RECENT COMMENTS
Wild pool party leads to car being shot up
Got the query on Facebook last night – “Not sure whether gunfire or fireworks, sounded close, and we’re at 21st & M. About 8:15. Heard anything?”
Nothing official but reddit/r/rva has an account of a pool party gone wrong and a drive-by at what sounds like the Shockoe Valley View Apartments at Cedar and Mosby:
There was a big party at my apartments pool. It was obvious most of the people at the party do not live here, so the cops came and broke it up. They were also being very loud, obnoxious, and rude to a mother who asked them to quiet down.
When I was walking back from the gym, you could see the people all leaving the area. Then I started hearing gunshots.
It was surreal. I started running away and ducking. There were about 50 other people running away as well.
While we were fleeing, I saw two cops running towards the gunfire. It’s hard to describe the respect for them I felt in that moment.
EDIT: It appears to have been a drive by. I walked over to the crime scene and saw the car that got shot up.
Photos via /u/RiverYuppy
— ∮∮∮ —
Yes, whoever threw that party needs to be evicted. I’m over this shit.
I work with a few past Shockoe Valley View Apartment Residents….they literally have all complained and moved for this reason. There are constant parties within that complex. Majority of of these parties are not residents at all. Just a matter of time before shit like this happens. That complex needs to get its shit together. Bryant Wooten Rick Sykes
I agree! I’ve lived here for a couple of years and it keeps getting worse and worse. I’m sick of this shit, I’m leaving for the same reason!
I live there, and this event is just the culmination/apex of what the management has been *repeatedly* warned might occur. So great that now I need to seriously consider breaking my lease and moving elsewhere.
With a lot fewer clubs in Shockoe Bottom, crazy people have to go -somewhere-…
I was just notified that my rental on Cedar st had a bullet go through one side and out the other. Thankfully nobody was hurt but it could have easily gone the other way.
Ron Hunt needs to get his shit together. Guy has been in business for decades and it’s nothing but bad news about his management company.
UnionHillian I would absolutely break your lease and move. The management has shown that they do NOT care about resident safety. I have complained multiple times about the parties, the trespassing, etc and they have done nothing. All they say is “oh well they reserved the clubhouse for their party”. WELL that doesn’t mean they can blare loud vulgar rap music and have drunk idiots loitering in the parking lot for hours on end! I’ve had packages get stolen, and I’ve had neighbors who’ve had their cars broken into while parked in the lot. Genesis properties just SUCKS. I’m moving out this summer when my lease ends and I cannot wait.
Geez. This place has been such a mess.
Almost every time I drive past this place I see something that makes me think “what a shit show this has turned out to be.” These places look “nice” enough. Aesthetically, I’m not a fan, but they are new and presumably upscale, right? so what exactly is the problem here?
@#6
Very sorry to hear that Daniil, but really happy no one was hurt. I was out of town, and feel blessed I didn’t have to witness the spectacle. The Leasing office will be quite busy tomorrow. I fully intend to reach out to Mr. Hunt as well, but not holding out hope for tide turning results. I love my neighborhood so, so much, and am fervently hoping I can find another place nearby. This *is not* a Union Hill problem, by the way.
This is going to hurt property values for all of Union Hill if this crap continues. Shit, this is just a block from Jefferson Park and a lot of great things that are going on.
Demand action from the City administration and see if Newbille will return a phone call on this. Don’t be polite to the elected officials, including Mayor Stoney, and demand action even if Genesis properties and Ron Hunt has given them contributions.
Who owns this place?
@Dubois – Genesis Properties, owned by Ron Hunt
Isn’t this apartment complex about 100 feet from those new “eco friendly” condos that they are asking $650,000 for?
Good luck to developers of that project! The negligence of Ron Hunt and Genesis Properties has really screwed them over!
Are these the shitty looking, newish buildings with the corrugated tin panels just past Jefferson Park?
Yes Kay, indeed. This ‘shit’ is pricey too. According to webiste, 2br/2ba goes up to $1400. Bullets not included. http://www.shockoevalleyapartments.com/floorplans.aspx
Can’t wait for this kind of activity to come my way over in Chimbo once Glenwood Ridge gets built…
Yes all try hard modern and dumb looking. People get surprised when this stuff happens, it’s Mosby street
That’s them. Live a block and a half away. Sounded like at least 20, but closer to 30 shots. From what we heard from witnesses, lots of wild shooting with plenty of other people around. Really really lucky things didn’t turn out worse.
There were about 15 shots over in the Clay ST and 33rd ST area tonight while out on my porch. The police should get drones. MQ-1B’s.
? ? ? ?_?
