Shockoe Revitalization Plan weekend round-up

Debate is heating up as we get closer to a vote.

February 24, 2014; 10:47 AM • by Richard Hayes

There were no shortage of articles popping up over the weekend and this morning on the Revitalization Plan. Here is a quick look at what’s being said and links to the full articles.

1st council Shockoe vote may be tonight – RTD takes a look at what tonight’s possible vote on the Mayor’s resolution (pdf) means to the project. In simple terms it means that the Mayor can take the next steps. What isn’t clear is whether the city can backtrack and start over after this vote. The council meets at 6 PM tonight.

“The question the council will have to weigh is whether the resolution will simply bring in more information that can be used to make a final decision or if it amounts to an initial commitment that makes a subsequent reversal unlikely.

“I think once you commit to the resolution, unless something completely unexpected happens, you’re pretty much committed to the project,” said Samuels, who has not indicated how he plans to vote. “Unless something happens that derails the train, this is when the train leaves the station.”

Close call: City Council ponders mayor’s plan – RTD sent 4 questions to every city council member. Only five out of nine chose to respond. Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District is the most direct in his opposition to the plan.

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.

Top Opinion: Say yes to the Shockoe Bottom stadium project – Headline sums up the article. The endorsement does come with some concern as well about the financing.

We concede that our enthusiasm remains measured. In an ideal world, the public sector would not be involved with stadiums for sports teams.

Unearthing Richmond’s slave trading history – This article takes a closer look at the role that slavery played in the area and how archeological finds could dramatically impact the development.

City officials have said an archaeologist will be on site throughout the construction process and work will cease if a discovery is made. When the James Center was built on the site of the canal turning basin in the 1980s, and the remains of about 60 canal boats were discovered, construction halted for three weeks while archaeologists, historians and hobbyists frantically rescued everything they could.