Church Hill Association of RVA Newsletter - March 2017 Issue by Church Hill Association of RVA

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C ommunity NEWSLETTER Â· MARCH 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

Meetings and Guest Speaker Notices Act Two with David L. Robbins Intro to Richmond Cycling Corps Transportation Committee Updates

pg.02 pg.04 pg.06 pg.14

Pear St. Development pg.24

Athena soaking up the sun in between games of catch with her owner Alyssa ChurchHill.org |

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About the Church Hill Association

CHA Board of Directors President: John Sieg president@churchhill.org

M E E T I N G S & N OT I C E S

Secretary: Ali Schneider: secretary@churchhill.org

Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee Meeting

Assistant Secretary: Pam Masters asstsecretary@churchhill.org

First Tuesday of each month: 6:00 pm Location: Patrick Henry Pub

Treasurer: Trish Bernal: treasurer@churchhill.org

Generally held on the Tuesday before the Board meeting at the Patrick Henry Pub, 2300 E. Broad Street at 6:00 pm

Vice President: Genni Sasnett: vp@churchhill.org

Assistant Treasurer: Pam Lipscombe: assistanttreasurer@churchhill.org

Directors at Large Alli Alligood

Karen Jones

Christina Mastroianni

Colin Schlueter

Past President: Bill Dinkin Historic Preservation and Land Use Chair: Robert Gordon: rrgpc@mac.com

Volunteers Church Hill Newsletter: Layout Graphics: CAO Agency Isabelle, Ari, & Arthur Contact: (804) 405-0969 Content Editor/Ad Sales Coordinator: Celeste Deal: newsletter@churchhill.org P: 644-2862 Lead Newsletter Distribution: South: Tom & Eileen Sanders: 343-7157 North: Sandra Horton: 780-1641 Membership Coordinator: Amy Beem: 344-0001: membership@churchhill.org Church Hill Planters: Marion Macdonald: 644-1347

For more information on joining the CHA, please see our website at: www.churchhill. org, or fill out the application included in this publication.

CHA Mission The purpose of this organization shall be to promote a sense of unity and common endeavor among all the residents of the St. John’s Church, Church Hill North, and Chimborazo Old and Historic Districts, other residents of the East District, and other interested persons, in order to develop a stable, desirable urban neighborhood.

2 March 2017

UPCOMING MEETING: MARCH 7 UPCOMING MEETING: APRIL 4

CHA of RVA Board Meeting First Thursday of each month: 6:00 pm Location: Patrick Henry Pub Generally held on the first Thursday of every month at the Patrick Henry Pub, 2300 E. Broad Street at 6:00 pm UPCOMING MEETING: MARCH 2 UPCOMING MEETING: APRIL 6

Membership Meeting Location: St. John’s Parish Hall Generally held on the third Tuesday of every month in St. John’s Parish Hall, 2401 E. Broad Street, at 7:00 pm. UPCOMING MEETING: MARCH 21

With guest speaker, Marianne Pitts, Commission of Architectural Review

If any member wishes to attend any Zoning or Board meeting they are most welcome, but please check with John Sieg at president@churchhill.org for updated meeting times and dates.

Guest Speaker Membership Meeting, March 21 With special guest speaker, Marianne Pitts, Commission of Architectural Review Send images to: newsletter@churchhill.org

Letter from the President

ear Church Hillians,

This note to you was written in early February. You see, our publishing cycle requires articles to be completed by the middle of the month preceding the publication date. So, by mid-February, all of the articles in the March Newsletter must be written. More about this later in my note!

We had a very successful winter community picnic/fundraising event at the Robinson Theater on Februar 3rd. The food was great, the band was excellent and everyone seemed to enjoy meeting neighbors from across our community. As importantly, attendees contributed over $400 to support the Robinson Theater. The Robinson is a wonderful venue that fills so many needs within our community. Thanks to all who contributed to this worthy cause and a special thanks to Barbara Cotter and Pam Lipscombe for organizing this great event! The survey that I mentioned in our January newsletter is circulating and should be completed by the end of February. We’ll carefully study the survey results and decide what, if anything, needs to be adjusted among our work priorities for 2017. One thing that I’m expecting from the survey is a list of topics you would like to have covered during membership meetings and in our monthly newsletter. Your Church Hill Association Board, and your newsletter editor, are committed to reviewing topics that are relevant and timely for our community. For instance, our membership meetings include periodic presentations by developers, Department of Transportation, Commission of Architectural Review (CAR), renovation experts and our elected representatives so they can update us in regards to their plans, programs, skills and insights relevant to our lives in Church Hill. There is a way that you can help us better serve everyone! We need volunteers who are willing to interview experts and then write targeted articles of interest for our community. There is also an opportunity for volunteers to write in-depth newsletter articles that compliment membership meeting presentations. Please contact me at PRESIDENT@CHURCHHILL.ORG if you are willing to consider writing a newsletter article covering a topic of interest. We expect many topics of interest will surface from the community survey and we’ll need help from you, our community ‘reporters’, to meet those requests. We are also soliciting stories about area residents and local interest. I’d like to close by thanking our newsletter editor Celeste Deal and her team of editorial volunteers for their yeoman work publishing the Church Hill newsletter each month. My request for volunteer ‘reporters’ is to increase the flow of interesting and timely newsletter articles for publication. Best regards, John Sieg, President CHA 2017

ChurchHill.org |

By: Katharine Herndon Executive Director

James River Writers, 2319 E. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23223; Tel: 804.433.3790 www.jamesriverwriters.org

Act Two for a James River Writer

RVA’s performing arts scene thrives with the support of James River Writers playwrights like David L. Robbins. Please enjoy this interview with him. gold dust; every utterance has to be meaningful, and every location must be integrated, pivotal to the telling. The playwright really has no margin for error. It’s a magnificent schoolhouse for good prose.

Your first play, Scorched Earth, and now this current play, The End of War, were adapted from novels you have written. Your middle work, Sam & Carol, was an original script. What are the advantages and challenges of adapting the play from an existing work verses telling a new story in the play format? An adaptation is easier, because I already know the story. I get to focus only on the telling and not the creation. I think it makes for a better work that way, for all my bandwidth goes into the language.

