A Fire in Shockoe, Housing Density, and a Delayed Council Vote
Cheers RVA!
Today will be mostly sunny with a high of 95 and a low of 74, with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. A heat advisory remains in effect until 7:00 p.m.
the juice:
A three-alarm fire damaged multiple buildings on East Main Street in Shockoe Bottom Wednesday afternoon.
The fire damaged apartment units and neighboring businesses and displaced three residents.
More than ten fire trucks and nearly 100 firefighters were on the scene assisting in the effort, with two firefighters treated for heat exhaustion.
There were no other injuries in the blaze and the cause is still under investigation.
the pulp:
Demonstrators gathered outside Chesterfield County Courthouse Wednesday morning to opposition to ICE’s continued operations, via WTVR. Virginia Attorney General has said those being detained likely fall into one of two categories:
"One, they're here illegally; they have committed violent felonies," Miyares said. "Or two, I would remind my friends in the press, there are 1.4 million illegal immigrants that have already had a deportation hearing. In other words, they've already been in front of a judge. A judge already heard their case, adjudicated the case, and said they can't stay in this country. And under the previous administration, despite that, nothing ever happened. So what you're seeing overwhelmingly are people that have already had their day in court, so either a violent criminal or they've already had their day in court and been ordered to be deported. So that's I have a strong suspicion that's what's happened in Chesterfield."
A City Council vote on a contentious ordinance that would require high-ranking city officials to live within the city limits has been delayed until July 7, according to Samuel Parker at the RTD. Mayor Avula’s administration is strongly opposed to the move arguing it would limit their ability to attract top talent, and councilmembers and the Mayor are currently working on a compromise behind the scenes.
the dive:
A group of neighbors on Hanover Avenue are upset about a proposal to build six new family homes alongside two existing houses on a .4 acre lot, according to Sarah Vogelsong at the Richmonder.
The planning department has agreed the proposal is in line with Richmond’s long-term development plan Richmond 300, which calls for more housing density in general, and specifically along “major mixed-use street” like Hanover Avenue.
Vogelsong writes:
“We are not NIMBY,” said Helen Ilnickey, a 32-year resident of a home across the street, using the shorthand for ‘not-in-my-backyard.’ “We’re not just patently against growth. But development must respect the current neighborhood. … Shoehorning so many homes into such a small lot means huge profit for the developer, but it should not be the developer’s pocketbook that determines the lot’s highest and best use.”
Chief among the complaints were concerns about increased parking and traffic pressures, a loss of green space and the perception that too many projects are being crowded too fast into an area whose charm lies in its quiet, its large lawns and abundant trees — and its low density.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
Have a convivial day RVA!
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