Posted on January 12, 2011 by christina | No Comments
Found a couple odd websites today while we’re on the subject of Cloverleaf Mall. You might want to look at DeadMalls, which includes references to Richmond’s Cloverleaf Mall and Azalea Mall (as well as my hometown Mall Walnut Hill in Petersburg, VA.) On the other hand, I also found I Hate Malls which gave me a giggle.
Posted on January 12, 2011 by christina | No Comments
Cloverleaf Mall. Image: Richmond Times Dispatch
We’re excited to hear that the county of Chesterfield is finally getting back to determining the outcome of Cloverleaf Mall. While the property is just outside the city limits, it’s close proximity to Chippenham Parkway makes it a prime location of interest to residents of Southside, both east and west. What opened in 1972 was once my family’s big shopping location when I was growing up, but eventually and sadly fell into hard times in the 90′s and saw its final tenant leave in 2008. The property has sat empty and gone through back and forth discussions between the county and potential buyers and their particular interests. One often mentioned addition to the site would be the largest Kroger grocery store to date.
We learn from the Richmond Times Dispatch that there will be a public hearing of the Board of Supervisors tonight, January 12, 2011 concerning a memorandum of understanding for future use, where we might finally see work underway this year. Another interesting point in the article is this mention which could enable much needed improvements to the whole of the Midlothian corridor. So if any of our readers resident in the County, you might want to attend.
At the afternoon work session, the board plans to vote on another related though distinct plan for the area. It would allow business near the mall to create an Eastern Midlothian Turnpike Service District that would use a special tax assessment to finance aesthetic improvements on and near Midlothian Turnpike between Chippenham Parkway and Turner Road.
This could be the day that something begins to happen at the old Cloverleaf Mall site.
The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote tonight on a memorandum of understanding that could set in motion the financial deal that will begin the revitalization of the property on Midlothian Turnpike at Chippenham Parkway.
The public hearing on the topic is part of the board’s 6:30 p.m. regular meeting. The 3 p.m. work session that precedes the meeting is to include a vote on a public hearing on the creation of a special tax district to pay for aesthetic improvements along part ofMidlothian Turnpike.
The three-part package of items about the mall site is centered on the issuance of $5.6 million in bonds that will finance infrastructure improvements on the site. If approved, the deal between the county and Crosland Stonebridge LLC will set in motion the demolition of the mall, perhaps as early as March or April.
Once the building is gone, the Charlotte, N.C.-based company hopes to turn the property into a mix-used development. The project will involve about $11.3 million in bonds, issued through the Chippenham Place Community Development Authority. The amount was split in two last summer to facilitate a prompter approach to development in an economically challenged real estate market.
“It’s the last hurdle before we can get going,” said Matt Harris, a senior budget analyst for the county.
He said splitting the amount “aligned the financing with current market conditions.”
A Kroger grocery store would anchor the first half of the project.
The bonds would be repaid by increased real estate assessments and sales tax collections created by development of the mall site. But in case that doesn’t work out as planned, the county budget office is also presenting a request to make special assessments on those properties. If the planned increases don’t pay for the bonds, the extra assessments will, Harris said.
At the afternoon work session, the board plans to vote on another related though distinct plan for the area. It would allow business near the mall to create an Eastern Midlothian Turnpike Service District that would use a special tax assessment to finance aesthetic improvements on and near Midlothian Turnpike between Chippenham Parkway and Turner Road.
Steve Meadows, the president of the Gateway Association, which represents many of those businesses, said there is widespread support for the plan. It would assess a 3 percent additional assessment on property, with the money used for landscaping on and near Midlothian Turnpike in the three-quarter-mile-long area.
The board also is expected to choose its leaders and set its meeting schedule for the year.
Posted on January 12, 2011 by christina | No Comments
Southside never looks so good as in a snowfall. Happy Winter!
Posted on January 4, 2011 by christina | No Comments
Our great friends at the newest foodie oriented blog in RVA - www.InTheToGoCup.com - have brought attention to some of Southside’s restaurants, from the wonderful neighborly favorite coffee shop Crossroads on Forest Hill to the latest addition for RVA coffee addicts, Taza Coffee N Cream. Their latest post is of the very cool and tasty Lunch Porter restaurant at Manchester’s Corrugated Box Building, which is one of my favorite and newly discovered restored warehouse spaces in the city. So whether you’re a foodie or not, InTheToGoCup will give you an interesting look at the region’s local coffee and restaurant spots, plus it’s just a fun read. Check em out at: http://inthetogocup.com/
Posted on January 4, 2011 by christina | No Comments
I’m excited to hear that Richmond painter Bill Fisher will be presenting a new series of works this month. Bill will be showing at Russell/Projects Gallery, one of Richmond’s newest galleries and which opened with much fanfare due to the owner/curator’s esteemed background. The gallery is located in the Plant Zero art complex in Manchester. If you can’t make this show, be sure to check out Bill’s work at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Education Center where he has work currently on view through February.
