Look out!  This website now has a Twitter account, @ByrdParkdotnet. Hopefully, with this tool at our disposal, we can increase traffic to the site and build new channels of communication with other neighborhood resources, community blogs, and constituents.

If you are on Twitter, please follow us for news about updates to the site.  If you know of a Twitter account that @ByrdParkdotnet should follow (and share their updates from time to time), please say the word.  Your input and healthy activity on the new Twitter account will keep this site fresh and informative.

The murder of Tyler Binstead in March of 2008 took place on the outskirts of Byrd Park, but most residents of the surrounding neighborhoods felt personally affected and haven’t forgotten.  Linda O’Brian, whose daughter survived the attack, is hoping that people from the community will help her produce a series of community dialogues. She has contacted other blogs who are also posting their perspective along with the notice below:

“Hello friends, I live in Blacksburg but my VCU daughter survived a violent crime in Byrd Park almost 2 years ago. I’m doing a community dialogue theater piece on the event and all the discussion it provoked, to try and bring understanding to matters of crime, violence, history, discrimination, trauma, race, youth, drugs and guns. I also want to include all the vitality of Richmond community life. I need some friendly collaborators from the Richmond area to help out. I want a better world. Anyone interested please contact me.  Lmobrientribe@yahoo.com“

In further correspondence, Ms. O’Brian added:

“The project will be in development for at least a year. When it goes, it will most likely be in Blacksburg with the Tech theater department. Of course, I would hope to have it performed eventually in Richmond. It would be most helpful to have researchers in Richmond who might be willing to do interviews in the blocks where the three convicted teens lived. Also, people willing to get stories of good things happening in Richmond as well as the local music and art scene. That is something of what is needed. I would hope to find places for volunteers according to their interests.”

If you are interested or just curious, Ms. O’Brian welcomes our input. Lmobrientribe@yahoo.com

The West End Market at Idlewood and Shields has undergone some renovations. The bars have come off the windows and large and modern tinted glass has been installed.

Owner, Sunny Kang, says that her conversations with Byrd Park Civic League members revealed to her that many in the neighborhood refuse to patronize her convenience store because the store’s appearance acts as a deterent.  Kang hopes that the new windows will help to improve perceptions of the store, which has been operating at the same location for nearly 25 years.  She would like Byrd Park residents to take a closer look at her inventory, because she makes a concerted effort to carry most common household items.  Kang is also happy to stock any items that her customers request (I can verify that she has stocked six-packs of Yuengling lager for the past five years, upon my request).

Change has also come to the West End Market in the form of a hair care store which has been integrated into the grocery space.  Sunny’s husband, June, has recently closed the Nine Mile road location of his hair care store and combined it under one roof at Idlewood and Shields.  Kang says this is significant for Richmond residents, because there are no retail outlets selling as extensive an array of hair care supplies for miles around.

Sunny’s husband added that he expects to have the exterior of the building repainted and the floors refinished during the warmer months of 2010.

In 2009, the West End Market was sporting a sign referring to permits for major renovations to the building.  In 2008, Kang had requested and received permission to add a second level to her building for residential rental property while also opening space in the rear of the building for additional retail storefronts along Shields.  Construction never got under way because Kang’s loan was not approved.  However, she still has the permits for another year and may still go forward with those plans.

Our brothers and sisters across the river are having a 5k run on February 13th (that’s 3.1 miles).  They only charge $15 to participate and a long-sleeved shirt is included in the price of registration. If the route takes runners through the beautiful Forest Hill Park, then it’ll be a lovely stroll.  I plan to run/walk/jog/wog(?) and use the event as an excuse to improve my cardio fitness.  Maybe you want to support Forest Hill Park and go for a run as well.

The Forest Hill Neighborhood Association sponsored run made me think: Don’t we also have a picturesque park on our side of the river? Isn’t there a Vita-course associated with our park?  Hmmm…  Anyone wanna coordinate something like this in Byrd Park?

Residents of Byrd Park have been on the edge of their seats for some time about the future of the old Bus Barn at Robinson and Cary.  Now that RRHA has control of the property, it is expected that there will be some public and/or governmental deliberation before a private entity purchases it for their own purposes.  Just what those purposes will be is a matter of much speculation.  For anyone interested in the latest details, the next BPCL meeting is the place to be (UPDATE: RRHA rep will not attend BPCL’s meeting until April).  Even if you can’t attend, you can make your voice heard here.  Below, I will post some of the ideas I’ve heard debated.  Please feel free to expound in the comments section.

