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Community Revitalization Series looks at 25th Street, Manchester, Route 5 Corridor

Partnership for Smarter Growth announced recently their 2014 Community Revitalization Series, “conceived to engage Richmond in a dialogue about the region’s rich past, evolving present and collective future.”

The series features 5 Walk & Talks about various Richmond localities, led by a community expert who will highlight histories, development projects and current-day perspectives.

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South of the James River and Richmond’s business district, Manchester was originally its own locality with residential neighborhoods and industrial areas. Manchester is now a unique neighborhood within the city of Richmond with a youthful and artistic atmosphere. This new demographic has brought interest and redevelopment to urban warehouses now transformed into loft apartments, breweries, art studios, and other dynamic uses.

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The evolution of the Hull Street corridor is a classic example of rapid post-World War II commercial development and sprawl. The decline of the industrial employment sector, aging housing stock, and public disinvestment, among other factors, have caused suburban decay in areas such as this corridor. Today, Richmond and Chesterfield are collaborating on the Hull Street Corridor Revitalization Plan, focused on building a stronger community through the revitalization of the corridor.

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Route 5 is one of the oldest roads in America, connecting Williamsburg and Richmond, beloved for its rural character and pastoral landscapes. This route also contains the planned Virginia Capital Trail. Today, this area is the focus of much developmental debate. Eastern Henrico faces economic pressure and plans to widen the roads in Varina, increasing suburban style development in this now rural community.

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North 25th Street was once the social and commercial core of Richmond’s East End. Like many urban commercial centers, it became vacant and blighted with growing suburban expansion. In recent years, there has been a renewed investment and interest in the community. The Duany Plater-Zyberk East End vision signified serious investment from the city in revitalizing this corridor and numerous efforts have followed. Most excitingly, the Better Block Program will highlight the possibilities for revitalization along North 25th Street.

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The Winchester Greens community is one of the most successful new urbanist revitalization efforts within the Richmond region. Originally built in 1960s as a mixed income housing project, the community became plagued by crime and deteriorating housing stock in following decades. In 1996, the Better Housing Coalition partnered with Baskervill in a redesign process with heavy community input, resulting in 240 two-story town homes on the 30 acre site. Added community spaces addressed residents’ needs for child care, health facilities, and senior living.