Architecture Richmond – Opinion: A Stadium in Shockoe Bottom? No.

The second of two editorials discussing the controversial plan.

February 26, 2014; 10:37 AM • by Richard Hayes

In their own words ArchitectureRichmond “documents and examines the buildings, spaces, and urban textures of Richmond, both celebrated and undiscovered. It also offers a critical look at the community’s ongoing development and provides an open discussion of broad design issues”. Up to this point they’ve remained out of the Shockoe Bottom Plan fray.

Last week they posted the first of two editorials that will take a look at the Mayor’s Shockoe Revitalization Plan. The first opinion was pro-plan and now they’ve presented their opposing viewpoint.

So the mayor wants to build a baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom with a surrounding assortment of oversized structures including an apartment complex, an office building, grocery store and parking garage.

Really?

This is a bad idea for dozens of reasons– from scale to traffic congestion to threatening fragile sites that are just beginning to be recognized for their tremendous historical significance. But a quick visual analysis of the site in question reveals how the site could and should be developed.