Shockoe Proposal - Richmond, VA

A citizen-led, crowdsourced attempt to develop …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.

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The Plan

We can use the space below to start listing ideas for each of the major areas of focus.

Anchor Project Ideas

What's the main attraction(s)?

Trails, Hiking, Biking

Capitalize on its being the western end of the Virginia Capital Trail.
- Link Virginia Capital Trail through the bottom and downtown with new trail proposed to run along riverfront from Downtown to Huguenot Bridge and beyond, roughly along the CSX tracks and the historic James River & Kanawha Canal. This proposed bike-ped trail is already shown on the Metropolitan Planning Organization master plan as the "James River and Kanawha Canal Trail", and will provide enhanced recreation and enable bicycle commuting to downtown from the west end. Ultimately, this trail could go west along the river into the valley, following the old canal which went as far as Buchannan, Virginia.
- In order to link these two trails, this requires razing the Reynolds Building, or at least parts of it, in order to link the Canal Walk and the canal to the Great Shiplock Park with the canal/waterway between downtown and Brown's Island. This will provide bike and pedestrian access from the Virginia Capital Trail to the proposed James River & Kanawha Canal bike-ped trail. The availability of commercial services in Shockoe Bottom (OK, food and drinks) along this critical link will attract visitors to the area (Canal Walk and beyond).
A hike and bike trail following the rail lines connecting Main Street Station with North Belvidere. The trail will bring back to life Shockoe Valley and provide a greenbelt surrounding downtown (assuming the other trail is along the James River).
Bike lanes ON EVERY STREET with lots of bike racks. And, as a bonus, a citywide shared bike system.

Farmers Market

Close in the 17th Street Farmers Market--It needs a butcher and a bakery and seafood.
An expanded farmer's market would be great- think Seattle's Fish Market. It could become a huge destination for not just locals but tourists as well.
A soaring covered space, modernist and striking against the gritty urban setting. For concerts, dog shows, events, films and fashion events. Think Charlottesville.

Driving

Fix. The. Roads. Want to be treated like a big-boy city? Driving in Shockoe needs to be less of a tooth-jarring experience. Cobblestone is fine for pedestrian areas, but nobody wants to drive on them.

Parking

Provide more and available parking to visitors by constructing parking decks. These decks can be provided as part of redevelopment projects in vacant areas, as well as behind existing buildings, as was done in Carytown.

Policy

Zoning ordinances protecting property values of those living on Church Hill from upward construction that obstructs views. The best way to move forward is to streamline the legal hurdles.
Toss out Echo Harbor and preserve/conserve the River area.
Encourage local, independently-owned businesses. Surely there is a way to protect these types of businesses so we don't end up with a bunch of Applebee's in Shockoe Bottom.

Other Attractions

Ikea. Students. Near the interstate. Cheap breakfast. Delicious meatballs. Who doesn't want meatballs.
Museum dedicated to the great achievements of Charlie Diradour
Keep the architecture of the Reynolds building intact and focus on excellent renovation.
Seattle has the Space Needle. Paris has the Eiffel Tower. NYC has the Empire State Building (along with a lot of other things). So of course Richmond needs something big and tall and visible from space as well. The giant ferris wheel idea sounds pretty sweet.
Perhaps an outdoor music pavilion or an outdoor ice-skating rink. How about INDOOR skating too (roller) AND a facility for skate boards--ramps and bowls.
Put a bowling alley in there somewhere! Take a look at Lucky Strike Lanes. High-class bowling, plus with a name like Lucky Strike, there's a direct tie to Richmond. BRILLIANT!!! I love that.
I want a ferris wheel--like in London. Seriously.
As a resident of downtown, I am DESPERATE for some RETAIL. Just the basics--underwear, jeans, etc. It's pretty depressing having to drive back to the 'burbs for stuff like this. [THIS. Really. I lived in Shockoe for a year and a half, and hated having to drive to Mechanicsville for just about everything. Wound up giving in and moving to the West End.]