Genesis demolished previous low income properties to build these high density apts to increase return on investments (roi) to investors. They are not encumbered with CAR since they are not in Union Hill. Unfortunately this situation will not end well. This event expedite’s the poorly planned developments denise unless Genesis management reevaluate’s it’s objectives immediately and guide this development in a more wholesome direction. They are in a perfect location to be successful but they must choose to serve a clientele worthy of the area and provide safe, comfortable, housing for those residents.
I remember when this site first started i use to be in the streets of church hill, even the dealers no about this this’ all you all do is gossip all day every day move if you dont like it….
Why you be shootng cars HOWARD?
While I agree that most of the problem is the landlord and the allowance of these parties… People always seem to forget that these places are only about 300 yards or so from Mosby Court.
The only way things will get definitely better around Jefferson Park and Union Hill is to bulldoze Mosby down. And if I recall correctly, that was actually suggested by the Police chief … there was not much they can do until these places are gone.
It sucks, but its said and true. Union Hill will always be one of those battle ground territories simply because its location.
sad and true*
We heard the gunshots loud and clear from Jefferson Park that night. In the park, there were lots of kids and families having a peaceful party.
A block away, the crazy gunfire happened. While kids were on the playground in Jeff Pk.
When Union Hill folks fight to keep developments like this (aka BHC/Citadel of Hope) out of the neighborhood, we get labeled as nimby-s. Wtf?
There is a world of difference between Ron Hunt and Better Housing Coalition. I’ve lived near the BHC houses across from Union Hill for some years and have never seen problems like this.
Seems pretty obvious the management should stop allowing people to reserve the club house and pool for parties. I know the downtown areas with pools usually have a rule that you’re only allowed one guest per resident at a time in the pool area.
This all comes down to management. I don’t care what income level a development happens to be; when properly managed, multi-family housing, including subsidized multi-family housing, can be a success.
We need to demand that Ron Hunt and Genesis Properties be held accountable for the behavior they allow at the property.
@Howard Willis Thanks for your info, see you in the streets!
http://www.richmond.com/gotcha/image_a5f8b3f8-6cb3-11e3-8fa0-001a4bcf6878.html
https://www.google.com/amp/wtvr.com/2015/09/30/police-nab-suspect-wanted-for-robbing-senior-citizens-taking-rent-money/amp/
@23ALLDAY, that’s just our point. We begged for the Citadel project to be like Jefferson Mews. But were flatly told that “BHC can’t make that concept work anymore” in Union Hill. Instead of a sensible development like what’s across the street from you, with reasonable density and sqft options for families and individuals, our neighborhood is being saddled with a overly dense, tiny apartments project on Venable Street.
BHC is way different now that what it was in the 1990’s and early 2000’s when a combination of first-time homebuyer and rental properties was their mission. In 2016, BHC made a deal with their investors (Tax Credits program) before getting the final OK from the City that what they wanted to build was within zoning & historic district guidelines. The fight got ugly b/c BHC refused to admit they made a mistake when citizens pressed the city to enforce it’s own guidelines.
I’ve seen some insanity in the CHPN comments section before but people being upset about a drive by shooting being told to move if they don’t like it takes the cake.
You’re joking… $1400/ month to live in Mosby Court???
Bahahahaha nice research Brett(above)! Love it, yeah we’ll see that jerk in the streets or in cuffs soon enough
@ Howard. You think we don’t hear you out on these corners, facing up and talking tough and doing the turn and snitch? Yeah we live and listen here too.
If you don’t like the Noise, why don’t you leave?
Until then, get used to hearing real people gossip against gangs, talk against thugs, and, you know, straight up snitch against pieces of shit who shoot wild in a city full of people, or act as accomplices to those that do. Next time it’ll kill someone minding their business and taking out the garbage, or a kid asleep.
You know what, take that shit with you when you go. Nobody needs that, or anyone who makes excuses for it. leave your decent working neighbors and go.
We’ve been knowing your kind a long time now. Hide your bullshit and bullets under color somewhere else.
#27 – Interested to hear you’ve lived near BHC stock with no problems. One of the reasons some of us fought so hard to have BHC modify its Union Hill project to include some owned homes was the rumors of terrible management. “Rumors”, as I say, but personal experience has taught me to put more trust in what’s said by residents than in what BHC staffers and board members say…for instance, the story about the bed bug problem at Beckstoffer’s: BHC didn’t address the issue until a resident’s infection was so bad hospitalization was required. It ain’t loud parties and drive by shootings, but it ain’t the good management they tout.
I called and spoke with Mr. Hunt last night. He says he is unaware of any failure on the part of management and that, until the last two weeks, he had his best manager in the entire company on site. He has not heard complaints from residents.
