Richmond Developments

[journiyin]

If I can remember, I think they did a part of Shockoe Bottom at 17th and Broad, Marshall and 2nd, and Hull and 7th without the utilities. Fulton Village and I think Fulton Manor have no wires above ground... but then again, they're newer areas. But I think it can be done in phases...

They can conceal the wires coming from underground along the face of the building on the side or rear to meet up with the existing connection. If the road is due to be re-paved the city would most likely eat the cost and do it themselves. If the building or the surrounding blocks are being remodeled, the cost would pass to the developer as a necessary improvement. Necessary in the sense that underground lines are less likely to fail reducing the risk of power outages.

[wrldcoupe4]

Oh I definitely think burying should be included in all new projects and redevelopment projects when it makes sense.

[journiyin]

Oh I definitely think burying should be included in all new projects and redevelopment projects when it makes sense.

What if the city continues on its repaving and re-doing of sidewalks kick? Wouldnt that be a good prompting factor for such a redo?

[ric75]

They can conceal the wires coming from underground along the face of the building on the side or rear to meet up with the existing connection. If the road is due to be re-paved the city would most likely eat the cost and do it themselves. If the building or the surrounding blocks are being remodeled, the cost would pass to the developer as a necessary improvement. Necessary in the sense that underground lines are less likely to fail reducing the risk of power outages.

Road and sidewalk improvements would be the perfect time to try and do this and considering most roads in Shockoe Bottom are in dire need of resurfacing, I hope the city considers doing utility burial in conjunction.

Cadeho thanks for the info. Did you get a sense of how people felt about improving the aesthetics downtown? I know there a bigger fish to fry but image plays a bigger part than people think in getting more visitors/pedestrians out and about downtown...

[Cadeho]

I'm actually in favor of exposing the cobblestones or paving block in Shockoe Bottom than more asphalt. And those cracked, tilted, ugly concrete sidewalks should be bricked over. I don't think there were any objections to removing the utilities. I think that may have been an issue there were a few applauded. Those renderings were pretty... wow. People also really wanted a greener downtown with more plants and trees. I'm not a big fan of a treed-out city because I like looking at buildings and trees get in the way. At times they can get overgrown. I believe some places look better without a ton of trees.

[burt]

I wish they would extend the Broad Street median greenery in both directions -- east from 8th to at least 12th and west from 4th to at least Belvidere.

[Cadeho]

That was included in the plan while it's not trolley tracks.

[wrldcoupe4]

Burt, when the state builds the new building on the Murphy site, extending the CDA improvements east would be part of the plan as well. I'm not sure how far they would extend the improvements though.

[jonbeattie]

I wish they would extend the Broad Street median greenery in both directions -- east from 8th to at least 12th and west from 4th to at least Belvidere.

We would love that Idea as well! Also a bit of prudent pruning wouldn't hurt! the wonderful trees in front of our building are massive and block the building as well..

[journiyin]

We would love that Idea as well! Also a bit of prudent pruning wouldn't hurt! the wonderful trees in front of our building are massive and block the building as well..

*Tree hugger raises his hand* Trees help reduce the effect of the urban heat island... and in a city like Richmond, a cool spot is hard to find... trees provide on of the few naturally cooling surfaces. I would say widening sidewalks to 20' and placing the trees in 8-10 islands would allow for people to walk around the trees and also allow the trees to grow larger. If anyone has ever visited Charlotte NC downtown you will see that the trees there are pushing 70-80 feet... twice the height of Richmonds. The main reason trees fail here is due to compaction and lack of planting room. Also if you move the trees away from the buildings you will get more of the mass effect some of the other posters are asking about.

Just my two cents...

[burt]

That was included in the plan while it's not trolley tracks.

It would be nice if light rail along the Broad Street corridor were underground between The Boulevard and VCUMedical at 12th Street.

[Cadeho]

Come back to RIchmond Burt, you've been in New York too long... you know subways won't work here!

Edited August 1, 2007 by Cadeho

[burt]

Come back to RIchmond Burt, you've been in New York too long... you know subways won't work here!

Why not? Light rail and trolleys work very well under downtown Pittsburgh. Of course, PGH has a neat rail network.

[Cadeho]

I don't think digging up Broad which also has other tunnels underneath on the eastern side of Shockoe Hill would be a good idea as far as traffic goes... but then again traffic would be bad when they put the tracks down. Maybe that would be less work than excavating under a major road.

[journiyin]

I don't think digging up Broad which also has other tunnels underneath on the eastern side of Shockoe Hill would be a good idea as far as traffic goes... but then again traffic would be bad when they put the tracks down. Maybe that would be less work than excavating under a major road.

we could go above the road? Below is out due to the hills and soils... Along the road is sketchy... but what about above?

[Cadeho]

I'm more inf avor of the traditional streetcar like we had.

[Cadeho]

Hope it's not too late... pictures...

7/21

7/22

7/23

Yay! Richmond Centre!

7/26

Hull and 7th

Oregon Hill

2nd and Marshall

[Cadeho]

Mayo Island and behind the Floodwall in Manchester

south bank of the James I believe

Our ship shop idea, but they have something like ship museum or something

McQuinn et al...

Shockoe Creek

Shockoe Bottom infill I believe

A part of the pllan

[Cadeho]

Covered Downtown Expressway and new Gambles Hill

17th and Broad

Manchester

Edited August 2, 2007 by Cadeho

[wrldcoupe4]

I think you posted way to many pictures at once or something.... I can't take the time to look at any of them because it's frozen my browser 3 times already it took 5 minutes just to get to the bottom of the page. I tried looking at photos in the richmond photos thread and had no problems so something is wrong with this set or something.

[Cadeho]

I think it's because they're larger than my usual pics. I can't fix them until I get home. I'm sorry.

[mclawsdrive]

They worked fine for me. Maybe my computer has more RAM.

[journiyin]

They worked fine for me. Maybe my computer has more RAM.

So would you say it is ... 'Ram Tough'?

[TBurban]

Ooo, I like the plan for Mayo Isle! It's simple, feasible, and elegant. I could see riding a trolley from Richmond to Manchester via Mayo.

[wrldcoupe4]

Hmm must've been something yesterday. Thanks for the pics Cam you captured much of the event well!