PDF Update - Sept. 09: Riverfront Changes to Downtown Master Plan
Date: 9 February 2009
Falls of the James Group, Sierra Club
P O Box 25201
Richmond VA 23260
Honorable Mayor and Distinguished Members of City Council,
I am writing on behalf of the Richmond Sierra Club, representing 1,750 members in the Richmond region, and in partnership with many other environmental organizations: the Chesapeake Bay Foundation , the Virginia Conservation Network, the Partnership for Smarter Growth, to name a few. Our Falls of the James Group strongly opposes Bruce Tyler’s proposed amendments to the Downtown Master Plan, to be heard tonight.
Richmond’s Downtown Master Plan is a superior plan, which should be adhered to. Almost two year’s worth of open discussion & planning, vision and refinement, consensus and near-unanimous buy-in should not be undermined by a special interest effort to undermine key elements.
With all due respect, Mr. Tyler had many opportunities to provide input and leadership for the Downtown Master Plan, which he chose not to do. The Planning Commission incorporated special considerations from developers and corporate entities, and the Plan doesn’t need “after the fact” revisions, especially when considering how valuable these key components (listed below) are to assembling a world class riverfront - open to all, with an unobstructed viewshed adding value to nearby properties, drawing visitors to Church Hill and its parks, and protecting the historic panorama. As the credit card advertisement says, PRICELESS!
Please, maintain the vision of, and commitment to a grand riverfront park along the James, east of Downtown, to preserve both public access and the historic viewshed above. Help preserve the historic viewshed from Libby Hill Park, and help support Gov. Kaine’s commitment to make viewsheds important resources, worth of protection for the good of the Commonwealth. Help support Scenic Virginia protect your heritage.
One last point: downtown Richmond’s magnificent historic buildings are under assault by state agencies (and private developers) with little appreciation for preservation and reuse, and poor sensitivity to the City’s desire to work with them to maximize architectural excellence and appropriate contextual design and functions. Please support the creation of a Architect of the Commonwealth.
In closing, thank you for your hard work and wisdom in adopting the Downtown Plan last year. Stay the course and we’ll be even closer to a great downtown, and protect our riverfront and our viewsheds.
Thank you for your time and attention
Sincerely,
John J Zeugner, AICP
Chair, Falls of the James Group, Sierra Club
288-5005