Here’s the word from River District News and link to the Facebook event page:
New paintings by Bill Fisher at Russell/Projects Gallery:
BILL FISHER: NEW PAINTINGS JAN 14-Feb 15th 2011, with public reception and book signing with the artist on January 28th, from 7pm-10pm. 15 new oil and wax paintings will be on view for the first time!
BILL FISHER: NEW PAINTINGS
28 January · 19:00 – 22:00
Location Russell/Projects Gallery, in Plant Zero Complex.
0. East 4th Street #41
Richmond, VA
Posted on January 3, 2011 by christina | No Comments
The Richmond Times Dispatch reported on January 2, 2o11 that the shooting victims of January 1, 2011 were from the Jackson Ward neighborhood. Article below:
The new year was just a few hours old when a man and woman were shot to death in an apparent double homicide in South Richmond.
Killed were Alex R. Arrington Jr. 25, of the 1200 block of West Leigh Street, and Coraliss A. Logan, also 25, of the 1000 block of St. Peter.
Authorities declined to say whether the two victims knew each other, and they would not discuss any motive for the shooting at the Hillside Court public-housing complex.
Police Lt. Lisa Drew said police believe both victims were shot in the same incident. “We’re still in the early stages of the investigation,” she said.
Officers responded to a report of gunfire in the 1700 block of Southlawn Avenue about 4:35 a.m. They found a man down on the street who appeared to have been shot. A woman found in a vehicle a block away was also unresponsive from an apparent gunshot wound. The two were pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives were interviewing people in the area who may have information about the incident. No arrests had been made. Anyone with information about these shootings is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
Posted on January 1, 2011 by christina | No Comments
Unfortunately the new year has already had its first homicides and unfortunately they were on the south side of the river in Hillside Court, which is out of our focus area but should be reported. Two persons were found shot on Southlawn Avenue, which is located not far from Blackwell surrounded by Jefferson Davis Hwy and Commerce Road. The Richmond Times Dispatch has the details as reported by the Richmond Police Department (below) but with the additional statement by Police Lt. Lisa Drew, “We’re still in the early stages of the investigation but we do believe there is a connection.”
Our hearts go out to the families of the victims.
Email report from the Richmond Police Department: Southlawn Avenue Homicides
At approximately 4:35 a.m. the Richmond Police Department responded to
a call of shots fired in the 1700 block of Southlawn Avenue.
On that street officers found a black male unresponsive from an
apparent gunshot wound. One block away officers found a black female
in a vehicle also unresponsive from an apparent gunshot wound.
They were pronounced dead at the scene. The Medical Examiner will
determine cause of death.
Detectives are interviewing those in the area who may have some
information about this incident. Anyone with information about these
shootings is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.
Posted on December 28, 2010 by christina | No Comments
The popular strip mall where Hayne’s Furniture is located, at Chippenham and Hull Street Road, experienced a robbery as reported by the Richmond Times Dispatch. The unidentified robber was brazen yet resourceful.
A man robbed a tool store at gunpoint in South Richmond last night and used a trash can from the business to carry away his stolen cash.
Richmond Police Captain David L. Martin said there were no shots fired and no injuries in the robbery, which occurred at 8 p.m. at the Harbor Freight Tools store in the 6500 block of Hull Street Road.
Martin said the store, which is located in a strip mall immediately east of the Chippenham Parkway, was still open for business when a black male brandishing a gun entered through a stock-room door and ordered the manager to open the safe. When the manager complied, the suspect put stolen cash in a tan-colored trash can and fled on foot.
Martin said a police tracking dog was brought to the scene but lost the suspect’s scent on nearby Elkhardt Road, where the suspect likely got in a car and drove from the area. No detailed suspect description was provided. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-10
Posted on December 28, 2010 by christina | No Comments
At first, I thought this was a silly story but if the local news is that of a few stolen items as compared to a homicide story, I’ll take this any day.
As reported by the Richmond Times Dispatch today, Tuesday, December 28, 2010, this crime incident occurred on Dinwiddie Avenue, which is in Blackwell surrounded by Jeff Davis Highway and Maury and Commerce Streets.