From Kim Mullooly, Byrd Park Civic League President:

Byrd Park Residents,

As many of you know the GRTC bus location was sold to RRHA. Many neighbors have inquired and want to be informed and heard when it comes to the redevelopment of that property. Matthew Bolster the project manager at RRHA for the GRTC location will be speaking at our meeting on February 13th at 10:00am. Although it is still early in the development of that property (Matthew has actually been on  the job for 10 days now) he would be glad to share the plans with us and answer any questions.  Please plan to attend the meeting not only to find out the details but to represent Byrd Park as a big voice that wants to be involved in the community around them.

Please tell you neighbors and help pass this information  around.

Kim Mullooly

A few Ideas:

An eastward extension of Carytown: Storefronts at Cary and Meadow have been sitting empty since they were built years ago. Same goes for the storefronts at Cary and Randolph. Businesses seem to be closing with great frequency in Carytown.  Is it time to expand that shopping district when many blocks look like Halloween jack-o-lanterns due to out of business storefronts?  However, the parking situation there would have to be an improvement.  Otherwise, what are the indicators that small businesses are going to survive, much less thrive, at Cary and Robinson? Acacia’s waiting list can only support so many boutiques.

Walmart, etc: The size the old bus barn is about the same as a big-box store. Got a favorite?  Is there a sizeable store that wouldn’t seem out of place?

A pedestrian mall, a la Charlottesville: Since Byrd Parkers are within walking distance, I can’t imagine many people would balk at this notion (however, retail critique applies here as well).  The existing brick structures certainly look like the framework for a beautiful place to stroll and lounge (with a good coat of paint, of course).

Housing: With public housing under threat of bulldozing, low-mixed income housing options will be needed.  Enter predictable “Not In My Back Yard” (NIMBY) backlash from surrounding residents.

A school: Many have argued that RPS improvments must begin with new state of the art facilities. Fox and Mumford are overburdened as the go-to elementaries for city dwellers. Maybe a new kid on the block is in order.

Community center with State-funded day-care and after school programs: Hey, a parent can dream, right?

A grocery store: The effects of the past 100 years of fuel and chemical leaks at the bus barn has to raise questions about the suitability of that site for future use.  There is a a forecast-ed $1million clean-up planned, but many with intimate knowledge of the site doubt if that will be enough.

More? Add a comment.

UPDATE: The BPCL president informs me that the RRHA representative will not attend their meeting until he has more information to share, perhaps at the April meeting.  Hopefully, the RRHA intends to gather input from the surrounding neighborhoods before deciding on the outcome of the site.  To ensure that your perspective is taken into account, please contribute your thoughts here, email them to info@RRHA.STATE.VA.US, and keep the issue on the agenda at the BPCL meeting on 2/13. Online and face to face community discussions take time to distill consensus about the concerns/interests in such a significant real estate development.  We should use every opportunity to examine the issues and ideas on the table.

From the newletter of 5th District Councilman Jewell:

Councilman Marty Jewell will hold a meeting in the Central 5th District which will include information on goals and accomplishments; a topical agenda; and, special guests. The meeting is free and all Central 5th District citizens are invited and encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served. The Agenda for this meeting will include:
Agenda
• Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts
• 2010 Richmond Real Estate Assessments
• 2010 Richmond Real Estate Tax Abatements
• 2010 United States Census Information

When: Wednesday, 27 January 2010
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Richmond Public Schools Binford Middle School
1701 Floyd Avenue; Richmond, Virginia 23220

CONTACT: For more information, please contact Francine Young in the office of Councilman Marty Jewell, at 804.646.5724 (office) or by email, at
francine.young@richmondgov.com

Winthrop Hall Residence

Winthrop Hall, the old John B. Cary West End School that towers over the 2100 blocks of Idlewood and Grayland Avenues, is now up for sale. The unoccupied building has been deteriorating for months. The owner is Stephen J. Staats, a real estate developer who made headlines in 1997 when he bought the property for under $200k and converted it to an assisted living facility.  As recently as 2008, the building has been assessed by the city at $6.5 million and $5.3 million in 2009.

There have been rumors that the site was slated to serve as a mental health facility after the assisted living enterprise folded.  At this point the future is wide open.  There have been calls for a grocery store, an elementary school, and a community center. At the very least, it would be an improvement to see the yard kept, the windows unboarded and without broken glass, and just a tad less random graffiti.

