The Downtown Plan: Public Square Tackles the River

While it's new format -- a slate of panelists discussing an issue, followed by public comments -- may have limited the number of people who could speak, last week's Pubic Square appears to have provided a stronger narrative than most of the Times-Dispatch's previous 19 or so events.

That's a good thing.

The great benefit of the TD's attempts to open the public conversation on all issues great and small (affordable housing, development along the James River, pop culture) is that it creates a space for community dialogue -- rather than the host of lecture series that seem to have materialized around the region. That the paper can then leverage the Public Square events means that tens of thousands of Richmonders who did not attend a session can get a broader perspective on the issues addressed.

But over time, the Public Square events have started to feel a bit like City Council meetings with the usual suspects showing up time and time again to share their opinions on everything under the sun. And the sessions have tended to attract those with a stake in a particular game -- advocates for affordable housing, for instance -- more than they have attracted citizens interested in learning more about the issues facing the region.

Last week's Public Square attracted about 200 people to hear from six panelists with opinions on and expertise around the James River. Their moderated discussion was followed by a dozen or so residents who shared their perspectives on the topic. Here's a snapshot, focused on the panelist's vision for the James River:

White: My vision would be to ensure the sustainability of the resources. Everybody wants a piece of the river -- whether it's development, water withdrawal, whatever. And I think it's going to require a lot of innovative thinking, cooperation, and communications in the future. And I would like to just mention one thing to [Secretary Bryant] that I am extremely proud of: the program DEQ put together last year on water treating for nutrients in the river. That's out-of-the-box thinking. It was one of the first in the nation.

Bryant: My immediate goal is kind of a boring, technical one. And that is in terms of wastewater treatment plants. A decade ago the commonwealth set certain goals in conjunction with Pennsylvania and Maryland and D.C. to meet certain pollution reduction goals in terms of phosphorous and nitrogen going into the bay. We are on track right now to meet our 2010 goals for wastewater treatment plant upgrades. Two years ago, three years ago, we never would have thought we were going to get there.

Silvestri: I bet you have a broader vision.

Bryant: Access points. We want a sustainable river -- not just for the fisheries, but for those of us who like to enjoy them. I think between Richmond and Williamsburg, what have we got, two? I think we've got two real good accessible public access points between this very historic part of the river, Richmond to Williamsburg.

Ross: I see from the end of the present Canal Walk a promenade and a linear walkway, Capital Trail and Canal Walk, and park, all the way down to the city limits at Rocketts Landing. And I think that it is possible to have sustainable structures and commercial enterprises that produce taxable income and help pay for all the wonderful things that we all like to have and want to have.

Flynn: Our vision is Central Park, a flowing central park to really celebrate the river. And the downtown plans in the past, the river was always on the edge. Now it's in the center. And we really want to make it the focal point of Richmond, the surrounding area, and indeed, the state, given that this is everyone's capital. How can we turn the flood wall from an eyesore and something that blocks access and views into something attractive? If you look at Europe and you see these high walls, they're always beautiful, and they have attractive buildings behind and above them. How can we build stairways and landscaping along it so it's not just a liability but an asset?

How can we use native species and bring back the original species that were all along the river, which would better protect it, which would provide nourishment for the fish in there, and get back to nature? How can we build that continuous promenade and river walk that George [Ross] talks about. People really have this desire to be able to walk from one end all the way down to the other. We hear it time and time again on both sides of the river. And finally, how can we create entertainment venues and retail that can complement the recreational and other aspects of the river so that it's a one-stop shop, if you will? And we've just started, but we need to make those links even better.

Powell: Ditto to everything Rachel [Flynn] just said. And I really think Scenic Virginia's broader vision is this: A promenade where you can walk your dog, you can bike, you can rollerblade, you can push a stroller, you can fish.

It will be interesting to see if the Public Square events continue to evolve. Somewhere along the lines, perhaps, they will morph into large discussion sessions that mix experts and laypeople together around tables to share perspectives, generate ideas, build relationships and create something new. It's worked in other places.