A man’s eyeglasses were stolen during an armed robbery in South Richmond, but the victim still managed to give police a description of the suspects. The man was not injured in the robbery, which occurred at 5:10 p.m. Monday in the 1800 block of Dinwiddie Avenue.
Richmond police Capt. David L. Martin said the victim told officers he was confronted by two males who forced him to give up his wallet and glasses before they fled on foot.
The victim described one suspect as a black man about 25 years old who is about 6 feet tall, weighs 160 pounds and has a dark complexion. The other was described as a black male, age 16-19, weighing about 150 pounds and carrying a black semiautomatic handgun.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-1000.
Posted on December 16, 2010 by christina | No Comments
A transformer on Broad Rock Boulevard this morning was out due to a fire, but it’s fixed and power is back up at 4:30pm on Thursday, December 16, 2010. The story was reported in the Richmond Times Dispatch today:
The 2400 block of Broad Rock Boulevard in South Richmond was closed in both directions for an extended period during this morning’s commute because of a transformer fire.
Emergency crews responding to the fire, which had been reported about 6:40 a.m., found arcing wires and made the decision to close Broad Rock so firefighters and utility workers could perform their jobs.
The affected area was near the Terminal Avenue intersection.
Posted on December 10, 2010 by christina | No Comments
One of the scariest events to happen is a house fire, and unfortunately we learn of significant damage to a home in our community this morning due such an event. The home is located on Hansdale Road, which is in the Broad Rock Manor neighborhood encircled by Walmsley Boulevard, Chippenham, and Hull Street Road. Although this incident seems to have been caused by an electrical problem, this is the time of year that accidents happen due to holiday lights malfunctioning so check your lights, outlets, appliances, fire alarms, etc. and keep safe!
As the Richmond Times Dispatch reports today, Friday, December 10, 2010:
Six people were displaced by a fire that caused significant damage to a house in South Richmond this morning.
There were no injuries in the fire, which was reported at 8:31 a.m. in the 5400 block of Hansdale Road, just north of Walmsley Boulevard near the Chesterfield County line.
Richmore fire Lt. Shawn L. Jones said all three people who were inside the house got out safely before firefighters arrived, and the first crews on scene were able to safely retrieve two puppies from inside.
The initial call came in as a fire coming from an electrical panel box in the kitchen, but Jones said that when the first firefighters arrived four minutes after the call, flames were coming through the roof of the house.
The fire, declared under control at 8:52 a.m., was being investigated as possibly accidental due to electrical problems.
The Greater Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross was assisting the six people displaced by the fire, Jones said.
Posted on December 10, 2010 by christina | No Comments
Southside has had another shooting reported, this time closer to home on Lovells Road, which is located off of Warwick Road between Hull Street Road and Broad Road Road in the 9th District. The Richmond Times Dispatch reported the news on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 as follows:
Richmond police are looking for suspects in the shooting death of a man in the 4700 block of Lovells Road on Tuesday night.
About 8:34 p.m., police received reports of random gunfire on Lovells Road in South Richmond. Officers arrived and found a male with a gunshot wound outside an apartment, said police spokeswoman Karla E. Peters. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators are working to positively identify the victim and notify relatives.
Detectives were seeking three black males who were reported seen leaving the area after the shooting in a dark-colored vehicle.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-1000.
Posted on December 6, 2010 by christina | No Comments
The reopening of the Westover Hills Branch of the Richmond Public Library is made official today, Monday, December 6, 2010 at 4:00pm as Mayor Dwight Jones and other city officials will be on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Come help celebrate the good news in our community!
Posted on December 6, 2010 by christina | 1 Comment
You’ve got to check out the wealth of amazing crafts at The Richmond Craft Mafia’s Handmade Holiday at Plant Zero!
What: Handmade Holiday Craft Show in Richmond, Virginia that will exclusively feature the work of indie crafters and designers.
Why: Buy Handmade & Shop Local this Holiday Season!
Who: The Richmond Craft Mafia and some very talented indie crafters and designers.
Where: Plant Zero in Richmond’s Manchester District
When: December 12th - 11 am – 5 pm
How: Come on out to support local and regional indie crafters this Holiday Season!
Posted on December 6, 2010 by christina | No Comments
City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities reminds us this week (December 6 – 10, 2010) to ‘avoid Jeff Davis and Maury Street intersection, and Maury Street between Holly Springs and Commerce Road’ since they’re working in area.
If you’re on Twitter, give them a follow at #UtilityBuddy