The news of the sale came from news at the CAPS meeting for the Near West
district.  Ward Kuper, our local environmental officer, and the City were both moving on this property to address its upkeep.  During this process, the Kuper came across the contact information for the the sales agent for the property.  If there is any information about a potential buyer, or any other details, please add that information to the comments.

If you would like a REALLY BIG house, the building has over 50k square feet of finished living space and nearly 20k in the basement.  It sits on a parcel that is over two acres of fenced in area.

The good folks at the Boulevardizen (formerly, 10 South Boulevard) have a pair of stories up about wintery happenings in and around the lakes of Byrd Park.  On January 11th, they shared the news that a sheet of ice had covered Fountain Lake, causing the geese to disperse to places unknown.  The next day:

An elderly man’s walker tipped causing him to fall into Swan Lake at Byrd Park. Lt. Shawn Jones with the Richmond Fire Department tells Boulevardizen that two Department of Public Works employees came to the rescue after observing the man in the bitter cold water signaling for help.  According to Jones the man is alright and ” was complaining of being cold only.”

The story goes on to mention tips for staying safe near the Byrd Park lakes, including a NBC 12 report that warns against walking out onto the ice, which may be weakened form fluctuating temperatures.

From Craigslist:

I found a small, male beagle/mix on Blanton Ave between Condie St and Douglasdale Rd. He has no collar, is not in great shape, and is fairly fearful. A picture is below. Please let me know if you know anything about him!

Here is an opportunity to serve your community, as reported on Silver Persinger’s City Council Telegraph and Reporter blog:

“There was a presentation on the Carillon Advisory Committee by Barbara Brock and veteran member Ryland Yancey Bailey. Ms. Brock explained to the committee that several members do not attend the meetings regularly and the Advisory Committee is unable to achieve a quorum to conduct business. They desire new members to be appointed. The committee is made up of 8 members. One position is vacant. Only 3 members attend meetings regularly. By deduction, the non-participating members are Richard G. Steele [appointed Feb. 26, 2007], Thomas Wagstaff [appointed Oct. 25, 2004], Shawn Freude [appointed Oct. 25, 2004], Ezra Hitzeman [appointed Nov. 8, 2004].

Ms. Brock recommended the Council recognize Larry Robinson who has played the Carillon bells for the last 50 years as of 2010.”

If anyone has the contact information of the Carillon Advisory Committee, please post that in the comments section.  Otherwise, interested potential committee members should visit the Carillon link and use any contact info provided there.

Lamplighter Roasting Company, a cafe opening at Parkwood and Addison, just over the 195 interstate footbridge, is selling coffee subscriptions for $10 per week for a pound of fresh roasted coffee delivered by bicycle.  The story is featured at Richmond Bizsense, and focuses on the new business’s coffee roasting.  However, Lamplighter also has outdoor seating and an extensive sandwich menu on their website. The cafe/roaster plans to open the week of December 14th.

You see baby strollers parked on people’s porches all the time.  Bringing the bulky things inside isn’t always an option.  After a year and a half of good luck, our stroller was stolen from our porch on Rosewood Ave sometime after Thanksgiving.

I understand that we were taking a risk by leaving it outside, but we’d just had a railing put around the porch and the gate was closed. So, anyone removing it would have been conspicuous and noisy.  Neighbors, keep an eye out for each other (and an eye out for this stroller).  And to my dogs, forget that I told you to stop barking at passers-by.

If you have to leave your stroller on your porch, I suggest a lock of some kind.

A news submission came in from Catherine who lives near John B. Cary Elementary.

Hello! I was just wondering if anyone else noticed that the sound from UR Stadium seemed unusually loud last night, and continued later than normal. I could hear every lyric of every rap song in my living room, and it continued until even after 9 p.m. Isn’t there some kind of noise ordinance that should restrict this, especially considering the time and the fact that it did not look like an official event, just a practice? I’d like to complain but don’t know exactly to whom to address a complaint. UR’s last game is there on Sat. so their days are
numbered. Thanks for any help you can provide!

Do any other readers out there have to deal with noise from the stadium?  I would be curious to know about the stadium’s radius of obtrusive sound. For those of you living east of Fountain Lake, do you hear the stadium music on game nights?  Post your comments here.

On Monday, City Council reps Samuels and Jewell will introduce an ordinance to legalize dogs in Byrd Park.  For some months now, dogs have been allowed in most parts of the park on a trial basis.

