RECENT COMMENTS
Back Page: Herring and Kronenthal take on the Shockoe Plan
Over the past few weeks, Style has run opinion pieces on the proposed redevelopment of Shockoe Bottom on their Back Page from two well-informed, well spoken, civically active and respected residents from up the hill. Click through and read both pieces, they are worth your attention.
— ∮∮∮ —
David Herring’s Gambling With Gold:Why Shockoe Bottom should be forever removed as a possible baseball stadium location is opposed to Mayor Jones’ plan:
Despite a somewhat haphazard appearance, Shockoe Bottom isn’t a failing section of Richmond. In fact, it’s gaining population every year. The flood-ravaged blocks surrounding Main Street Station and the 17th Street Farmers’ Market are development gold, ripe for long-term economic revitalization. There are jobs to be created and money to be made, but the strength of the area — its history — must inform future development.
Unfortunately, few people understand — while others ignore — the riches that lie beneath the surface. Nowhere is this lack of understanding more evident than in the repeated resurrection of proposals that would put a baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom. The area should be removed forever as a possible stadium location for a few key reasons.
— ∮∮∮ —
Mark Kronenthal’s For the Fences: Four reasons why a new ballpark in Shockoe Bottom is the right solution is in support of the development:
I make my home in Union Hill and work in Shockoe Slip. People often are surprised when I tell them that I live and work near Shockoe — and that I can’t wait to walk over with my family to see the Squirrels play baseball there. In fact, I believe my neighborhood’s future depends on it.
Redevelopment of old buildings has fueled Shockoe’s rebirth during the past 20 years. But that’s almost done, and blocks and blocks of crumbling parking lots still sit in the neighborhood’s center. Nothing’s there to re-develop, and it’s tough to build anything new because the neighborhood lies in a flood plain.
And another Church Hill-Union Hill citizen wrote “Team Players” on Style’s Backpage back in July It focuses on the regional issues regarding a standium in the bottoom. See: http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/team-players/Content?oid=1920371
Unfortunately for John Gerner’s good comments, the Counties have a vested, systemic interest in the failure of anything the City does. I wish more people would talk about how the County system moves against us in the City.
Here is a timely article about the fallacies of stadiums being such engines of economic development: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2013/11/atlanta-braves-new-stadium-terrible-deal-cobb-county/71469/
For those of us old enough to remember the genesis of the unloved, unmourned, discredited and now demolished Sixth Street Marketplace, this whole story stinks of the same pie in the same sky above Richmond. When you add Big House Lou into the mix, you know the effort to put baseball in Shockoe Valley is rotten to the core.
@1 urbngrilla, many thanks for that link. Great article. Unfortunately we don’t have a referendum coming up so right now I think making comments is a waste of time, as the current stadium plans seems to have been presented as a done deal. Pisses me off, but so what, none of us have any say in it. I’d like to see a referendum, though not sure what it would take to have one, esp. considering the Mayor’s stance of ‘done deal, here it is, take it.’
Just talked to a friend who wonders why we don’t just tell the counties to build a ball park themselves, since their residents seem to be the majority of the attendees. Then the city could raze the Diamond and build that shopping center minus the millions it will cost to build a new ballpark. Since, according to today’s Times Dispatch, ballpark won’t bring in any money worth talking about, and the development on the Blvd. would bring in taxable businesses.
Also, I can understand the slave trail folks thinking they need to jump on this, as they were told this was their only way to get anything – but Ed Ayers? What bought him off? Any thoughts? I’m curious.
And finally – where’s the opposition? Are they really quiet, or just not covered in the media?
Mark,
Well thought out piece. I have to applaud your sensibilities. I agree with you 100%!
@4 – passing it off to the counties is probably the second most sensible idea I’ve heard on this yet (the first being the Shockoe Plan). At least this plan addresses the fact that the Boulevard site is not a realistic option given the opportunity cost. If the counties want it to be convenient for their residents, they can pay for it. Otherwise, the most convenient spot for city residents is probably right in the bottom.
@Right on Broad #3 The same Atlantic source says minor league ballparks are “economic mojo” for downtowns:
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/05/downtown-toledos-minor-league-mojo/2028/
In the battle of experts on “stadiums,” downtown *MINOR LEAGUE* ballparks come out in the clear. It’s the major league and NFL buildings that are the cathedrals of our time.
I love rva and I love baseball. I love going to minor league and major league baseball games.
However, there is NO breeze in June, July or August in Shockoe Bottom. It’s no place for a baseball stadium because baseball is a summertime sport. The bottom is sticky, humid, and smoggy on a hot summer night. The air is stagnant, and no amount of infrastructure improvements are going to make it a place I want to sit outside for 3 hours on a summer evening.
When was the last time any of the stadium supporters walked down to the Bottom and hung out on a July evening between 6pm-10pm? I did that quite frequently this past summer…and then did my best to run into an air-conditioned restaurant.
At least on the Boulevard, you have the hope of a breeze on a hot summer night. Not a chance in the Bottom.
Interesting new article on the revitalization the Minneapolis stadium has brought the city:
http://populous.com/posts/target-field-revitalizing-downtown-minneapolis-with-baseball-transit/
#8
Don’t put it there because it’s hot? Wow! That’s certainly a new one!
I’m not much of a blogger, but I made an attempt to connect the need for better public spaces in the city. Jones announced the plan while I was writing, so it may have changed direction a little.
If you do anything, watch the TED Talk.
http://steveguilford.me/the-times-square-of-rva/