How is your new play The End of War relevant to the conflicts happening in the world today?

What inspired you to pursue playwriting? It began as a challenge to myself, to work on reducing the scenes in my books to their most essential, their most dynamic components. Stage plays consist only of action and dialogue; if you can express your story through them, without the advantages of narrative language and interior monologues, then you’ve unlocked the essence of your characters and story. After my first play, Scorched Earth, was produced, I found I loved the collaborative process and the real, live, immediate result of a play! So I stuck with it, not just for the discipline to hone my prose, but for the experience and the work itself.

In America, we’ve come to a place where dissent is as pivotal to the future of our country as is the government itself. My play is about this identical topic: one character is asked what will happen to the Jew hidden in the basement if he is turned out? The response is: “I don’t know.” To which the answer for the character, the play, and for all of us, is: “That is the worst of all possible answers.” We must stay informed, watchful, forceful, and active if we are to safeguard our country and the high standards we’re prized for and have built over centuries, of being the world’s brightest beacon of freedom. The End of War, set in dangerous Berlin at the end of WWII, asks of its audience very recognizable and current questions. Will you stand up for what is right? Or will you delegate your watchfulness and activism to others? It’s hard, I know. But hard is not a reason to leave this work undone. “We are not heroes.” “No, but we are not monsters. And right now, that’s all there is. I’ve made my choice, now you make yours.”

To you, what are the differences in writing novels verses writing a play? The playwright has no luxuries. No fat. Every word, every scene, must drive the story forward. And when I say every word, I mean that literally. You weight your language like Based on his novel with the same title, Mr. Robbins’ play The End of War makes its world premiere debut in Richmond at the November Theatre’s Marjorie Arenstein Stage March 10-26, 2017. David L. Robbins is a New York Times bestselling novelist, educator, and co-founder of the Richmond nonprofits James River Writers and The Podium Foundation and founder of The Mighty Pen Project. Find him at authordavidlrobbins.com.

4 March 2017

GET READY FOR A HISTORIC RUN

THE HILL TOPPER 5K IS BACK IN 2017 Sample the sights and tastes of Church Hill on March 26th! A four year tradition, The Hill Topper 5K takes runners through the beautiful neighborhood and parks of Church Hill and ends right in the middle of the Church Hill Irish Festival. The race features sponsors from the Church Hill area and benefits The Robinson Theater, which brings arts-based programs to the North Church Hill area. Sign up to run or volunteer today!

Sign-up today online at thehilltopper5k.com.

ChurchHill.org |

An Introduction to Richmond Cycling Corps

The nation's only cycling team for youth in public housing has been training in your back yard for seven years now. Perhaps you have seen them, often seven to ten at a time, on flashy Kona mountain bikes and matching jerseys. Have you ever wondered where this gaggle of black youth in resplendent lycra hails from? Let's talk about that.

hey are the youth of Richmond Cycling Corps, a cycling based outreach program designed exclusively for young people living in the public housing neighborhoods of Richmond. The origins of this singular operation come from former semi-professional bicycle racer Craig Dodson, who was determined, following his retirement from competitive cycling, to connect with young people living in poverty. He set out to do so in 2011 with the sharpest tool at his disposal: the bicycle. Within a year, 14 year old Chris Mason had completed 100 miles in a single day’s ride, at the Philadelphia LiveStrong Challenge. Not many people can claim that feat at such an early age, far fewer having been born into multi-generational welfare. Here’s something that you’ll need to know moving forward: mountain bike racing is now a high school sport. Indeed, the very same domain as cross country, basketball, or baseball. Except that, being reliant on expensive equipment and at the same time logistically nightmarish (cleaning, maintaining, and transporting all 6 March 2017

of that equipment), the sport has found its firmest foothold in the well-funded halls of elite private schools and boarding schools. There are certainly public school students competing in the sport, and many of them opt to join regional composite teams. Armstrong High School, housed in an unlovely building north of Church Hill in Richmond’s Fairfield Court public housing, plays host, as of this writing, to the only public school cycling team in the state of Virginia. Yes, the very team operated by Richmond Cycling Corps. 15 youth, all from public housing, all represent Armstrong in statewide competition year round. The intervals they do in Libby Hill Park pay off; the team has won two state titles and it consistently ranked 3rd out of 15 teams in Virginia! Isn’t that wonderful? We certainly think so. But having said all that, let’s talk about what Richmond Cycling Corps really does. See, back when they first formed, the idea was to get youth connected to cycling. It seemed

like that would be an inherently excellent thing, would it not? And it’s true, objectively there is so much to the positive that could be said of such a program. Physical fitness, selfesteem, teamwork. Except, the youth of RCC live in public housing, in bleak and extremely challenging circumstances. How could a bicycle possibly combat the vast ills of being born to such a place in society? And so, the fact is that those youth from Armstrong, often seen sliding in a well practiced line through the ovular traffic circle at 25th and M, are not actually involved in a cycling program. Richmond Cycling Corps does not exist to merely place “at-risk” youth on bicycles. They are an outreach program. They exist to break youth free from systemic poverty – by any means necessary. They are tireless and fearless in this endeavor. The bicycle is only the hook, not the ultimate change agent. Mentoring, tough love, reshaping trauma influenced behavior, and highly tactical solutions for employment and education are where the real work occurs. Young people will not readily sign up for a program promising to address, and individually manage, their needs for escaping poverty. They

will, however, sign up to race mountain bikes all across the state of Virginia! And so, one can begin to see how the hybrid model pioneered by RCC has been so highly received. Recently, Craig Dodson and Richmond Cycling Corps were lauded nationally on the CNN Heroes program as one of the Top 10 heroes of 2016 – out of 10,000 initial applicants. In January of this year, following a successful capital campaign, they completed a move from Scott’s Addition to be closer to the youth they serve. You can find them in a newly renovated aqua-blue building at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue. You will soon see youth in the program training hard all through Church Hill for the spring race season. We hope you will be proud of them for what they do on the bike, but most of all for the power they are applying beyond each pedal stroke. Stay tuned here for regular updates about their trials and victories this year! BY MATT CRANE matt@richmondcyclingcorps.org (706)540-2340 Matt Crane is a former professional cyclist who spent a number of years on the U.S. National Cycling team before retiring from the sport. He now happily lives in Richmond, where he is the Director of Development for Richmond Cycling Corps.