Ord. No. 2009-218 (Patrons: Mr. Samuels and Mr. Jewell) – To amend the Code ***
concerning the prohibition of dogs in certain parks and other areas, to permit dog owners to take leashed dogs into certain areas of Byrd Park after December 1, 2009.

http://www.richmondgov.com/applications/clerkstracking/getPDFCouncil.asp?NO=280&TYPE=A

From a concerned Byrd Parker:

I thought this merited a post on the blog.  Last night my wife and I looked out our window and saw two guys trying to break into cars on the 2100 block of Rosewood. We called the police, and they later picked up one of the men rummaging through a vehicle.  He had three Samsung cellphones on him and some Ipod accessories.  The police are trying to find the owners of these items.  If any of these items belong to you, you can contact the 3rd precinct at 646-1414. The officer I spoke with also urged residents of our neighborhood to be vigilant and keep valuables out of sight in your vehicles.  They have picked this guy up before in this area, and it’s very likely he will be back again.

Has anyone else had items stolen from their car in the neighborhood?  Any more advice for keeping your belongings safe and discouraging theft?  Please post your thoughts on this in the comments section.

(From wotbn.net)

The City’s event will feature a bell concert on the unique clavier found on the upper level of the Carillon and played by City Carillonneur, Lawrence Robinson, Richmond’s Memorial Riffles will present a 21 gun salute followed by “Taps”. There will also be a presentation of colors by the Franklin Military Academy. Retired Major Miguel A. Casasnovas will recite the poem “Salute to a Veteran” by Frank J. Montoya, retired U.S. Army. In addition, renowned classical pianist and Julliard graduate Jim Pettis will accompany soloist Brian C. Little, Sr. Invocation and benediction offered by the Reverend Cheryl Ivey-Green.

Historically Veterans Day has been celebrated on the 11th day of November which is the anniversary of the signing of Armistice that finished World War I. The main hostilities of World War I were properly finished at the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.

The event starts at 1pm at the Carillon. Representative Bobby Scott will speak.

The Byrd Park Civic League met last night. Here is a letter from BPCL president, Kim Mullooly:

Hello Neighbors,

Last night the board of the Byrd Park Civic League met to get started on the business facing the new board… We hope to have more information to come but first of all we know that we need to improve the relationships we have with our community leaders.

I am pleased to let you know that we are working on the Bylaws for the BPCL and if all goes well we should have these ready to adopt at the next meeting on December 12th. I would like to thank Albert Boyd for being present at the last meeting and bringing this issue to the forefront of the board. It will not only help our organization have a direction but define the duties of the board and membership.

Between now and December 12^th we are going to beef up our efforts to increase the membership in the BPCL. There will be a door to door effort to get this done and we will be depending on block captains and any other residents who want to be involved. But until we have the forms ready to distribute to the neighborhood the least I can do is remind everyone that our fiscal year runs July 1 through June 30 and dues are made out to the Byrd Park Civic League and sent to Toni Cooper, 503 South Davis #8, Richmond 23220. Household memberships are $15.00 and individual memberships are $10.00. So please take the first step and renew or join the league we need the funds to continue the league and improve the conditions of our neighborhood.

Don’t forget our next meeting is December 12^th 10am-noon at the roundhouse. I hope to see everyone there.

Want to join the Byrd Park Civic League? Send your dues to Toni Cooper, 503 South Davis #8, Richmond 23220. Household memberships are $15 and individual memberships are $10

According to the Richmond Police Department, E. Martin Jewell, best known as “Marty,” was stopped while driving near Byrd Park at 1:30am on Saturday.  The 5th district councilman was charged with driving under the influence and held overnight.  A full report has not been released at this time.

Police photo, taken while in custody.

Jewell was also in the news in recent months when his nephew was charged in a shooting on the Virginia Union University campus.  Marty built his reputation in Richmond on a record of civic advocacy and social justice work.  Since his election in 2004, Jewell was often Mayor Doug Wilder’s lone ally on council, reversing many of his previously held progressive stances.  He has three years remaining on his current term in office.

Posted on Sunday, Oct. 11th on Craigslist:

We found a small white dog on Kemper street in Randolph west. He had a shock collar on but no tags. We’ve been taking care of him but are going to call SPCA or animal control tomorrow. Please give me a call if your dog is missing. Ask for Nick. 8608367294.