RECENT COMMENTS
Mayor’s proposed budget heavy on infrastructure spending
Mayor Jones’ spoke tonight at Franklin Military Academy on a proposed budget for 2011 and plans through 2014 that could mean hundreds of new trees across the East End, Church Hill North, Oakwood, and Chimborazo seeing all of their streets being resurfaced, and a new building at MLK Middle School ready for the opening of the 2013-2014 school year.
Majority of the paving is to be slurry, with arterial and collector roads resurfaced with pavement. The two neighborhood projects mapped above will pave 27.1 lane miles at an estimated cost of $525,000. Under the mayor’s proposal, Church Hill North would see new roads in 2010, with Oakwood and Chimborazo getting the treatment in 2012. Williamsburg Road and Government Road in the East End are scheduled for 2013, with Richmond Road, Oakwood, and 25th Street set for 2014.
The budget includes $165,000 to double the city’s General Fund tree planting budget.
The RTD has a good write-up if you’re looking for the bigger picture view:
Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones is proposing a $637.3 million city budget for next year that includes 11 layoffs, no raises for employees and no cuts in services. […]
Officials managed to avoid a predicted shortfall of $33.6 million — and avoid deep cuts in services — by offering a series of administrative and systematic changes to either boost revenues or reduce spending.
Sounds very good – though I am surprised in looking at the map that the focus area seems to include (almost literally) every inch of the hill that is NOT an O&H district – and not an inch that IS an O&H district.
There are DEFINITELY some streets in the non-shaded areas of the map that could use some TLC – new trees, new paving (or strip down to cobblestones), etc.
I understand about ten people came to the meeting. People in the east end must be really happy with ciy government.
@David. Yes, we’re very happy with our city government. The areas to be paved are not in an Old and Historic District, but a lot of them are part of the Neighborhoods in Bloom project and will help with homes being sold and built through the Better Housing Coalition.
Adding to Bullwinkle’s comments, it seems like there is the possibility and even support from the Mayor and Councilwoman Newbille to bring back the cobblestones: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/COBL21_20091120-223408/307100/
Perhaps our civic associations could organize volunteer efforts to do this throughout the neighborhood (where the cobblestones still exist) as the City begins to work on these improvements.
I’d personally love to see the cobblestones re-exposed on my section of N. 26th.
@Bullwinkle. My guess is that most of this area is part of the Neighborhood in Bloom initiative and many of the Better Housing Coalition houses are also in this area. I’m personally looking forward to seeing all the changes. It’s needed and deserved.