Open Source: Architect breaks down riverfront plan

Open Source host Will Snyder talked with Andrew Moore, Director of Urban Architecture at Glave & Holmes, about Richmond’s efforts to create and implement a master plan for developing the James River in downtown Richmond. Moore had many great answers to questions Snyder asked about the approach to the riverfront in the wake of the first […]

September 17, 2011; 7:00 AM • by Phil Riggan

Open Source host Will Snyder talked with Andrew Moore, Director of Urban Architecture at Glave & Holmes, about Richmond’s efforts to create and implement a master plan for developing the James River in downtown Richmond.

Moore had many great answers to questions Snyder asked about the approach to the riverfront in the wake of the first of three riverfront forums held Wednesday: The naturalist vs the urbanist; parking; bringing in battleships and Navy vessels for show; ocean-going docking; the beautifying the floodwall; Mayo Bridge and reducing the roadway from four to two lanes; high-rises on the river; Echo Harbour; Reynolds Metals property; public vs. private land; Rockett’s Landing; living downtown.

Listen to the second half of the radio show for the riverfront portion and make your comments — they could be read on the air next week.

My question that was answered on the show: “What part of the project or type of project should the city choose for the first implementation of the plan?  It would likely set the tone for the riverfront and in many ways, and may set the tone for the improvements for all of downtown Richmond.”

Moore said: “I reviewed the [Downtown Master Plan] and there were a couple of things that were emphasized in that initial study….And one of those aspects was a strong advice to the city to acquire property along the riverfront – at market rate — so basically that would be something that the city would look at say ’we need to strategically buy riverfront property that becomes available.’

“One of the things that does is it maximizes access to the riverfront, and again from the public hearing the other night, that is going to be a recurring theme. You’ve got all this privately held property on the riverfront, which provides disconnects with access, so I think that is something that the city should look at. And of course, we know where the economics is at right now — the city does not have the money to spend on that sort of thing. So its going to have to be very strategic, but I think its very important. Its a long view, that the longer you wait to acquire the property, the more potential it has to go in a direction that it might not be as successful as it could be for public access.”

 Open Source is a weekly show on WRIR that takes a look at local issues and brings folks on the air for discussion and Q&A. The show airs Friday mornings at 10 a.m. on 97.3 FM and streaming at wrir.org.  Folks are encouraged to call in at 649-9737, tweet @RVAOpenSource or email  at rvaopensource@gmail.com.

September 17, 2011 7:00 AM 0