Local city council members answer questions on the Shockoe Bottom Revitalization Plan
Parker stating opposition and Graziano is uncommitted.
The RTD sent four questions to all nine members of city council. Five chose to respond and among the responders were Kathy Graziano of the 4th District and Parker Agelasto of the 5th District. The Mayor’s resolution (pdf) is up before the city council tonight and the article by RTD give you a pretty clear idea where our two council members stand on the issue.
Do you support or oppose the Bottom ballpark and other components of the overall plan? Why? If you are undecided, what are you looking for as you study the issue?
Kathy C. Graziano, 4th District: At this point, I support the overall components of the plan in concept. Richmond, as all cities in Virginia, is landlocked. Meaning that the city does not have the ability to annex, and most of its land is already developed. It is crucial that it make the best use of all its real estate. There is, presently, relatively little retail within the city limits. Development in the Bottom is problematic due to the Shockoe Creek. The city must take advantage of real estate that has potential to produce tax revenue. The project that is before the council today is very ambitious and visionary. As always, the devil is in the details. My main issue with the project is the financing. I will remain undecided until I am comfortable that the city will not be at risk in the future for debt repayment.
Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District: I have listened to the opinions of opponents and supporters, of 5th District residents and those from other jurisdictions, as it relates to the ballpark proposal. Every indicator is that this plan is unpopular with most stakeholders. Rather than respond to popularity, I have investigated the issues and analyzed the assumptions. After months of review and numerous unresolved questions, I have concluded that I am unable to support the proposed plan for a baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom.
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Richard Hayes
When Richard isn’t rounding up neighborhood news, he’s likely watching soccer or chasing down the latest and greatest craft beer.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Parker needs to go next election. A recall election would be good.
Wow, I don’t agree with Joe’s comment at all. Parker Agelasto is the best thing to happen to the 5th! A council person who meets with and listens to his constituents, who keeps them informed. He’s an improvement 100-fold over his predecessor. I totally agree with him on the ballpark too. The wool is being pulled over too many eyes on this baseball issue. Thank you Mr. Agelasto!!!
Joe, you’re a LITTLE out of touch. Not only does a majority of the 5th district oppose the mayor’s stupid plan, but a majority of the city does as well. Jones is circumventing everything he can. At all costs he wants to avoid a referendum because he knows it would not pass. I don’t think you’ll get many signatures for your threat.
And, I thank you too Parker!!
I second Joe! We definitely need to recall that guy. We need more corporate tools on city council. Then the council wouldn’t fear change. We could dig a giant hole in Shockoe Bottom, fill it with money, and finally make some “progress”.
Well done Mr. Agelasto! This is why I voted for you: you do your job.
Parker only listens to nimbys. he voted against the coffee shop in church hill. That alone is enough reason to vote against him. Your out of touch susan. The mayors plan rebuilds a neighborhood you just want 600,000 acres of ugly asphalt. I will work every day to get rid of Parker. Stop listening to the evil neighborhood associations. Stop chesterfielding Richmond.
Joe, you are supporting something lies and propaganda. Shockoe Bottom can develop naturally without shoe horning a baseball into it. The numbers in the estimate are phony, and no other numbers are available. It’s stupid to make a decision without any information at all, but that’s what the Mayor’s team is counting on.
joe, “work every day to get rid of Parker”. well, at least that may keep you from trolling comment threads with your ridiculous commentary! The 5th district LOVES Parker.
I was very skeptical of Agelasto when he came into office, but I’m pleased to see his handling of issues like this, Tredegar Green, the Belle Summit Apartments, etc. It’s not difficult to be cynical about city politics, but when one has a council member on one’s side who not only acts upon the voiced needs of his constituents but clearly backs it up by having done his homework, it’s a bit harder. Thank you, Parker.
VERY happy about Parker. Judging from comments at the neighborhood association meetings, Oregon Hill residents are extremely thankful for Parker Agelasto.
Honest question: how would city residents feel if the stadium was not built in the Bottom nor the Boulevard, but in Chesterfield or Henrico? Follow-up, how would city residents feel about the coliseum moving to either Chesterfield or Henrico?
If it allowed the City to concentrate on improving schools, roads, and quality of life for its own residents, I would be fine with the Squirrels moving to Henrico or Chesterfield. I have a strong feeling that the leaders of those localities would balk at the prospect though, because they recognize the risks and costs better than some City leaders and they would rather the City deal with it.
A more immediate question is what do people in the counties think of the Shockoe stadium proposal. So far, they have had few places to weigh in, but here is one that could make a big difference:
http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-dwight-jones-we-are-boycotting-flying-squirrels-shockoe-stadium-proposal
Of course the Oregon hill nimby association loves parker. Hes only listening to nimbys. In the coffee shop vote he backed nimbys against a long time small business. The fact that someone that rants and raves all over the internet like a mad man loves parker sends all kinds of red flags.
You need to stop using the neighborhood blog to push your whacko agenda. Many people in OH disagree with you on many things. You and the blowhards at the nimby association do NOT speak for everyone in OH like you think you do.
Ha ha. You weren’t at last night’s neighborhood association meeting, were you joe?
You crack me up. Who do you speak for? C’mon blow harder! NIMBYNIMBYNIMBY!
Thanks for the opinion, Joe. I don’t know all of Scott projects, so I’ll just list the ones I know about:
– He opposes a “revitalization” plan that spends all the money that would be gained from development in the Bottom on baseball, which a majority of people don’t want.
– Related to this, he opposes them putting baseball right on top of one of the most important historic sites in the US that remains undeveloped. It has remained undeveloped for an unreasonable amount of time basically because slavery is depressing.
– He opposes giving public parks to Venture Richmond, and in general opposes having private entities control the use of public property.
– He opposes giving Venture Richmond unrestricted use of the canal area for their amphitheater, which they want to rent out an unrestricted number of days. They want all the monetary gain, but they don’t want to pay for trash, parking problems, or any other externality, and they want it to be exempt from taxes. The only restriction Venture Richmond supports is tight corporate control over the artists that perform in their theater. If you want Capital One marketing executives selecting your music for you, I can see you being supportive of this project.
– He opposed a water pricing policy that subsidized water for corporate use, subsidized it for the counties, front-loaded the cost so that conservation was discouraged, and forced the cost on Richmond taxpayers.
– He opposed the forcible penetration and humiliation of women who consider abortion an option.
He might have some whacky ones that I don’t know about, but these seem to be fairly reasonable stances supported by a fairly large number of people. I agree with most of them. What were some of the weird ones?
We need Chris Crocker to do a “Leave Shockoe Bottom Alone!” YouTube clip
Over 900 and growing….
http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-dwight-jones-we-are-boycotting-flying-squirrels-shockoe-stadium-proposal
How many subscriptions and sales can the Flying Squirrels afford to lose before they recognize that this stadium proposal is not viable for lack of public support?