ChurchHill.org |

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COME HELP WITH A COMMUNITY ROOTS PROJECT IN LIBBY HILL PARK We are pleased to announce that on March 18th, the Friends of Libby Hill Park and Church Hill Planters will be planting three trees in Libby Park and three trees on Franklin Street starting at 11am. The trees are being provided by the Community Roots Tree Giveaway from Richmond Tree Stewards as announced in the fall of 2016. Community Roots is made possible thanks to a grant from the Overton and Katherine Dennis Fund. Richmond Tree Stewards will be on hand to supervise and assist with the plantings. The trees and their planting locations have been approved by the Urban Forestry Division and Richmond City Parks. The Friends of Libby Hill Park are also planning to mulch the other park trees that day (see the announcement below for details). We need your help to dig the holes, mulch, and water these trees. Please bring your tools and muscles. Feel free to contact Richmond Tree Stewards Joel Cabot joel.cabot@yahoo.com or Trish Bernal trishbernal@gmail.com for further information. ChurchHill.org |

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay has Funding to Install Native Gardens Are you thinking about adding some new landscaping to your yard this fall? If so, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to have 80% of the cost paid for by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay! The Alliance is offering this assistance as part of its Reduce Your Stormwater program to help homeowners install Conservation Landscapes and Rain Gardens to reduce stormwater runoff, protecting local water quality thanks to funding generously provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Conservation Landscaping aims to reduce turf grass or impervious surface by replacing it with plants native to our region. These plants attract wildlife and typically require less watering, pesticides, and fertilizer than non-native species, which helps us save money and protect our streams and rivers. (Something we can all feel good about!) Rain Gardens also use native plants, but are strategically placed to collect and filter pollutant laden stormwater runoff. Groundwater is recharged while plants and soils absorb pollution. To apply for funding for these practices, go to the Alliance’s online “Reduce Your Stormwater” Yard Design Tool (http://www.stormwater. allianceforthebay.org/yard-design). This tool walks users through picking a location suitable for either a Rain Garden or Conservation Landscape by answering a questionnaire about the property. At the end the tool creates a personalized plan, including a planting template, suggested plants, materials needed and do-it-yourself instructions. Successful applicants are eligible to receive up to 80% cost-share for plants and planting materials (such as mulch and compost) listed in their personalized plans in order to install the gardens this fall. The Alliance has partnered with Watkins Nursery, in Midlothian, VA to supply

10 March 2017

Example of a Rain Garden planted at a school in Richmond the materials and plants for each project. The Alliance will pay 80% directly to Watkins and homeowners are responsible for the remaining 20% at the time of delivery or pick-up. Unsure of which type of landscaping project would work on your property? Or are you curious about additional stormwater options? Sign up for a RiverWise Stormwater Assessment! At no charge, a trained volunteer team will come out to your property and look for ways you can reduce stormwater runoff, increase native habitat, and have a positive impact on water quality. Once completed you will receive a personalized report that includes current site conditions and recommendations to reduce stormwater impacts, as well as possible funding opportunities. To sign up for an assessment visit: https://secure.jotform. us/form/40995551174158.

Comments or questions? Contact Liz Chudoba at 804-775-0951 ext. 103 or lchudoba@ allianceforthebay.org. Learn more about the Alliance at allianceforthebay. org. Learn more about Reduce Your Stormwater at stormwater.allianceforthebay.org.

Church Hill Association of RVA (CHA of RVA) Principles for Giving and Donation Administration CHA of RVA Donation Principles 1. Donations must benefit our community and be consistent with the mission of the CHA of RVA. 2. Donations will only be considered upon formal written request to the CHA of RVA’s Development and Community Outreach Committee submitted prior to March 31st of the year in which the funds are to be distributed. Immediate/emergent needs will be considered on a case by case basis. 3. Following a request, donations must be evaluated through a formal review process which shall consider: a. the requesting organization’s name and confirmation that they qualify under our charter; b. the anticipated Church Hill community benefit resulting from the proposed donation; c. the specific project, as described in the written request, funded by the proposed donation; d. the name of person who will administer the donated funds; and e. the time frame or dates the project funded by the CHA of RVA will begin and end. 4. Projects with a specific purpose, defined duration, and tangible community benefits are strongly preferred. 5. “General Benefit” donation requests without specific defined benefits are discouraged. 6. Donations will be affordable and dependent on CHA of RVA’s success in fund raising. We shall retain adequate funds to assure the ongoing financial viability of CHA of RVA. We shall follow the conditions outlined in our charter. Recipients’ Responsibilities Organizations receiving funds from CHA of RVA must provide a brief follow up report to the Board within 90 days of completion of project, no more than one year following the awarding of funds. This report must be received before any request for subsequent funds will be considered. Recipient submittal of their project reports will help the CHA of RVA Board improve our grant effectiveness along with helping us determine whether past recipients should be considered if/ when making future grant requests. Donation Administration Obligations ü The CHA of RVA membership shall approve an annual and, when appropriate, special cause donation budgets to be administered by the CHA of RVA Board. ü Specific donations shall be approved by the CHA of RVA Board, utilizing the 6 principles listed above. The Board is not obligated to donate all approved funds. ü Donations shall be consistent with the CHA of RVA’s 501(c)(3) obligations. ü The board shall communicate specific donation decisions to the CHA of RVA membership. When appropriate, the CHA of RVA shall communicate outcomes we support / fund to the broader Church Hill community. A grant request form is posted on the Church Hill Association’s website www.churchhill.org. If you have questions please contact Trish Bernal, Treasurer and Chair of the Development and Community Outreach Committee at treasurer@churchhill.org .

