"Who is responsible for the liability of the bonds?" area business owner Terry Stroud wanted to know.

"That is our liability," said Baldwin, who then stipulated that the bonds would be issued at a fixed rate of 6 percent on a 20 to 25 year-term.

There is a stream there, its about 10-15' wide in most places...

Also worth noting, we should see an announcement for a hotel chain to accommodate the available pad in WestMark very soon. There have been a couple chains seeking high interest in the future hotel site.

The Richmond Robins (AHL) far outdrew the Renegades or any other hocky team that has played the Coliseum but I'm the only one old enough to remember them (1970s.)

Don't believe for a minute that Wilder didn't drop the ball on the Braves debacle. Gwinnett, while possibly a considered site for a minor affiliate since Atlanta went Major League, serious negotiations didn't take place until Richmond dilly-dallied beyond anyone's patience. And then, Wilder announces a site across Robin Hood Road from The Diamond without even consulting Atlanta.

The man has accomplished quite a bit for Richmond since becoming mayor, but he's got an ego and matching arrogance that have alieanated many.

You guys in Charlotte will be extremely lucky to land Rodney Monroe as your new Police Chief.

I don't fault the Braves completely. It was a failure by all parties to come up with some agreement whether it was building the stadium downtown or elsewhere. The biggest problem with metro Richmond, and I'm sure it's been pointed out here before, is lack of regional cooperation with the city and surrounding counties. It was like that for the 15 or so years I lived there and I'm sure it hasn't changed. In the end I think a ballpark in the bottom would've been the best b/c it would've spurred further development that could've benefitted everyone in metro Richmond. Plenty of other cities have done it with success. My current home, Charlotte, is also working on doing the same--if we can ever stop a certain pesky attorney who's holding up construction with his frivilous lawsuits. Hopefully baseball doesn't suffer the way hockey did in Richmond. The original Renegades were the best gig in town back in the day--my buddies from DC would even drive down to catch a few games.

Well, dBull, the blame was NOT all with the Braves -- far from it!!! And yes, there have been renderings of a Bottom park with all sorts of proposed development around it as well as renderings of a stadium without all the neighborhood accoutrements. Funding, had it been approved, would have come from the City, Henrecko, Chesterfield and Hanover counties as well as from the Braves and maybe other sources.

And let us not forget the evening when a chunk of concrete fell from the overhang at The Diamond. It didn't hit anyone, but a couple of people here could tell you that it well might have cocnked a few on the noggin had not Lady Luck intervened. I contend that it had a psychological effect on game-goers. It was about the time that attendance began a serious decline (save for the two annual sell-outs for July 4th/5th firework displays.) And all the contention about where or if a new stadium would be located added to public disinterest. Baseball in Richmond may never recover, IMO...certainly not at triple A level.

Well, dBull, the blame was NOT all with the Braves -- far from it!!! And yes, there have been renderings of a Bottom park with all sorts of proposed development around it as well as renderings of a stadium without all the neighborhood accoutrements. Funding, had it been approved, would have come from the City, Henrecko, Chesterfield and Hanover counties as well as from the Braves and maybe other sources.

And let us not forget the evening when a chunk of concrete fell from the overhang at The Diamond. It didn't hit anyone, but a couple of people here could tell you that it well might have cocnked a few on the noggin had not Lady Luck intervened. I contend that it had a psychological effect on game-goers. It was about the time that attendance began a serious decline (save for the two annual sell-outs for July 4th/5th firework displays.) And all the contention about where or if a new stadium would be located added to public disinterest. Baseball in Richmond may never recover, IMO...certainly not at triple A level.

I can't seem to recall, and I'm a bit lazy to look back, but was the plan for funding the stadium in the bottom ever released to the public? I saw that wrldcoupe4 said that it didn't make sense... In all honesty I can't blame Richmond for not backing the Braves this year. I would've done the same thing.

Attendance at Braves games at the Diamond is dismal. Most games have averaged less than 2,500 spectators (the record for the season thus far is about 5,000.)

If they had stopped bickering and built a ball park in the Bottom a couple of years ago, I bet a quarter the triple A Braves would be averaging 8,000+ as well as attracting game-goers to the Shockoe Bottom retail/restaurant scene.

