Comments on: discussing a plan for the James River http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/ News and events in Richmond's River District - Shockoe Slip, Shockoe Bottom, Manchester, Tobacco Row, Rocketts. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:31:39 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jack Stanton http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-920 Jack Stanton Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:41:20 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-920 If you want something incredible that has beauty, commerce, and fine restaurants, see http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/ The San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio, Texas, has been in existence for many years and brings millions of dollars to the city annually. One visit to the River Walk will convience you. Richmond deserves such an outstanding feature! Click on "Photo Gallery" and see what Richmond could be. If you want something incredible that has beauty, commerce, and fine restaurants, see http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/

The San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio, Texas, has been in existence for many years and brings millions of dollars to the city annually.

One visit to the River Walk will convience you.

Richmond deserves such an outstanding feature!

Click on “Photo Gallery” and see what Richmond could be.

]]> By: Scott Burger http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-315 Scott Burger Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:06:38 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-315 I am still sorry that there is no mention of the juncture of the East Coast Greenway and the Capital Trail. I have requested it multiple times. It should happen somewhere in the JRP. For more info, go to greenway.org I am still sorry that there is no mention of the juncture of the East Coast Greenway and the Capital Trail. I have requested it multiple times. It should happen somewhere in the JRP.

For more info, go to greenway.org

]]> By: Paul H http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-305 Paul H Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:08:10 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-305 It was nice to have the opportunity to provoke discussion and I was glad to see that my concerns were shared. No, the JRPS should never be incringed on. It is a treasure, as is it's director Ralph White. We have room for intelligent development along the river. This would open it open to many who would never venture across the footbridge to Belle Isle or along the backwoods trails. Click your way through to Pie In The Sky, Here's Mud In Your Eye. Insult is never intended, but we must find an intelligent way to use what we have. It was nice to have the opportunity to provoke discussion and I was glad to see that my concerns were shared.

No, the JRPS should never be incringed on. It is a treasure, as is it’s director Ralph White.

We have room for intelligent development along the river. This would open it open to many who would never venture across the footbridge to Belle Isle or along the backwoods trails.

Click your way through to Pie In The Sky, Here’s Mud In Your Eye. Insult is never intended, but we must find an intelligent way to use what we have.

]]> By: john m http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-302 john m Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:44:10 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-302 richmond.com:<i><a href="http://www.richmond.com/news-features/23574" rel="nofollow">Focus on the James - River the topic of Downtown Master Plan meeting</a></i> richmond.com:Focus on the James – River the topic of Downtown Master Plan meeting

]]> By: john m http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-295 john m Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:42:37 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-295 <a href="http://riverdistrictnews.com/wp-content/uploads/River_2.19.08.pdf" rel="nofollow">Brooke Hardin's presentation from last night (PDF)</a>. Thanks again to Brooke for sharing! Brooke Hardin’s presentation from last night (PDF). Thanks again to Brooke for sharing!

]]> By: j http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-294 j Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:09:40 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-294 "I wouldn’t condone plopping restaurants with pretty river views anywhere on Belle Isle or in James River Park." I agree. I wouldn't develop those areas either. I'm not saying Richmond should pave over everything around the river. It has to strike a balance -- a good mix of commercial and recreational areas. And if connected by trails, businesses and parks will only enhance each other. The area that I would like to see developed is east of the Ninth Street Bridge all the way down to Rockett's Landing, including Mayo Island. Get rid of or convert the old abandoned commercial buildings, but don't build things that are ridiculously out of scale with the surrounding area like the Echo Harbour proposal. I like going to Belle Island, but the "thump, thump" of cars overhead and the hundred other people there always interupt my communing with nature. (And by communing with nature, I mean peeing on a tree.) “I wouldn’t condone plopping restaurants with pretty river views anywhere on Belle Isle or in James River Park.”

I agree. I wouldn’t develop those areas either. I’m not saying Richmond should pave over everything around the river. It has to strike a balance — a good mix of commercial and recreational areas. And if connected by trails, businesses and parks will only enhance each other.