ChurchHill.org | 11

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ChurchHill.org | 13

Church Hill Association Transportation Committee Update There are five current city and state projects that will have impact on our Church Hill community in the coming future. Here are brief summaries of forthcoming transportation projects. The Bike Walk Project- Jakob Helmboldt, (Pedestrian, Bicycle and Trails Coordinator DPW, Transportation Engineering) reports that currently the City’s staff are working on the city/state agreement which will start the city council approval process this month (goes to subcommittee on Feb 21, then to council intro, then to council vote). That simply says the city can accept the federal funds for the project (a bike walk project to connect Libby Park to the area around the new proposed grocery near Nine Mile Road) and will likely be March or even April before final approval. Once that is approved the next step is to go through the process to request PE authorization (preliminary engineering) from VDOT which requires the NEPA environmental forms, historic review, etc. That is a process that usually takes a couple months. July is the start of the City’s fiscal year which will have the City’s 20% match for this project. So it will likely be summer before the start of the official design and public outreach process at which time one of the City’s on-call engineering firms will be working to conduct that engagement, develop conceptual plans, and then refine that into actual design plans over the course of summer/fall 2017. East Main Street Renovations- The Main Street/Dock Street project is supposed to be completed by October 2017 to coincide with commencement of the bus rapid transit line. This project includes the widening of Main Street between Rocketts Landing and the Williamsburg Ave. intersection to include bike lanes as well as parking. A circle will be developed just east of the railroad bridge overpass to accommodate traffic from Canal Street and the closing of Dock Street. These improvements will be complimented by new riverfront improvements just south of Main Street between Rocketts Landing and the former Dock Street. Williamsburg Road Improvements- As far as bike lane improvements to this road Jakob Helmboldt reports that Williamsburg Road would be a striping project only and is part of a package of other corridors around the city. Striping would likely take place in the summer. Lamont L. Benjamin, (PE Capital Projects Administrator) adds that the Williamsburg Avenue improvements are a part of the Rte 5 Relocation project. The proposed Rte 5 Relocation Project includes the relocation of Rte 5 along the CSX rail line and the reconfiguration of the Williamsburg Ave/Main Street intersection. The project has not started yet however the plan is to have a scope meeting within the next few months. Once the project begins the City will conduct a public information meeting to share the project details and receive input from the public. Mr. Benjamin will provide the project schedule to CHA once it is developed. Michael B. Sawyer (PE City Transportation Engineer) shared his thoughts on this topic. There are two bike infrastructure projects that received conceptual review and comments from over 150 participants at the citywide bike infrastructure meeting held on November 22, 2016 at the Main Library. There is a sense of excitement building that has not tapered since the championship races in 2015. 14 March 2017

The two east end corridors are Government Road and Williamsburg Avenue. These two corridors are currently under detailed design using the received public input as a guide. We anticipate another public meeting at the Main Library in March for approximately 20 miles of citywide bike infrastructure improvements. From that public information meeting, final design will be completed and final approvals sought with concurrence from key stakeholders to bid and construct the bike infrastructure improvements. I-95 Franklin Street Exit Ramp Improvements John Sieg (CHA President) and Tom Wilds (Transportation Committee Chair) met with David Steele (VDOT VA Government, PE Project Manager – Richmond Location & Design ) on Jan 27th to review the state’s plans for upgrading the I-95 south exit onto Franklin Street. The project seems to be very well designed and should improve safety for people using that exit. The advertising for the I-95 Franklin St. exit work will take place in 2018 and construction will be completed in 2019. The exit will be closed for much less than one month in order to safely widen the ramp. Decisions regarding how traffic will be redirected during that outage are still to be determined. This project will include widening this exit ramp to three lanes. The left lane will turn left at Bank/Franklin St. to enter the parking lot below the newly renovated train station. The right exit lane can turn right on Bank St. (Bank St. will also have bike lanes). The traffic lights at Franklin/Bank Sts. and Main Streets will be engineered to accelerate traffic through these intersections as the exit ramp fills with vehicles leaving south bound I-95. 1-95 and I-64 Overlap Study- At the same meeting with David Steele, he presented an overview of a study to refine the highways of I-64 and I-95 where they overlap through Richmond. Of focus was the refinement of the entrance north bound to I-95 and eastbound to I-64from Broad St. The present thinking is to create a circle at E. Broad at the McDonald’s/ 18th Street to accommodate traffic heading north that would lead to N bound I-95 and east bound 64. Another circle is proposed at the end of an E. Broad exit ramp south bound. That circle would accommodate traffic from this exit ramp to continue south on to 14th Street heading to E. Main St. Now this south bound Broad St. exit ramp is right turn only onto Broad St. going west. There is also proposed a walk way above this exit ramp to accommodate pedestrians going east and west on Broad St. to avoid the present dangerous crossing in between traffic merging onto or exiting I-95. None of these options have been officially approved or funded and they would most probably not occur within the next six years and would be open for comment before such occurred. The overall outcomes would included that residents of Church Hill would continue to have convenient access to /from I-95 northbound and southbound and traffic through Church Hill would not increase but safety would. The City will present the current thinking for both the Franklin St. Exit and the I-95/64 Overlap at the February CHA membership meeting. Tom Wilds, Transportation Committee ChurchHill.org | 15

Newsletter Content & Advertising The Editor would like to offer a reminder that your neighborhood newsletter is in need of monthly content, including: • Informative, educational, historical articles with a focus on Church Hill; • Photographs to go with articles and/or pictures that represent the neighborhood (will be printed in black & white, 300dpi, JPEG or TIF file, must be credited, and remain the property of the person submitting); • Environmental or safety information that pertains to the neighborhood; • Letters to the Editor (as space allows, 250 words); • And more!!

Ad submissions must be received before the 15th of each month for the upcoming issue.

Send Materials Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Send ad files to: newsletter@churchhill.org

Ad Size, Pricing & Specifications Half-page: $60 at 7.5” x 4.75” Quarter-page: $45 at 3.5” x 4.75” Full-page: $115 at 7.5” x 10” Back cover: $125 at 7.5” x 10” Black and white art only File formats: 300 dpi, PDF, TIF or JPEG

Editorial Policy

Files must be sized correctly

Submissions for inclusion to the Church Hill Association’s newsletter are welcomed. Editorial Policy does not allow for personal attacks or inappropriate tone, profanity, or anonymous submissions. Submissions may be edited for space and editorials should not exceed 250 words. CHA will not print editorial letters that are abusive or non-truthful. It is only as a courtesy that we may occasionally print letters from non-members when they add value to the conversation. Final approval of all submissions rests with the Board of Directors. The Church Hill Newsletter is distributed by volunteers throughout the Church Hill neighborhood (North and South of Broad Street). We also distribute to several area merchants. A total of 1200 issues are distributed monthly.

