Envision This deadline nears, presentation this week
Entries for a contest that encourages public ideas to help reshape Shockoe will be presented and judged later this week.
Update #2 — March 26, 2013; 6:54 AM
Organizers now ask that those who’ve submitted ideas to the Envision This challenge (see below) deliver their presentation boards to the Main Street Station by 2:00 PM on Thursday, March 28th.
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Update #1 — March 25, 2013; 6:27 AM
The deadline for entries in the Envision This challenge (see below) is Tuesday at 5:00 PM. All submissions must be delivered to the City Planning Reception Desk at the Main Street Station by that time.
On Thursday, participants will present their ideas to both the public and a panel of judges at the Main Street Station from 4:00 – 9:30 PM.
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Original — February 18, 2013
A contest to encourage public involvement in the redesign of Shockoe will kick off this Tuesday at LaDifference.
The Envision This challenge–organized by The Shockoe Design District, Venture Richmond, i.e.*, and the City of Richmond–invites members of the public to submit designs for a re-imagined Shockoe, one that blends the area into a seamless locale.
“What we are trying to do is…have people with all different kinds of ideas…transform Shockoe into a cohesive destination that’s walkable and easy,” said Chrystal Neal, director for creativity and innovation at the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce.1 “We are hoping, by helping to connect all the different areas of Shockoe, that we can start to develop the identity of the entire area.”
Organizers of the Envision This challenge have located five “dead spaces”–undeveloped patches that contribute little to the aesthetics, identity, and walkability of the district–that they want submissions to remedy. Those areas include a tract of land stretching from the turning basin to the Main Street train station, the site of previously proposed baseball stadium near the Richmond Slave Trail, and others.
- Marti Beller • Plan G
- Josh Epperson • Prophet
- Bob Meagher • The Martin Agency
- Mark Olinger • City of Richmond
- Burt Pinnock • BAM Architects
- Lisa Taranto • Office of Urban Ecology
Tuesday’s kick-off event will feature an aerial map to indicate those dead spaces, a short presentation from a City official on the history of Shockoe, and a review of redevelopment plans enacted in other cities to inspire ideas for submissions (on Wednesday, these materials will be put online).
Whether its an art installation for a particular area, or a broad design concept affecting a large portion of the district, Neal said all ideas are encouraged. “Who knows what people will come up with?” she said.
On March 28th between 4:00 – 9:30 PM, a panel of judges (see sidebar) will hear five-minute presentations–followed by several minutes of Q&A–from each entrant about his or her submission during a public event at the Main Street Station. After which, the judges will name the winner, who will receive $1,500.2 Members of the public who attend the event will also vote towards the People’s Choice Award winner.
However, Neal cautioned that just because an idea places first, doesn’t mean it will be implemented. At least right away.
“We don’t know what people are going to come up with,” Neal said. “The [winning concept], in theory, could be a $1 million idea.” She said that organizers will subsequently implement a “creative fundraising campaign following the Envision This challenge.” The details of which are now being planned.
Envision This submissions are due at the City Planning Reception Desk at the Historic Train Station before 5:00 PM on March 26th. Here’s the required format for entrees:
Submissions shall be on one to two 30” x 42” presentation boards. A sealed envelope with the entrant’s name and contact info is to be attached to the back of each board. Boards can include sketches, plans, renderings, narratives, and whatever illustrations, diagrams, etc. may be needed to express the idea.
The Envision This kickoff event will be held from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at LaDifference, located at 125 S. 14th Street.
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Nathan Cushing
Nathan Cushing is a writer, journalist, and RVANews Editor.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Two suggestions:
Put GRTC bus transfer station just north of Main Street Station. Make Shockoe Bottom an multi-modal, urban transportation center
‘Daylight’ Shockoe Creek. Reaffirm the natural aspects of the valley.
Idea: Cram hundreds of busses per day through the narrow streets of Shockoe Bottom, back up traffic, spew toxic fumes into the atmosphere, drive away customers, create an incredible amount of noise and congestion and make life unbearable.
I am looking forward to being able to walk, bike, get a taxi, get a bus, get a train to anywhere in the world (including Richmond International Airport and Boulevard sports facilities) FROM Shockoe Bottom. I might even make time to get a bite to eat, have a quick drink, or see a show in the Bottom before embarking on my journeys.
Cleaner natural gas buses and electric vehicles will dissipate much of these inflated concerns about additional air pollution. And hey, more trains and buses are part of the solution, not the source of traffic/parking woes.
it would be nice to see them plan the incorporation of a quality grocery store–one which provides an affordable and fresh selection of produce. that we have a whole foods and trader joes as far away as short pump seems short-sighted considering their locations in other cities (on a bus line or in the heart of a downtown shopping area). carytown benefits from four grocery stores, the short pump area has several, and a good grocery store incorporated into the heart of our downtown/shockoe area would provide residents with a much needed resource, as the market on 25th street is significantly lacking (prices high, quality of and variety of goods inconsistent). additionally, it would provide a closer grocery store to those residents of the old manchester area–a short bus, bike, or car ride over the mayo bridge would be worthwhile if it meant access to a better grocery store (although i think that area is also one which would be well-served by the addition of a grocery closer than the shops on forest hill).
As for the ‘daylighting’ Shockoe Creek- perhaps it is too big of a project to undertake, but I think it worth considering in some form. Related:
I would love to see this at next year’s RVA Environmental Film Festival: http://vimeo.com/50839044
http://urbanscalerichmondvirginia.blogspot.com/2011/02/along-banks-of-shockoe-creek.html
http://www.richmond.com/city-life/why-richmond-why/article_05475b72-7163-11e2-a5bb-001a4bcf6878.html
Downtown Pedestrian, if a decent grocery store could thrive in Shockoe there would be one by now.
This isnt about a specific type of retail. Unfortunately the city has no control over bringing a quailty grocery store to the area.
Maybe if they built a baseball stadium there, or an expansive marketplace around 6th street, or perhaps implement a huge food tax to refurbish a theater of some sort……lol