You are invited to join various civic groups, private sponsors, and Mayor Dwight Jones to uncover the cobblestones on the 2700 block of East Cary Street, in front of the Power Plant at Lucky Strike. Join the Mayor for the kick off event Friday, November 20, 2009 3:30 pm to dark. Help finish the job Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

A message from the Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood Association states:

Our robust participation will help the Mayor and other city staff to understand our needs for sidewalk and cobblestone upgrades in the most high traffic and visible area of the bottom- Main Street and the Farmer’s Market.

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The offices of Mayor Dwight Jones have made something of a big deal about a mystery announcement set for Tuesday. Dominion CEO Tom Farrell and officials from the Sports Backers and Venture Richmond will host a news conference at 10AM on Tuesday, March 17th on the vehicle access bridge on Brown’s Island “to announce Richmond’s newest active lifestyle event”, whatever that means.

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Style Weekly drops a hot one, giving us a close look at the impact (or lack there of…) of Rev. Dwight C. Jones and the First Baptist Church on Hull Street:

“In fact,” he told the crowd, “I am the only candidate that is running that has contributed to the economic development in the city by developing apartments and commercial space in the Hull Street corridor.”

As the race has unfolded, Jones has often trumpeted his commitment to bringing back Hull Street. But a quick tour south of the Manchester Bridge — in the corridor that Jones claims to have helped revitalize — could make it difficult to reach a simple verdict on the state of renewal.

His most recent project — a five-year, $5 million development — has produced and rented out 68 low-income apartments, even as high-rent renovation projects crop up blocks away. The ground floor, intended for commercial use, remains empty.

The first-floor vacancy there and at a handful of other properties owned by First Baptist Church of South Richmond, where Jones is pastor, has long frustrated developers and city officials who say the boarded-up buildings make it more difficult to lure investment into the neighborhood.

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There is apparently some kind of election on Tuesday… Henry Marsh, the incumbent Democrat, is being challenged by the Independent candidate Robert Owens of Chester for his Senate of Virginia 16th District seat. Democrat Dwight C. Jones is running unopposed for the House Of Delegates 70th District seat.

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