Borders must fall within the size of ad space

Due Dates Copy must be submitted by the 14th of each month to newsletter@churchhill.org.

What’s Next?

16 March 2017

MSWord, .DOC or .DOCX files will not be accepted

Payment 10% discounts for orders of 3 months or more. Payments for ad space should be received no later than the 15th of each month for the upcoming issue. No ads will run if payment has not been received. Payment by check only to: CHA Newsletter P.O. Box 8031 Richmond, VA 23223

Contact If you are interested in advertising in the Church Hill Newsletter, please check the website for ad specifications at ChurchHill.org, or email questions to newsletter@churchhill.org.

What corner of Church Hill’s history would you like to explore? Send suggestions for the next historic article to: newsletter@churchhill.org

Local Referrals This listing of recommended local artisans is contributed by Church Hill Association members and other residents of Church Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. The recommendations listed below are not endorsed by the Church Hill Association, and it is in no way responsible for the quality of the work performed.

Trade Referrals: Appliance repair - in home Appliance repair - in home Arborist Architect Architect Car servicing + tires Carpentry and Renovations Carpentry, Cabinet Maker Carpentry, custom design Carpentry,framing, trim Carpet cleaning (in-house) Computer Doctor Contractor Contractor Contractor/Carpentry Contractor/Carpentry Dry Cleaners, 2007 Venable St Electrician Electrician Fencing - new and repair Garden / Yard Care Hardwood floor refinisher Historic Tax Credit Applications Historic Tax Credit Auditor Historic Tax Credit Lawyer Historic Tax Credit Purchaser Home Improvement Home renovation Home renovation Home Repairs Home repairs +carpentry Home-made baked goods Horticulturist / garden designer House Cleaning House Cleaning House Cleaning HVAC Systems HVAC Systems Ironwork - new Ironwork- Repair Irrigation System Jeweler Kitchen / Bath contractor Landscaping & hardscaping Locksmith Mantel’s Mason Mason Mason Painter Painter Painter - Interior only Photographer- Real Estate

Company/Contact

Appliance Services Unlimited C.K.Appliance Repair True Timber Tree Service Dana Moore Mary Lorino Lotsey & Hardy Tire Co Rob Pate Opposable Thumbs SteppOne LLC Lindstrom Contracting Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning Bryan Brodie BTR Enterprises RBVa Jon Lillyman & Co NAAB Contracting, LLC C Alexander’s J.G. Taylor Corp. Electrical Installation & Repairs Fencemeln Howard Allen Quality Wood Floors Better Housing Coalition Howard Gills Spotts Fain PC Carlyle Associates Lewis Green William Harris Edward Britten Thomas Rawlings Jim. E Green Sweet Temptations by Teresa Garden Keepers Ltd Adriana Bentes Sue Canales Gina’s Cleaning Service Gundlach Plumbing & Heating Dominion Heating & Air Cond. Custom Ornamental Iron Kirk.L.Powers Ornamental Iron Richmond Irrigation Dransfield Jewelers Custom Kitchens, Inc Land Designs Mike Armstrong:Ex-Charlie’s Mantels by Meunier Winn Masonry Sun Coast Construction McCauley and Son Masonry Precise Touch Mulberry Painting Cindy Porter Peak Photo Co. Photographer-Family, Portrait & Wedding kamgoodrichphotography.com Affordable Window Treatments Plantation Shutters, Blinds etc Jay Gresch Plasterer Frank Geddings Plasterer Peter Headley Plasterer Carroll Plumbing & Heating, Inc Plumber Advanced Plumbing Plumber Ronnie Grey Plumber Thomas Aquatics Pool & Aquarium Services Commonwealth Capital Property Management Jordon Waldrop Upholstery Re-upholstery, Furniture Phyllis and Dan Sisson Re-upholstery, Furniture Roofworks Roofer City Tin & Copper Roofer ANP Plumbing (+ does roofing) Roofer Curtis Jones Roofer Frank Nott Rug, carpet cleaning Mariette Norbom Seamstress

Individual to call

Work Done

Recommended by:

Chad Ricks, 651-7391 Chris Keithly, 288-1199 Peter, 218-8733 Dana, 232-6504 Mary, 840-9415

Refrigerator repaired Repair: Asko washer & GE fridge Tree removal and pruning Residential renovation Renovation, extension+CAR application Full service + 4 new tires New bathrooms + porch repairs New gate & fence repair Custom Porch + others Porch repair,installed beam & b’board In-house carpet cleaning Repaired software, rebuilt system New Back Porch and Fence Front Porch - repair Historic Renovation, Porch repair New House Const. - 601 N.22nd Dry cleaning, repairs & alterations Upgraded elec.panel, rewired kitchen Repaired exterior lights Installed fence in rear of yard Garden clean up Ground floor floors State & Federal tax credit application Certification of tax credits State & Fed. tax credit documentation Purchaser State Tax Credits Bathroom renovation Sheetrock / Roofing Framing, Drywall, finishing Roof, soffit & gutter repairs Painting & drywall repair “Thank you” gift baskets for staff Spraying shrubs for parasites Complete house clean Complete house clean Complete “green” house cleaning Heat Pump replacement New Heat Pump Side gate and hand rails Repaired cast iron gate Installation of Irrigation system Original Designs Matched+custom, quartz counters etc Landscaping and brick patio Relocked 6 doors Custom Wood fireplace Repointed side of house Repointing, building, repair Repointing & restor.-Turner House Power wash & painted porch + repairs Interior and exterior Removed paper, complete color change Real estate Photagraphy Drone shots from Libby Park Custom fitted plantation shutters Repair of original plaster Plaster repair/throughout home Repair replaced Drywall & Plaster Under house plumbing + kitchen work Replaced sewer & water lines Installed bathroom Garden pool cleaning Rental property management Re-upholstered 17 yr old chair & ottoman Re-upholstered 3 arm chairs Metal roof repair New copper roof, built-in gutters Patched & re-shingled roof Copper & TPO roofs + downspouts Oriental rug - hand cleaned window treatments, some alterations

