THE DOWNTOWN PLAN: SIX BIG IDEAS

Six core principles were presented as part of the work-in-progress for Richmond's new Downtown Plan this evening. Any single principle executed well would be transformational. After a quick summary of the six principles, I'll provide an overview of urban planner Victor Dover's presentation.

1. Strengthening the Traditional City by making pedestrians the main priority; restoring the two-way traffic pattern; making parking part of public infrastructure; embracing a transit future.
2. Protecting the James River as the centerpiece of the community and improving access; protecting views; saving Mayo Island as a public place; making quality connections to and along the James.
3. Requiring an Urban Architecture with doors and windows facing the street, and reforming development regulations. Design comes first!
4. Providing Variety and Choices for Everyone by diversifying land uses, building types and sizes, and opportunities for those at all income levels; supporting programs for those of lesser means and education; and fostering the full range of transportation choices.
5. Increasing Green with the creation of more and better parks; initiating a sustained street tree campaign; promoting green architecture and low-impact storm water designs.
6. Saving our History by confirming our commitment to preservation; requiring new architecture worthy of Richmond; and promoting and explaining our history.

Dover began his presentation with an emphasis on the draft nature of the work-in-progress presentation.

"The work we're here to look at tonight is not a finished plan, not a done deal," he said. "It's a work in progress. You'll have an opportunity to invite others who aren't here tonight, who weren't here this week, to make this plan better."

That said, why plan? Because each of us went to schools and walks on sidewalks that someone else built, and we have an obligation to build for the future.

"We plan so we can set the city up for the people who will come after us," Dover said. "Why do we work for the benefit of the city? Because this in fact affects everyone in the region ... it belongs to everyone, it is the living room of the region."

Dover then walked through the process of the past week -- the kick-off event with 400 people; the hands-on design process with almost 200 in attendance; the five days of Open Studio time where the planning team mingled with Richmonders. There were discussions, disagreements and stalemates. But there was also consensus.

"The revelation this week was that ... there was tremendous, tremendous convergence," Dover said. "In the studio, no actual fistfights broke out, but there were arguments and complaints."

In the planning word, this is called conversation. And out of this week's conversation came six core principles for a new downtown in Richmond, including strengthening the central city.

"A fundamental concept is that you are not a suburb. Downtown Richmond, the heart of the metropolis, is an urban center," Dover said. "Know where you are, and build that."

The river is the second principle.

"The principle is that there is access to and along the river, preserving the river and its views," Dover said. "The big idea is that it's not just a ditch with water in it surrounded by buildings -- the James River is Richmond's great, wet Central Park."

Holding the city together is its architectural fabric, which is surprisingly intact.

"When we look at the genetic material from which you will grow Richmond -- well, it's great stuff," he said, adding that not every architectural feature in downtown is pleasant to look at. "The new generation of architecture needs to put right the things that the old generation did wrong."

Comments

[Bear]

One-way vs Two-Way Streets Contrary to some planners beliefs, one way streets are safer for everybody. Yes some folks have to go around a block, but in the end it is safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorist to live and operate on a one way street pattern. One-way streets can have great speed control as signals can be timed to only allow for a group of cars to travel at a particular speed. Right now downtown has a progression of about 31MPH. It needs to be about 25-26MPH and it can be done quickly and easily. Two-way streets are expensive to change out and offer little benefit. After spending about $200k per intersection to change out all the signal equipment, you are left with a 3rd Street with no parking or a Hull Street with no left turns. I don't buy for a second that traffic flow will improve one bit or be any safer in a two way scenario. However, there are those punks that want to spend our money on a boondoggle. (just think about the next 6th street market place only bigger, remember 150 signalized intersections downtown at $200k+...yikes!) Look I used to time signals downtown and I know first hand that a bi-directional progression in two way streets are much harder to control speeds. Ask yourself how hard is it to speed on any two way? If you want a congested downtown with alot of left turn prohibitions and/or parking removed... support it... I'll stop here to pause and reflect and allow all opponents of the current one way pattern to step... you'd better bring your stuff... seriously, if you have a question about this important topic, I would happily explain more about the one-way vs two-way question as a professional engineer. Traffic safety is very important. We don't need any more head on crashes or pedestrian crashes downtown or anywhere in the region. One-way streets eliminate conflict points and reduce congestion. It allows for more on street parking. It allows time and creates more gaps for the pedestrian to get safely across the street... The Romans used one-way streets. NYC uses one way streets. When in Richmond, do as Richmonders do and learn the street pattern.

[Jennifer Young]

Okay, so maybe don't turn ALL one ways into two ways, but we could use a few changes. I mean, I was amazed at that map we saw last night of all of the one way streets in downtown. It doesn't exactly make for an easily navigable destination, especially from the perspective of small businesses and merchants who are trying to draw people downtown to their shops. I'll also say that I am certainly FOR changing the stoplight timing patters to calm the speeding. How about a little of both? All I know is I've had my business at its current location since December and I've seen 3 pretty scary looking accidents on my corner where two one-way streets intersect at a stoplight. One car flipped completely over onto its head right in front of my front door. I have a feeling that there was at least one driver in the collision who wasn't going 25 mph.