Discuss the future of Fulton and Shockoe Bottom

The Orleans BRT station in Fulton and the Memorial Park in Shockoe will be discussed in a series of meetings.

May 31, 2016; 12:32 PM • by Richard Hayes

From the Partnership for Smarter Growth press release:

Beginning tonight through Friday, you have the opportunity to participate in discussions about two historic neighborhoods – Fulton and Shockoe Bottom. You’ll have to choose, since the first two days of planning meetings overlap. Fortunately, the final presentations are on separate days.

Historic Fulton:

The city has commissioned a planning charrette narrowly centered at the future Orleans Street Bus Rapid Transit station. However, because the city has been working on a number of disconnected plans for the area without full public involvement, PSG sent a letter to the Mayor and Council asking that this week’s public discussion encompass much more of Historic Fulton, the riverfront, and the transportation network.

Local residents created a Greater Fulton Future’s Vision a few years ago and we hope their ideas will be at the center of discussions. In addition, Church Hill residents and regional preservation groups have been generating ideas for balancing development and expanded parkland along the riverfront. So we hope you will attend to participate in discussions about economic development, urban design, parks, bicycle routes and road design.

Listening Session | Tues. May 31st, 6:30-8:00 PM
Talk about issues and opportunities near the Orleans BRT station.

Design Alternatives | Wed. June 1st, 6:30-8:00 PM
Review design options for the area that improve connections and propose new types of buildings to build near the Orleans BRT station.

Preferred Alternative | Thurs. June 2nd, 6:30-8:00 PM
Refine the preferred option.

All three meetings will be held at the Powhatan Community Center, 5051 Northampton St, Richmond, VA 23231

This workshop is made possible through the Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Initiative funded by the Federal Transit Administration in partnership with Smart Growth America. Each meeting will have different content. For questions contact Amy Inman (646-5871 or amy.inman@richmondgov.com).

Historic Shockoe Bottom:

The Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, Preservation Virginia, and National Trust for Historic Preservation are co-sponsoring a community design charrette for the Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park initiative. This is a community-led concept for a commemorative park that would extend beyond Lumpkins Slave Jail and nearby burial ground.

Community Meeting #1 – Tuesday, May 31 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Storefront for Community Design (205 E. Broad Street)
An opportunity to share your ideas for the Memorial Park

Community Meeting #2 – Wednesday, June 1 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Storefront for Community Design (205 E. Broad Street)
A second opportunity to share your design ideas for the Memorial Park

Community Meeting #3 – Friday, June 3at 5:30 pm at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia (122 W. Leigh Street)A public presentation of design proposals

The design charrette will be led by the Center for Design Engagement at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Thanks to the generosity of Richmond’s own Storefront for Community Design, our team will be working out of the Storefront (205 E. Broad Street) and the community is welcome to visit throughout the week.

We hope that you can participate in these public planning meetings this week!

With our city changing so rapidly, we need everyone’s ideas on the table to shape our future. We can commemorate our past and support economic progress for everyone. We can provide parks and recreation along with development. We can ensure a great quality of life and create a great city for the next century.