Marilyn Stroh, 648-2109 Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039 John Whitworth, 644-6559 + others John Huddle, 788-4480 John Whitworth, 644-6559 Bryan Brodie, 591 0947 + 13 others Bill & Lee Ann Pickering, 643-1025 Kurt Stein, 649-1766 + others Elizabeth King, 307-8395 + others John Sieg, 410-507-2145 Geneva Smith, 780-0863 Laura Daab, 221-0492 Michael McPeak, 757 358-5566 Aimee, 647-3140, M Olgas,780-1246 Waite Rawls, 501-8436, Chuck & Mary Field, 269-0478 Mary Field, 269-0478 + others Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039 John Meunier, 690-1977 John Sieg, 410-507-2145 Charlotte Kerr, 648-7035 Diane Worthington, 447-3298 David Herring, 644-0546, ext. 110 John Whitworth, 644-6559 John Whitworth, 644-6559 David Herring (BHC), 644-0546, ext.37 Kirsten Taranto, 648-3939 Anica Mcray, 929-9245 Deanna Lewis, 467-9333 Brenda Giannini, 643-1011 Sandra & Larry Horton 780-1641 Marcee Adams, 740-6036 Malou Rawls, 649-9601 Cathy Hayden, 775-0125 B. Huff, 783-7777 K. Taranto 648-3939 Eugenia Anderson Ellis, 643-3915 ( +3) K & M Olgas, 780-1246 Michael McPeak, 757 358-5566 Paul Candido, 562-9649 John Sieg, 410-507-2145 Aimee Perron Seibert, 647-3140 Bill & Lee Ann Pickering, 643-1025 Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039 John Sieg, 410-507-2145 John Whitworth, 644-6559 Cathy Hayden.775-0125, Trish B. 643-2420 John Whitworth, 644-6559 John Huddle, 788-4480 Deanna Lewis, 467-9333 Karen Jones 757-646-1151 + others Pohlig Box Factory - Holly, 377-9194 Trish Bernal, 643-2420 Darrin Higgins 517-930-1883 John Whitworth, 644-6559 Eric Huffstutler, 780-3804 John Whitworth, 644-6559 John Sieg, 410-507-2145 John Huddle, 788-4480 Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039 Daniel Spivey, 349-7708 John Meunier, 690-1977 Susan Wynne, 782-8650 + others Keith West, 399-0925 Laura Daab, 221-0492 Eric Huffstutler, 780-3804 Trish Bernal, 643-2420 John Whitworth, 644-6559 Alex Nguyen, 366-6245 John Huddle, 788-4480 Diane Worthington, 447-3298 Benedicte Whitworth, 644-6559

Sherman Burwell, 222-4404

Rob, 350-0969 Chris Chase, 502-2937 Eric Stepp, 370-1794 Erik Lindstrom, 543-4311 Will, 452-1112 Bryan, 591-0947 Derek, 513-8813 David Cooley, 649-2162 Jon, 301-6344 Bill Naab, 387-0812 Marian, 658-4466 Gary Taylor, 750-2562 Troy Tipton, 691-5721 Kent Poulos 502-6678 Mack (a friend), 397-7315 Ivor Davis, 458-7434 Bryan Townes 644-0546 Howard, 329-2818 Deb. Fourness, 697-2041 Marc Hirth, 377-0117 Lewis, 514-7482 William, 252-9650 Edward, 255-8492 Thomas, 878-3217 Jim, 908-2479 Teresa, 222-3365 Patrick Taylor, 335-4005 Adriana, 651-5038 Sue, 971-7560 Regina, 971-6071 Joey, 288-1951 Justin, 266-8577 Mike, 798- 1991 Kirk, 216-6162 Gilbert Turner, 271-8030 Don, 643-0171 Kyle Hendrick, 288-7247 John Land, 244-6226 Mike, 355-3406 John Meunier, 690-1977 Ben Winn, 704-3540 Russ, 536-5511 Leslie McCauley,914-3809 Tom Mcgranahan,283-1315 Chad Harris, 269-1633 Cindy, 359-0266 Katie, 592-6601 Kam, 564-6124 Steve, 757-879-7988 Jay, 966-1960 Frank, 836-5124 Peter, 874-4441 Office, 358-6322 Justin White, 358-1616 Ronnie, 221-2909 David Thomas, 355-0455 Sandra Brent, 648-4420 Jordon, 682-557-9995 Phyllis, 389-0420 Don Early, 370-7386 Ed Unser, 366 - 5844 Andrew Pauley, 212-9668 Curtis, 674-9539 Frank, 457-2636 Mariette, 262-0601

ChurchHill.org | 17

Local Referrals Trade Referrals:

Company/Contact

Individual to call

Work Done

Recommended by:

Shower enclosure Tile Work Wallpaper hanging Window Cleaner Windows - Historic restoration Windows, Storm: for historic homes Windows, Storm: for historic homes Yard care

Glass Services Todd Kohlbeck LLC Sam Palmer Stainless Window Washing Karnage Creations LLC Old House Authority Windows Dominion Window Co. Yard Care Plus

Jack, 564-2322 Todd, 439-0948 Sam, 262-7772 Don Joiner, 502-2184 Mo Karnage, 300–0023 Dixon Kerr, 648-1616 Thomas Moon, 328-0500 Jeff Lloyd, 517-7269

Custom glass shower Tiled two Baths Stripping, sizing and rehanging All windows, including fitted storm Refurbished 11 very old windows Front windows Installed Velv-A-Lume ( CAR approved) Full service care, flower beds, pruning

John Whitworth, 644-6559 John Baltzegar, 644-1346 Mary Corley, 569-8198 Richard Taranto, 648-3939 Elaine Odell, elaineodell@gmail.com Aimee Perron Seibert, 647-3140 Laska Keller,703-509-1488+Kevin M.505-0106 Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039

New Referrals: It is very important that you feel comfortable imputing your referral to the community, and are willing to answer specific requests for more details from your fellow constituents. If you use a referral and are not happy with the work or service please contact the person who recommended the particular company and express your concerns privately. If you wish to report sub-standard work or behavior - please don’t hesitate to contact Amy Beem (membership@churchhill.org). If two adverse reports are received within 12 months we reserve the right to remove the referral.