The area that I would like to see developed is east of the Ninth Street Bridge all the way down to Rockett’s Landing, including Mayo Island. Get rid of or convert the old abandoned commercial buildings, but don’t build things that are ridiculously out of scale with the surrounding area like the Echo Harbour proposal.

I like going to Belle Island, but the “thump, thump” of cars overhead and the hundred other people there always interupt my communing with nature. (And by communing with nature, I mean peeing on a tree.)

]]> By: Jeff E. http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-293 Jeff E. Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:34:54 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-293 j, that's one of the reasons I find James River Park so fascinating. You are in the middle of the city yet you can mountain bike, rock climb, hike, kayak, and yes... commune with nature. It's a unique opportunity that most cities cannot offer. I wouldn't condone plopping restaurants with pretty river views anywhere on Belle Isle or in James River Park. Find a way to encourage development in already urbanized river areas such as Tredegar, Brown's Island, Mayo Island, and Manchester and interconnect these areas with new scenic walkways, the Canal Walk, and the established park trail system. Accomplish that and downtown Richmond and the riverfront will be a world class destination. j, that’s one of the reasons I find James River Park so fascinating. You are in the middle of the city yet you can mountain bike, rock climb, hike, kayak, and yes… commune with nature. It’s a unique opportunity that most cities cannot offer. I wouldn’t condone plopping restaurants with pretty river views anywhere on Belle Isle or in James River Park. Find a way to encourage development in already urbanized river areas such as Tredegar, Brown’s Island, Mayo Island, and Manchester and interconnect these areas with new scenic walkways, the Canal Walk, and the established park trail system. Accomplish that and downtown Richmond and the riverfront will be a world class destination.

]]> By: john m http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-289 john m Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:27:12 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-289 B&M - <i><a href="http://floricane.typepad.com/buttermilk/2008/02/the-downtown-11.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Downtown Plan: A River Runs Through It</a></i> RTD - <i><a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-02-20-0160.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">River development debated</a></i> B&M – The Downtown Plan: A River Runs Through It
RTD – River development debated

]]> By: j http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-288 j Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:25:03 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-288 You're quoted in the T-D story (I assume it's you anyway): "Not everybody wants to hike a secluded trail," Paul Hammond, who lives on Franklin Street, said at the meeting held by city planning officials. "We need to maximize the economic benefit the river can give us without damaging it." Agreed. People don't come to downtown Richmond to commune with nature. I'm all for greenspace, but no one should expect parks in a city to be wilderness like the Appalachian Trail, despite how many "campers" there are. I've spent a few years in Annapolis, Md., and it seems like restaurants with views of the water were everywhere. They were a big draw for the area. Are there any restaurants in Richmond where you can even see the river? Yeah there is flooding, but it seems like we could use the areas near the James River for something besides train tracks. You’re quoted in the T-D story (I assume it’s you anyway):

“Not everybody wants to hike a secluded trail,” Paul Hammond, who lives on Franklin Street, said at the meeting held by city planning officials. “We need to maximize the economic benefit the river can give us without damaging it.”

Agreed. People don’t come to downtown Richmond to commune with nature. I’m all for greenspace, but no one should expect parks in a city to be wilderness like the Appalachian Trail, despite how many “campers” there are.

I’ve spent a few years in Annapolis, Md., and it seems like restaurants with views of the water were everywhere. They were a big draw for the area. Are there any restaurants in Richmond where you can even see the river? Yeah there is flooding, but it seems like we could use the areas near the James River for something besides train tracks.

]]> By: Paul H http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-287 Paul H Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:33:33 +0000 http://riverdistrictnews.com/2008/02/19/discussing-a-plan-for-the-james-river/#comment-287 Well done. Thanks for the detailed coverage. It was nice to meet you tonight. PH Well done. Thanks for the detailed coverage.

It was nice to meet you tonight.

PH

]]>