Flyer opposing Pear Street condo project

That’s nowhere near as high as I expected it to look. I still think its going to be a monumental flop at the price points they are looking for, don’t love the way the developer has interacted with the community and think its setting a horrible precedent. But truthfully, it could be much worse looking.

This molehill does not belong where this developer (former convicted felon for bribing city officials Louis Salomonsky) wants to put it.

The piece of property in question is a patchwork of four parcels of land, two of which were a give away by Virginia Housing Development Authority, These two parcels have the Rocketts view apartments which was formerly a furniture manufacturer. The usual tax credits and tax assesments were put in motion on this development which added up to $millions. This was shortly before Mr. Salomonsky was caught in his bribery scam and while he was serving in various City of Richmond positions which afforded him inside information. The other two parcels were purchased by Salomonsky and his partner, Mr. White. In December of 2011, a “boundary line adjustment ” was done dividing the four parcels into two parcels which is the proposed home of this “luxury high rise condo”

The parcel of land is too small for any kind of appropriate development. The only way to make money is to go vertical and that is exactly what Sal and his Pal want to do. The so called proposal means nothing!!!. Once approved, the developer requests changes such as ‘ I need to add five more floors, or six’

Sal and Pal are the developers of the construction site at 18th and Cary St. When making their proposal to the city, they got tax abatements and exemptions for “a pump house” After construction began, it was ‘realized that the pump house needed to be moved’! So three sides of this pump house were torn down , moved 262 feet, and built into the foundation thus affording these multi millionairs a tax free apartment complex for the next 10 years. That is $2.44 million dollars a year for ten years.

This Pear Street development should be opposed !!

Just what opportunity Is being missed by Church Hill?? I will pay for your corrective eye glasses which you clearly need.

Everyone should come to Libby Hill Park and walk around. The view will be obstructed from almost anywhere – the Park House, the Memorial, the outer and lower pathways; sit in a park bench and look at the view. Unless you look directly at the bend in the river, you will see this proposed monolith. Funny, isn’t it, that the architect and Mr White only tell you to look at the bend and say nothing about the rest of the Park.

They are also big on pointing out that trees will obstruct the view of this thing. Indeed, that again is like saying just look at the bend. There are many views that are never blocked by trees.

So, walk around, snap pictures, show them to your friends and support the effort to maintain this part of the river front.

Think about it, 30 families blocking the view of residents, other Richmonders and Virginians, and the tourists that come to marvel.

The “opportunity” is to get this investor as a willing partner to the greater view preservation effort. This guy wants to preserve the views of his buyers, so most interests allign.

“How can I voice my opposition? What is the most effective channel?”

Most effective? I’d say a hunger strike on the street in front of the proposed condos would probably do the job.

If you’re looking for a more feasible, yet still effective option, calls and letters to local representatives are probably as good as it gets. I’m not sure how much weight CHA’s opinion will get here either.

The more our officials hear from us about how this sucks, the better the chances they feel the need to step in. You’re likely up against some well-connected / big donors though so the bar will be high.

Richmond pols love folks with money to donate to their slush funds. Unless you can potentially mobilize enough people to represent a threat to their reelection they generally don’t care but we got to start somewhere.

I kind of like Alex’s idea of a poll but I think it should block any attempt by the same IP address to vote more than once.

And I agree with Jean on her points.

Chimbo #13, the answer obviously is no, it would not get bult. The issues Jean pointed out were in a recent issue of Style weekly. It is clear that these players/developers are part of the existing political landscape in our town. We can try to fight it, but another point might be that if it goes all the way to city council, that would mean getting our 7th district council person to vote against it, and in the past she has voted with developers, not against.

If you try to follow the money … the money to be followed in this case would extend from Sen. Marsh to the seventh council seat that he has kept filled with his choice since he vacated it many years ago. And I’m fairly certain that the money he gets comes in part from a whole bunch of developers most likely including these current ones on this project.

@15 – sorry if I oversimplified. There’s a lot that CHA has a say in. I was simply saying that when it comes to stopping developers with connections at City Hall, I think they may be outmatched. In Richmond developers trump all from what I’ve seen (as long as they are deep pocketed enough).

Just as the idea of the highrises down by the cement depot was a bad one, this one absolutely stinks. The design and height of the building don’t flow with the surrounding architecture and obviously mar an incredible view from Libby Hill. I don’t mind the Rocketts View apartments or Tobacco row because they stay low and are part of the historical viewshed. This proposed bulding looks like someone dropped it straight out of a bad scifi movie. Look at it in the pictures on the flyer; lurking back there like some creepy entity waiting to swallow up passersbys. It’s hideous.

I’m also going to write to Ms. Newbille, for what it’s worth. In case anybody needs her info and doesn’t want to look for it:
7th District Richmond City Council Member
Cynthia Newbille
PH: 804-646-3012
E-MAIL: Cynthia.Newbille@Richmondgov.com

@19 – it’s likely the times you find me “batshit crazy” are when I’m being tongue in cheek or having fun poking the bears. Or maybe those are the times you agree and you disagree with my straight posts?

Either way, I think the stadium is way too big for the site (as is the condo proposal for that matter), though Mayo Island would make a nice site if we’re going to talk non-Boulevard, non-Bottom options.

I was going to suggest something along the lines of your linked reference too but didn’t want to get blamed if anything like this does happen.

I am really bothered by the thought that someone HONESTLY believes that these developers would “be a willing partner to preserving the greater view effort”. Once these condos are sold. they have made their money on this project and could care less about preserving ANYTHING!!! It will be time to move on to the next development…probably next door because they have already set a president with this development.

LOOK at their history! The only thing Sal and Pal are interested in “preserving” and expanding is their bank account.

LOOK at their history! These two specialize in under the table, behind closed door deals that an honest developer would never be allowed to inflict on the citizens of Richmond.

LOOK at their history! Does anyone really think that Sal and Pal only bribed/paid off the one person they got caught for? I know Sal did the prison time, but these two were partners before and are partners now and at NO TIME has their partnership been interrupted.

LOOK at their history with open eyes and how they have conducted themselves on other development projects.

Write letters to everyone in City Government, the Attorney General, the Governer. This is not just a local issue.

This is inappropriate building and inconsistent with height and design of warehouses and deveopment that is respectful of the river and community.

I prefer the view with the building.