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New methadone clinic on Franklin causing concern
11/07/2013 3:30 PM by John M
The new Richmond Treatment Center on Franklin Street is causing concern among quite a number of folks, both for the nature of its clientele and proximity to Bellevue Elementary School.
The minutes from a recent CHA Zoning Committee meeting states that “police have already reported one incident at the location.” Notes from the most recent CHA membership meeting says that “it appeared some of the immediate crimes could be related to the opening of the clinic, but no hard evidence to support this.”
TAGGED: Richmond Treatment Center
Be patient work out the kinks this will eventually do much more good than harm for the community.
Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it. I’d much rather have this close. Maybe I’ll find less needles in my yard.
“No hard evidence to support this.” Indeed.
My daughter goes to Bellevue and we live just a few short blocks from this clinic. I am all about bringing resources to the city to help those in need. However, the location of this clinic is the result of poor planning. Each week I lose track of how many negative interactions I either witness or am thrust into as a result of the clinic. Seeing people standing on the corner of my daughter’s school with cash, meds and cell phones in their hands is just unacceptable, I’m sorry. Yet again Richmond acts before thinking.
It’s been there since around the end of August or early Sept. The biggest issue I’ve heard about is early morning parking problems; they are open limited hours for dispensing, I think they stop dispensing around 9 a.m.
#8, so you are saying that the clients are walking up the hill with their meds? It was my understanding that they have to take the meds there on site. I also don’t understand the clients walking up the hill when parking seems to be such an issue in front of the clinic. I realize not all of the clients may be driving, but I am surprised that a large number of them are going a block uphill and standing around the school. If they are using public transportation, I would think they’d go to the nearest bus stop, which isn’t on Grace St. I would be concerned, too, if a large number are gathering around the school and openly carrying meds like that.
Not saying I think it a great idea to locate the clinic there, but it is in a building zoned industrial so they didn’t need any special permits or permissions. I was pretty startled when I found out about it in mid-Sept. but when I called the city they told me about the zoning not prohibiting it.
Well, as we all learned in the great Captain Buzzy’s debacle of 2013 we can’t change zoning. Case closed, time to move along here.
#9: sure there are parking problems but I think in the Shockoe/Church Hill area parking is always a problem anyway, there isn’t much else on that corner anyway so I can’t imagine that the neighborhoods issue is really the parking.
The clients may or may not be taking the meds in the clinic, I am sure you’re right that they are required to do so. That said, we witness these clients walk across the street and loiter on the block of the school constantly, early in the morning. We see them, like I said, with cash, phones and meds/drugs of some kind; often yelling at one another or passersby. It’s an issue. It has been since they opened.
I think the city has a clear responsibility to not just uphold their outdated zoning regulations but to actually consider the neighborhood. Alex is right though, once a zoning decision is made – no matter how absurd (as with Buzzy’s), that’s the end of it.
If you had asked anyone, “hey what about putting a methadone clinic across the street from an elementary school?” I’m sure the answer would have been a resounding “no.”
Hi folks, I am working on a story about the concerns surrounding this clinic. Those concerned like Anita can you call me here at 8News 330-8815 or email me kobrien@wric.com
Thanks.
Kerri O’Brien
The clinic is performing an important service to the community, but if it is not located where the patients need it, then it is poorly located. Under high dollar Grace Street and among yuppie/student loft apartments means that they are probably importing the people they serve, which is not good service to any part of the community.
Church Hill Association addressed the issue and their actions are noted on page 27 of their Newsletter, titled: Methadone Clinic. CHA appropriately contacted Council woman Ms.Newbille and School Board member Mr. Don Coleman along with the police and a member of CHA volunteered to work with all on this issue. These community leaders and elected official should hopefully bring about positive results for all the community. CHA and other residents are aware and monitoring the situation but as noted earlier the clinic is within its rights by zoning to build or be there … yet again the fact that somebody can or is permitted to do something – doesn’t mean the should.
Quote:
“Alex is right though, once a zoning decision is made – no matter how absurd (as with Buzzy’s), that’s the end of it.”
Let me see if I got this right. You want to allow a use that’s prohibited (alcohol at Buzzy’s), and you want to prohibit a use that’s allowed (the methadone clinic). Just saying…
@15 – as opposed to the hypocrites who wanted to hide behind the zoning before but now want to ignore that? Yep.
If we’d allowed some common sense exceptions a few weeks ago, I’d say zoning is open for discussion. It’s pretty clear though that a precedent was just set that it is not. I’m just pointing out the precedent.
Actually I think I just misread your post misquoting my position. I was not suggesting what you are trying to say I was suggesting. I’m pointing out that if we hold zoning as written in stone, we need to follow that precedent.