Baseball stadium issue whirl

With baseball season underway the baseball stadium issue seems to be more on Richmonders’ minds. The opinion molding business that is whirling around this confluence of a sports page story with an editorial page topic has shifted into high gear in the last week. STYLE Weekly’s Back Page by Charlie Diradour, with comments, is here. Read […]

April 7, 2009; 11:03 PM • by FTRea

With baseball season underway the baseball stadium issue seems to be more on Richmonders’ minds. The opinion molding business that is whirling around this confluence of a sports page story with an editorial page topic has shifted into high gear in the last week.

• STYLE Weekly’s Back Page by Charlie Diradour, with comments, is here. Read about the issue from a pro-Baseball on the Boulevard point of view.
• The Richmond Times-Dispatch ran one-on-one commentary pieces on the stadium issue in its Sunday Commentary section. Click here to read them both.
• Highwoods Properties’ web site is here. Read the would-be developer of Shockoe Center’s point of view.
• River City News’ “Let’s Play Ball!” is a recent post on the issue with comments. Click here to read it.
• SLANTblog’s “Ad money shrinking in sports” is here.
• “Baseball’s Emotional and Financial Game Continues” can be read at Buttermilk & Molasses by clicking here.
• The RT-D’s John O’Connor’s “Season without pro baseball is a flashback to 1965” is here to provide some historical background.
• The Fan District Hub’s call for a referendum is here.

Then there’s Garry Krantz’s feature-length article on the baseball stadium project in Richmond Magazine.

The pitch sounds simple, but therein lies the curveball. Revenue projections are speculative, and Highwoods Properties’ executives have yet to disclose a single retail or other prospective business tenant for the complex. And while it continues to tout the project in public meetings with city residents, at press time Highwoods Properties had yet to submit formal development proposals to the city. The developers gave the city’s administration an Aug. 1 deadline to sign a letter of intent to progress with the project, placing it under Council’s consideration.

Click here to read the Richmond Magazine piece, which offers an overview of this issue that may be useful, especially to a reader not familiar with some of its history.

Note: Spokespersons for the Highland Properties group will make a presentation at an open-to-the-public meeting at 7 p.m., on Wed., Apr. 22, at Albert Hill Middle High. Three members of City Council are supposed to be there. It’s my understanding that questions will be taken.

April 7, 2009 11:03 PM 0