North Boulevard development update from WWBT

Recommendations for the North Boulevard redevelopment plan call for a new 8,000-seat baseball stadium, the relocation of the Dept. of Public Works and a remodel of the Arthur Ashe Center. Proponents of the measure say the 60 acres of the area would receive a complete facelift.

City Council member Kathy Graziano led Richmond’s land use meeting last night. She says residents want to see progress on North Boulevard sooner than later. However, the city is still in the process of choosing a developer – and that deadline doesn’t close until Feb. 19.

Some critics of the redevelopment plan say Richmond has already been dragging its heels on the proposal. They site the recent decision to build a multimillion dollar sports complex as another blow to Richmond’s development plans.

The Poseidon Foundation – the swim team group responsible for the new sports complex set to open in Chesterfield – says it originally wanted to be a part of the project on North Boulevard last year. But the foundation said a series of delays by the city pushed them to look elsewhere.