Local Referrals are Now Online

The listing of recommended local contractors and artisans has moved to the Church Hill Association’s website http://www.churchhill.org/living/ historic-home-resources/. The listing consists of recommendations by Church Hill Association members and other residents of Church Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. These recommendations are not endorsed by the Church Hill Association of RVA and it is in no way responsible for the quality of the work performed. If you have additional recommendations please feel free to contact Amy Beem at membership@churchhill.org.

18 March 2017

2401 E. Broad St. Richmond, Va. 23223 www.saintjohnsrichmond.org (804) 649-7938

Come, Li� Your Spirit! Sundays at St. John ‘s Church 8:30 a.m. Holy Communion (no music) 9:40 a.m. St. John’s Forum, Parish House Parlor 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion Children’s Chapel, Keeper’s Cottage 12:00 p.m. Coffee Hour, Parish Hall

Nursery available 8:15– 12:15

Lenten Supper Series Look Again; See Diﬀerently

We are a caring, spiritual community joyfully embracing and nurturing all, serving God, each other, and the community.

St. John’s Church Foundation ‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death’ 242nd Anniversary Reenactment Thursday, March 23  5:15 p.m. Advanced Ticket holders are seated  5:30 p.m. Doors open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis  6:00 p.m. Patriotic music begins  6:15 p.m. Reenactment begins (no admittance after program begins or when church is at capacity)

Based upon the teachings of Dr. Beth-Sara Wright, we will consider the lens through which we see one another. We will use as our anchor the words of our Baptismal Covenant as Episcopalians. We will strive to see the human dignity in ourselves as well as in our neighbor. Dr. Wright asks, “Do we respect one another? Wednesdays during Lent, beginning March 8 in the Parish Hall 6:00 p.m. Light Meal 6:30 p.m. Presentation & Discussion led by the Rev. Dr. Dorothy White

“I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” —Patrick Henry

Reserved seats will be held until 6:00 p.m. when they will be forfeited to the General Public

You may purchase advanced tickets for $5 to avoid the line at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2727862

ChurchHill.org | 19

Libby Hill Park Mulching Day, March 18 Shake off the winter old doldrums and celebrate the coming of Spring! Spread mulch on Saturday, March 18 from 9 AM-12 PM. Help plant a tree -there are sixgifts if the Community Roots project of Tree Stewards.* Friends of Libby Hill Park and Church Hill Planters will provide coffee, homemade

soup and other delights. Come for an hour or all morning. Then take a break for refreshments. Bring your rakes and pitchforks and mark them - we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to lose them. And, if you have a wheelbarrow or cart, please bring it. Rain or snow date will be March 25.

*Community Roots is made possible through the generosity of the Overton and Katherine Dennis Fund. 20 March 2017

ChurchHill.org | 21

AARealtor Neighborhood Realtor in in Your your Neighborhood When Amy Tesauro isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t helping Richmonders buy and sell their homes, you might find her sitting on her porch on the Hill, or at Chimborazo park with her kids, or at Dutch & Co enjoying the Perfect Egg. We know Church Hill because we live Church Hill. Let us put our unique experience to work for you.

Amy Tesauro Associate Broker 804.467.1881

Catherine Gilmer REALTORÂŽ 804.338.5397

Erin King

Director of Operations

804.292.0852

linchpinrealestate.com linchpin@linchpinrealestate.com 804.292.0852

On March 25th and 26th

the 32nd Annual Irish Festival will once again return to Richmond. Many are familiar with the lively sounds of bagpipes, Celtic vendors, live bands, Irish dancing, festive beverages and “wee ones” area that envelope the streets of Church Hill each year. The spirit of the festival originally started in the 1980’s to assist St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. St. Patrick’s Church, built in 1859, serves the thriving Irish community of Richmond’s Church Hill, Rockett’s, Fulton, and Varina areas. The Church was connected to the Daughters of Charity, a religious order that educated the children of this area until just a few short years ago when St. Patrick’s school closed. For many years, St. Patrick’s hosted weekly meals programs to feed those in need. The Irish Festival helped to assist the Church in continuing this mission. Throughout the years, the festival also helped to restore the historic church to its’ original beauty. In 2006, the festival received a 501c3 designation thus continuing to allow good work beyond the Parrish. The Irish Festival has donated over $600,000 to groups in our community which included charitable, educational outreach, and religious programs. Held at North 25th and East Broad Streets March 25th and 26th , come out and enjoy great food, your favorite Irish beverage and thanks again for helping us help our community!

-JUST LOOK AT SOME OF THE GROUPS WE HAVE HELPEDConnors Heroes Stone Circle of Friends Prevent Blindness Child Savers St. John’s Episcopal Church Cullather Quality of Life Center Church Hill Crime Watch Church Hill Association Reed Square Conrad House

CASA SCAN St. Gertrudes School Richmond Hill Benedictine College Preparatory School Alzheimers Association LINC St. Bridgets School Haiti Outreach

Freedom House Sandston USO Sunshine house St. Josephs School All Saints School St. Johns Catholic Church Holy Rosary Church McMahon Parater Educational Fund

