From RVABusiness‘ Twitter:

Also, last week we signed a lease w a new operator going into 15 N 17th St to do a hookah lounge!

CHPN has vintage news footage speculating a Ukrop’s store in Shockoe Bottom. Oh, if only…

We’re getting word about a fire at 23rd and Cary Streets, but can’t get down there to check it out. Anybody know what’s going?

Bouchon Bistro in Shockoe Slip is now open for lunch and dinner. No website yet, but they have posted a menu in their window. 

Style Weekly’s Short Order raves about Aziza’s new dinner time hours on Thursdays and Fridays, and their “smashing” desserts. [via]

Richmond Then and Now has an old Richmond News Leader article from February, 1975 about the 1810 grave of John Prosser along Main Street:

Sitting on top of the knoll about 15 feet above the 4400 block of E. Main St. is Prosser’s grave, which overlooks the James River from what once apparently was a cemetery of several grave sites. Now, however, only Prosser’s grave site is marked, although the stone marking the grave of a 14-year-old girl also stood on the knoll 20 to 30 years ago. [...] The knoll, which sits between two oil company offices, is now littered with beer cans and other trash. It has a carpet of leaves and honeysuckle. Two depressions indicate other graves.

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An observer writes:

Any clue as to what the deal was with the accident along the river last night? Around 9:30 pm, six to seven police and rescue vehicles showed up at the Richmond Intermediate Terminal (Dock becomes Water St around here) where a car had hit the concrete structure, flipped, and according to onlookers projected the driver across the street toward the river. The latter of that is up for debate, but I can confirm that there was a man down under a bridge of sorts. He appeared to be moving. I’m not sure how he got out of that car alive. It looked as if they were using a crane to get him out as the effort progressed.

Another account said police were chasing someone down toward that way after the crash, so not sure what went down. It was a huge scene with about 20-30 onlookers, so I’m surprised we haven’t seen any coverage yet.

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Before it was redeveloped as apartments and given a rooftop pool, the old American Tobacco building spent a few years as an the Shockoe Arts Center (who later moved and became the Petersburg Regional Art Center).

The 6th District monthly town meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, at the Old City Bar between 10 am – 12 pm. The meeting will kick off city council’s best land use study for Shockoe Bottom. 

The time is NOW to have an honest conversation about what works best in Shockoe Bottom. Whereas it is a business/entertainment community, it is also home to many citizens of the 6th District. The City will hire planning and development professionals to assist community stakeholders in establishing a best land use strategy for the area. Please come and be a part of setting the agenda for future community growth. For more information, please call John Westbrook at 646-7964.

On Sept 14th, RVA TV will host a roundtable discussion on the future of the River District at the Hat Factory, much like the community discussion held in Church Hill last month. To begin this discussion, consider what could the River District look like in 5 years, 10 years, or even 20 years?  What’s your vision for the future of the River District?

Jon at RVA TV is currently seeking suggestions for the panel, which they would like to make as diverse as possible (not just in demographics, but in views and occupations as well). After the panel, a second meeting will be arranged to continue the discussion.

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James River clean up is scheduled for Sunday, September 13  at 2:00pm, rain or shine.  Meet at the 14th Street “Take-Out” Parking Lot (just past the north flood wall).

Participants will help to beautify downtown Richmond by cleaning and painting in the vicinity of a 42-inch combined sewer interceptor between Brown’s Island and 14th Street, along the James River. The event will be in partnership with the City of Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation as well as the James River Outdoor Coalition. Informal happy hour is following the service event around 5pm at Legend Brewing Company in Manchester.

Questions, e-mail Chris.Hull@ch2m.com

Councilwoman Robertson will be holding a public forum on Tuesday, September 15 from 10-noon to solicit input and support of a proposed new law (PDF) which seeks to offer tax incentives for development in specific areas.  [via]

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Members of the public are invited to stop by the Black History Museum on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 11:00 a.m., to help wash, tag, and document materials retrieved from the excavation of the Lumpkin’s Jail site in Shockoe Bottom. The event is a collaboration by the Black History Museum, the Richmond Slave Trail Commission, and the James River Institute for Archaeology (JRIA).

The artifact washing and lecture are free events, but interested persons are asked to RSVP to the Black History Museum at 804-780-9093 or via email at information.bhm@gmail.com. [via]

The RTD reports that the city is going to issue a request for revitalization proposals for Shockoe Bottom.

The project’s scope of work calls for a site plan, a market assessment of development issues, and opportunities and implementation strategies that would include “destination-anchor projects,” reuse and redevelopment of property, expansion of retail, “market-rate and mixed-income residences,” tourism, and public and private financing.

The city says they are interested in consultants with experience in revitalizing historic downtown areas.The project will be funded by $125,000 set aside by city council this spring. [via]

Silver Persinger has posted video from yesterday’s town hall meeting on Shockoe Bottom development over at the Richmond City Council Reporter and Telegraph.