by many a Richmonder. However, they cannot bulldoze the Woodward (I think) house at 31st and Williamsburg Ave as it is one of the oldest houses in the city. On old maps, there used to be other streets near it. Basically they will be reopening Elm or 32nd St which ran from about that spot to Main St. Anyway, I’d rather see the city reconnect Fulton St with Chimborazo Park again.