The Downtown Plan: Beat Down the Developers

Interested in maintaining -- or even enhancing -- public access to the James River? Have a hankering to see more shabby chic boutiques sprouting up in Manchester? Tired of the condominium lifestyle driving rental prices up in Jackson Ward? Want more art, fewer politics downtown?

Well, you'll have your chance to sit nose-to-nose with planners, your neighbors, and well-spoken developers at the end of September as the city's Department of Community Development presents "The Downtown Plan: Round 2." Round 1 involved four hundred of your closest friends -- and hundreds of hangers-on -- hammering out a collective vision for a new Downtown Plan at Plant Zero at the end of July, assisted by the urban planning team from Miami-based Dover Kohl.

All Richmonders are invited to attend the Downtown Master Plan 2007 Workshop to continue the discussion on the future of Downtown.

The Downtown Master Plan project team will share details on design concepts, commercial and residential markets, the riverfront, and the transportation network. Community members are encouraged to attend the workshop to discuss these issues and their thoughts on the future of Downtown.

The workshop will be held Sept. 27 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Renaissance Conference Center (107 W. Broad St.) Free parking for the event will be available to the rear of the conference center.

For more information, contact Brooke Hardin at (804) 646-6310 or by e-mail at Brooke.Hardin@RichmondGov.com. You can also visit the city’s Web site at: www.RichmondGov.com/departments/communitydev/

Buttermilk & Molasses will have much more on the planning process in the weeks leading up to the September 27 event. Read about the initial process until your eyes bleed at our Richmond Planning and Development page (scroll all the way down to start at the beginning).