They’re baaaaack: A new ballpark for the Squirrels and a new free-standing children’s hospital
Suddenly, the conversations about a new ballpark for the Squirrels and a new free-standing children’s hospital both rise from the ashes with this single press release.
Photo by: PMillera4
At 6:15 PM on Friday night, the mayor’s office sent out the following release, in which he says he’s met with Chesterfield and Henrico Counties and convinced them to work with the Squirrels on identifying a site for a new stadium. This in turn frees up space on the Boulevard for a new children’s hospital. Plans within plans.
The full press release follows.
Related
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Statement of Mayor Dwight C. Jones
Richmond, VA – Mayor Dwight C. Jones today issued the following statement concerning a freestanding children’s hospital, minor league baseball, and regional cooperation:
“The conversation around a freestanding children’s hospital has driven a renewed commitment to regional cooperation among the City of Richmond, Henrico County, and Chesterfield County.
“Advocates for the hospital asked each locality for potential locations, and we each presented options. They have indicated the Boulevard is their preferred site.
“In recent days, I have met with Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas and Chesterfield County Administrator Jay Stegmaier to advance this important regional priority. This includes agreeing to a process to identify alternative locations in the region to ensure that the Richmond Flying Squirrels have a permanent home.
“Today, we met with representatives of the Squirrels and the President of the Eastern League. We agreed that the Squirrels should meet with all localities in the Richmond area to explore potential locations that have easy access and visibility for Squirrels fans.
“The Squirrels agreed to work with each locality to identify a site by the end of this year. To demonstrate the region’s commitment to the Squirrels, I propose to extend their current lease on the Diamond through the end of 2017.
“We agreed on an exploration process that will consider site selection options, financing opportunities including private investment, potential construction schedules, and that recognizes the financial constraints our localities are facing. We committed, together with our regional partners, to work with the Squirrels. Ultimately, the Squirrels will identify a site that best fits their needs.
“The Squirrels are a great asset for our region, and they are woven into the fabric of our community. When they came to town six years ago, they changed how our region experiences minor league baseball. They showed us that it’s about having fun, enjoying family time, and celebrating our community. We all know the community wants them to stay here forever.
“I believe this renews our commitment to an open and comprehensive approach to advancing regional priorities, starting with the children’s hospital.”
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Ross Catrow
Founder and publisher of RVANews.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
“an open and comprehensive approach”?
LOL. Yeah,right.
Scott,
Mayor Jones could present to you, in person, a flying rainbow unicorn that farts rainbows, on which you could fly over Oregon Hill, and you still wouldn’t believe it since it came from the City.
How about looking at this a little more objectively and recognizing that this is the approach that everyone has been hoping for.
I went to the squirrels game this weekend and realized how bad the ballpark is. My wife, daughter and I could not find anywhere to sit at a table before the game and eat our dinner at the ballpark. Richmond needs to take a queue from other cities like Baltimore. PATHETIC!
As I read this morning’s announcement from the Mayor’s office, I was struck by the gravitas the mayor has brought to the table.
Basically, he’s requested to extend the city lease through the end of 2017. Given that the city has done NOTHING to actually meet it’s commitments to upgrade the Squirrels facility, updating a paper document is about the most you can expect.
His announcement sounds as though he has received a commitment by the squirrels to stay in Central Virginia. What they apparently agreed to do was look, What did hizzoner expect them to say? “Please sir, may I have another?”
The mayor’s announcement goes further. According to our city spin, the property there is too valuable to use as a baseball field. Wasn’t that the case when the city was trying to entice them to come?
But that is not the most ludicrous portion of this entire deceit. Here’s a couple more:
The City already owns property along Boulevard which is twice as large as the diamond. It’s down closer to Broad Street than the diamond area.
AND it has larger sites along Hermitage Area.
AND it could likely work a deal with CSX Rail or Greyhound for sites they have in the area.
IF the city wanted to actually do anything about the team it would have done so immediately after the Shockoe fiasco last year.
But come December, the city will be surprised that “OMG this will be such a surprise” the best place for it is “Shockoe Bottom”. They just need someone else to pay for it. Then if the bottom folks or the Churchill crowd blows it up again. IT AIN”T MY FAULT will be the cry,
Then when the Squirrels make an appropriate business decision, these same “statesmen” will decry how a big bad business called the Squirrels just wouldn’t work with them.
The squirrels have already publicly stated that they need a clear direction on where they would be by Opening Day 2016. Was this it? Really?
The last piece of this is my advice to the Squirrels.
I’d want it in writing from the Squirrels before I signed that lease extension. And I would want the signature to see with start with the word Governor, not Mayor.
But maybe I’m just the cynical type.
Let’s leave the discussion for a not for profit hospital being a local economic boom to another day.
Independent Candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates
I’d say that of all the cities Richmond should take a “queue” [sic] from, Baltimore isn’t one of them. But more importantly, I can’t support a new hospital on Blvd until I know how it will impact parking on Broad St.