Burt,

The Bottom was a good idea... the team assembled to make it happen WAS NOT. Wilder was right in not moving forward with them as they panned out to be not much better than a scam. If the financials made sense, it would've happened. If another proposal was presented with legit partners, it would've happened.

The Times Dispatch is saying that it was more like 15 people arrested.

Attendance at Braves games at the Diamond is dismal. Most games have averaged less than 2,500 spectators (the record for the season thus far is about 5,000.)

If they had stopped bickering and built a ball park in the Bottom a couple of years ago, I bet a quarter the triple A Braves would be averaging 8,000+ as well as attracting game-goers to the Shockoe Bottom retail/restaurant scene.

Eric, this web site should be in Retail thread as well, don't you agree? It is going to be a major attraction for the Richmond area.

I have been told that their famous ISLAMORATA FISH COMPANY restaurant will be included in the Richmond project along with all other features associated with Bass Pro Shops.

The entire development is to be called Winding Brook, but damned if I see any brook or creek in aerial photos.

Thanks for posting this, Eric. The pix are quite up-to-date.

Looks like something bad has happened at kanawha pplaza...

This is random...

Today around 4:30 - 4:45 an employee of mine and I were outside and we saw a Southwest Airliner decending on RIC (we work right at Creighton Rd & I-295 so planes are pretty low at this point). In fact I even asked the guy if the tail of that plane read Southwest and he said it looked like it did to him and wondered if they were making an emergency landing. I didn't see anything in the news, so I don't know. But the plane we saw looked almost exactly like this. (note this is not the exact plane I saw, but what the plane I saw looked like).

Maybe I've confused it with something else, but I'm pretty sure it was a Southwest jet. Would the news report emergency landings? or does it depend on the nature of that landing?

Here is information from the developers (Holladay Properties):

http://www.holladayproperties.com/mixeduse....php?propid=WRV

This is random...

Today around 4:30 - 4:45 an employee of mine and I were outside and we saw a Southwest Airliner decending on RIC (we work right at Creighton Rd & I-295 so planes are pretty low at this point). In fact I even asked the guy if the tail of that plane read Southwest and he said it looked like it did to him and wondered if they were making an emergency landing. I didn't see anything in the news, so I don't know. But the plane we saw looked almost exactly like this. (note this is not the exact plane I saw, but what the plane I saw looked like).

Maybe I've confused it with something else, but I'm pretty sure it was a Southwest jet. Would the news report emergency landings? or does it depend on the nature of that landing?

What do you mean about that comment TB? You were rather optimistic mere days ago - what happened? What happens in June/July time frame that will make or break this project?

Not shocking at all, I think we can all agree that Wilder is a few bagels short of a dozen upstairs...

That being said - I haven't seen anyone else worthy of electing for the Mayor's position, has anyone else seen the same thing?

Anyone working downtown able to witness the State Police and I.N.S. roundup over at the new Federal Courthouse this morning?

Something like 50 illegal aliens were arrested at the new Federal Courthouse after it was surrounded by law enforcement. This happened around 8:30 I hear. Should have been interesting to see from the upper floors of a building nearby.

Even the Mayor's press secretary acknowledges that his boss mis-spoke. Council, contrary to Wilder's loose lip comments, increased funding for the Police Department each year during Monroe's tenure, including in the new budget.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-co...05-07-0167.html

Probably there will be more hotel/motel construction in the US 1, I-95 area around Lewistown Road. The Bass Pro Shop, nearing completion nearby, reportedly will be one of the largest in the chain.

I've heard talk of a Sonic going in on US 1 @ Sliding Hill Road just north of Virginia Center Commons. Near where the Arby's is under construction. Does anyone know Sonic's plans in the Richmond market? I talked to someone a while back at the Sonic in Chester and was told that one was to be built along Hull Street (and it was) then on Midlothian, Broad St., and Ashland. I'm going to assume right now that US 1/Sliding Hill Road Sonic is the one meant for Ashland.

Sure would like one in Mechanicsville. It would do fantastic business.

I was at RIC this past weekend and noticed the closure of the "loop around" back to the Main Terminal. The sign indicated its closure due to the North Parking Garage Expansion. In addition, I did see some equipment on the gravel lot of where the expansion is to take place.

Any official word on commencement of work?

Then again...maybe you're not being as defensive as I read into your comment. That's the drawback to text -- the context of a comment is easy to misunderstand.