Mr. Hunt expressed concern for the situation and stated that he is working with his son, who oversees building management, to take corrective action.
I invited him and his management team to come to the next meeting of the Union Hill Civic Association in June to explain what actions they have taken in the interim. There is a community room in Shockoe Valley View that Genesis proffered would be open to the larger community. I suggested the civic association meet there for the purposes of this discussion.
This has got to be the funniest statement all saw all day, “see if Newbille will return a phone call on this”.
I would like Newbille to return a phone call or respond to anything.
That’s my black car in front of the car that was shot up. I didn’t discover until Monday that my car had a bullet hole in the passenger side door. I had to file a claim with my insurance company. I was in my apartment when I heard about 30 rounds fired. I am new to Richmond and researched the area before moving here. I didn’t have a lot of time to do my complete due diligence and I regret it! Upon moving in there was a notice under my door of 2 armed robberies in the area. The apartment complex is full of college students and constantly smells like marijuana. It’s no place for a young professional! I can’t wait to leave!
Folks, there is a world of difference between the management of a company that is complicit in allowing parties such as the one described above to escalate into drive-by shootings and a company that allegedly had a bed bug problem. I don’t know all of the facts behind that story, and I’m sorry to hear if someone was hospitalized, but there is more than one side to a story and until all of the facts are known about these stories, we’re all playing the roles of armchair quarterbacks (myself included) and slinging mud. Throwing BHC’s name into the mix is frankly unfair, especially because the subject of this post was an article about Shockoe Valley View and not BHC, the Citadel of Hope, or any of their other housing developments. For the record and for full disclosure, I purchased my home from BHC, and I’ve lived across from one of BHC’s multifamily developments for over 10 years, and I’ve never had a problem such as what has been described.
This is terrifying. Wow.
OK so there is a meeting tonight hosted by Newbille, just FYI. Police folk will be there to talk about safety. Maybe some of y’all should show up?
—
The next 7th District Community Meeting will be held on: Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Time: 6:00PM-7:30PM
Location: The Sarah Garland Jones Building-2600 Nine Mile Road
Richmond Public Schools Updates: Nadine Marsh-Carter
Richmond FY18 Budget Updates: Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille
Richmond Public Safety Updates:
Richmond Poli ce Department: Lt. Michael Alston and Lt. Johnny McRoy-1st Precinct
Richmond Fire & EMS Services: Battalion Chief Kent Taylor
Updates on 7th District Development Projects:
* The Grocery Store
* Creighton Road/Armstrong Site
* Sarah Garland Jones Community Building and Programs
* Proposed Bon Secours Medical Office Building
* Maggie Walker Community Land Trust
*Citadel Housing Development: The Goodwyn’s @ Union Hill
*Stone Brewery Bistro
#37 – Good positive action. Thanks.
Way to go Matt Conrad #37.
@#37
Matt,
With regards to Mr. Hunt’s statement that “He has not heard complaints from residents.”, that is an absolute fallacy. In addition to my own history of emails to the management office, it’s eminently clear from the other residents comments above that serious issues and events have occurred before. I remember one recent large Clubhouse Pool Party at which there was an RPD officer apparently chaperoning/posted. Less than one week following that, myself and other residents had to deal with local teenage children trespassing in the clubhouse and pool, and then stoning residents cars in the rear “secured” parking lot after being asked to leave. There have been several instances of residents vehicles (incl. mine) being broken into directly outside the buildings along Cedar St. In addition, one resident was robbed at gunpoint *inside our Lobby* near the corner of Cedar and Mosby St.’s. If the lobby camera directly outside the rental office was working, it would have captured that incident. I could go on…
Email sent to residents:
The above email has been the only communication we’ve had with management since our last property manager transferred to a different property about a month ago. There has been a complete turn over in the office, and until yesterday I had no clue who was working in there. I had a conversation with the property manager yesterday and she assured me that the events that took place on Saturday didn’t start at Shockoe Valley View. I informed her that this isn’t the only grievance that I had with the apartment complex, and that I wanted to break my lease. Her entire tone changed when I told him that my car was shot in the cross fire. I pay too much in rent for this. One of my colleagues recently moved to Manchester and pays the same amount that I pay. He also gets free parking! Their new plan is nice, but it doesn’t change my mind on wanting to move out! I have learned a valuable lesson about moving to new cities and doing in depth research!
#45,
gee, I guess “no more renting the clubhouse, to insure the safety of our residents” is not in the cards…
It’s been interesting living in the city limits the last three years, now we’re eagerly anticipating our relocation to the cultural center of southside RVA, Chester VA.