ChurchHill.org | 23

Land Use and Historic Preservation Committee Feb 2017 Newsletter Report From Robert Rae Gordon Chairman, CHA Land Use and Historic Preservation Committee 2017 has brought a lot of development activity into our neighborhood. I’d like to outline some of the work that CHA has been doing on two of these projects of pressing concern in Church Hill. 2801 Main/Pear Street Apartment Bldg Proposal 2803 Main/Pear Street Parcel For several years now the owners of two parcels on East Main Street at the foot of Libby Hill have been working with CHA on a proposal to build one and possibly two apartment buildings. The two parcels lie on either side of the existing Ship Lock Watch apartment building. I’ve attached a copy of the tax map with the three parcels identified. Although each parcel is owned by a different company, these companies are all affiliated with the same developer. As far back as the summer of 2015 the Pear and Peach Street developer met with CHA’s board and land use committee on several occasions to discuss his proposals. During these meetings, CHA objected to the scope of the project and the obstruction of Libby Hill’s historic view of the James River. Ultimately the 2015 project was tabled for any number of unknown reasons, including, one assumes, CHA’s objection. Pear and Peach Street resurfaced in 2016 when the developer proposed a “height and density” swap, by which he would agree to put no development, other than a parking lot, on the Peach Street parcel, in exchange for CHA supporting his proposal to increase the height and density of the apartment building on the other parcel. Again CHA objected; but we told the developer that CHA would support a 5 story apartment building on the Pear Street parcel and a 2-3 story building on the Peach Street parcel. Both of these buildings are allowed “by right” under the City’s zoning ordinance applicable to these sites. Again the project was tabled; though not necessarily solely because CHA objected to the “height and density” swap. In January 2017 the developer refiled his zoning application for a much reduced apartment building on Pear Street parcel. I know many of you may have seen the recent Richmond Times Dispatch article about the application and a comment made by one of the Planning Commissioners to the effect that CHA had not been heard from on the topic. While this may be true insofar as the Planning Commission is concerned on that specific application, it is decidedly not true insofar as 24 March 2017

the developer is concerned In January when the developer refiled his rezoning application for the reduced Pear Street project (a 5 story apartment building – instead of the 7-9 story building he proposed back in 2016), he did not ask for CHA’s support. However, the proposal was consistent with what CHA said it would support back in 2016. After the RTD article appeared about the Planning Commission’s approval of the project, CHA contacted the developer and Dr. Cynthia Newbille, our City Council representative. With her intervention, the developer agreed to postpone his previously scheduled February 13 final approval hearing, until after he could appear at the February 21st, regular CHA membership committee to discuss the project. I think we all owe Councilwoman Newbille our gratitude for recognizing our concerns and acting so promptly to give us an opportunity to look at the project and be heard. As for the Peach Street parcel, about the same time the developer filed his rezoning application for the apartment building, he approached CHA with an offer to discuss imposing a scenic view easement on the Peach Street parcel. That easement, if obtained, should eliminate the possibility of any building being constructed on that site, thereby preserving the historic view from Libby Hill. This was one of CHA’s prime concerns. While we don’t know at this writing if the developer still plans to construct a parking lot on the Peach Street parcel, he is appearing at the February 21st membership meeting to discuss both the apartment building proposed for Pear Street and the easement for Peach Street. As of this writing, the Pear Street Apartment Project is to be rescheduled for City Council’s February 27th meeting. No doubt, more to come on this important project. Last thought – If you are concerned about a real estate development in Church Hill or any of its adjacent neighborhoods, feel free to drop me a note at: rgordon.cha.landuse@gmail.com. I can’t guarantee you an immediate response, but I can guarantee you that I check the email frequently. Thanks.

ChurchHill.org | 25

26 March 2017

PLEASE JOIN AND BE A 2017 MEMBER OF THE CHURCH HILL ASSOCIATION! CHA of RVA Members receive one-time discounts at local businesses plus 5% all year at Alexander’s Cleaners:

Restaurants & Other Eateries 23rd & Main Taproom 15% 2302 E Main St – (804)788.7077 Alamo Barbecue 10% 2202 Jefferson Ave – (804)592.3138 Dutch & Company 15% (excluding alcohol and prix fixe menu) 400 N 27th St – (804)643.8824 Liberty Public House 15% 418A North 25th St – (804)225.8275 Millie’s Diner 15% 2603 E Main St – (804)643.5512 Nota Bene restaurant and lounge 15% 2110 E Main St – (804)477.3355 Patrick Henry’s Pub & Grille 15% 2300 E Broad St – (804)644.4242

Poe’s Pub 15% 2706 E Main St – (804)648.2120 Proper Pie 10% 2505 E Broad St – (804)343.7437 Stroops Heroic Dogs (free Stroopwafel with purchased hot dog) 2709 E Marshall St – (804)644.3647 Sub Rosa Bakery 10% 620 N 25th St – (804)788.7672 The Hill Café 15% 2800 E Broad St – (804)648.0360 Union Market 15% (prepared food/meals, excludes groceries) 2306 Jefferson Ave – (804)716.7233 WPA Bakery 10% 2707 E Marshall St – (804)716.9797

Other Businesses Blackbird Salon $5 off service/treatment 402 N 25th St – (804)344.7072 C. Alexander’s Cleaners 5% off ALL Cleaning orders 2007 Venable St – (804)592.3138 Eric Schindler Gallery 10% off one art work 2305 E Broad St – (804)644.5005 Mowhawks 15% off landscaping (garden, tree service, grass) 2312 M St – 1(855)mowhawks/1.855.669.4295

Pets at Play 5% 319 N 25th St – (804)286.4665 Richmond Balance 20% off first month 1806 E Main St – (804)225.7130 Seven Hills Studio 20% discount to new clients 501 N 25th – (804)344.0620

Get your membership card and start enjoying! Sign up through the website, email, or in person at CHA meetings: 1. For the website, go to: http://www.churchhill.org/cha/join/ 2. Mail the form below to PO Box 8031 Richmond, VA 23223 or 3. Bring the form to the next membership meeting or CHA event. NOTE: CHA of RVA is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your membership is tax deductible to the full extent of the law as no goods or services are received in exchange for your contribution.

Church Hill Association (CHA) Membership Form Membership is valid one year from date of joining.

New Member

Date:

Renewing Member

Membership is Individual, not by household. Email is used only for communicating information to members.

Member Name #1

Email:

Member Name #2

Email:

Address, street, city, zip: Member #1 Phone: Cash:

Member #2 Phone:

Check:

(Make check payable to the CHA)

$30 per person x For office use: Membership card

Members = $ Bag