This isn't about the 'bottom', but I think they should open up the canal to canoes, kayaks and maybe some paddle boats several times a year. Maybe on July 4 or other holidays. There could be races and maybe contests for the best dressed raft/float. That would definitely increase the number of people hanging around there. Canoes and Kayaks all the time - why not? Add some rapids to "simulate the James" and give a kayakers a place to perform.

Tourism Ideas

How can we attract more visitors to Shockoe Bottom?

Enhance the Arts

The First Freedom Center ([1]) owns the parking lot over what used to be the warehouse where the Virginia General Assembly passed the VA Stature for Religious Freedom, what some claim to be the template for the first Amendment. Let's do something with that space - perhaps move the Richmond Visitor's Center there and devote an area to explaining the history of the spot and its significance to the country.
Public art! Invite 1708 Gallery to put next year's InLight Richmond in the Bottom. It is sophisticated, magical and beautiful. It also attracts families and hipsters. Families in the bottom - what a concept.
Bring the successful "Vacant Spaces, Artful Places" program down the hill to the Bottom.
With an already thriving community of artists bringing a monthly draw to Broad Street for First Fridays, why not create an Arts are in the Bottom? Community murals could be a major tourist attraction, as it is in Philadelphia. [2] The city of Richmond has more than 100 buildings owned (but left vacant) by a handful of landlords. Contact them to determine the less attractive buildings and see if they'd be interested in having their buildings' facade painted into something attractive.
Three words: Giant LEGO mosaics. [3]
Tours of Shockoe Bottom and Manchester-area art studios, starting in Shockoe.
Encourage building owners to convert unused business-zoned space into artist loft studios. Foot traffic occurs when there are things for people to walk around and SEE.

Promotion

If we're having a large celebration, like the folk festival, we need more advertising in Hampton Roads. I used to be in the Navy, and those guys are always itching for an excuse to get away from the 757 for the weekend. A festival could serve as that excuse, especially if there's beer and wine tasting available. Focus on Z104 and 96X.
It's really about the branding and marketing of the area. Create a logo for the Bottom, have a website, etc. (if these things don't already exist- I'm new here so I'm not sure). But even more important is to get the word out and those images out as much as possible so that it's always top of mind.
Richmond artists would love the opportunity to share their work and help beautify the city. When it's time to promote, give Richmond artists a crack at drawing the crowds by giving them a spotlight. Many would trade publicity for their help in beautifying the city.

Lighten/Brighten

We should also string lights across the streets like in Short Pump Towne Center, so visitors know where the party's at. The lights (CFLs of course) would be limited to a specific area:
- 18th from Have a Nice Day Cafe to Tiki Bob's
- Main Street from the "Welcome to Shockoe Bottom" sign to 18th street
- Down both sides of the 17th Street Farmers Market, attached only to the highest points
- Down Walnut Alley, if Alley Katz is into it
Love the light idea- anything to make the area look like a Defined Area of Fun. Outdoor music (live when whether permits or recorded) help to make the area festive.
Lights are good, but make it classy. It doesn't have to look ye olde, but creative, inspired brilliance.

Getting Around

Increase efforts to provide effective public transportation -- especially during events -- to Shockoe from areas that aren't plagued with insufficient parking space. Advertise the heck out of it.
I think we need better tourism maps because those cartoon maps kinda suck.
Ban motorized vehicles on weekends and holidays (exceptions: public transit, emergency vehicles, motorized wheelchairs, segways, etc) and ramp up shuttles, bike-sharing, and walking. This would require that all those permit-only parking decks become open to the public. But surely I'm not the only one frustrated that there are so many open parking spaces that 99.9% of the populace can't touch without getting dirty looks from the elite classes.

Other

Hand out autographed glamor shots of Charlie Diradour [nice try but Shockoe is Bobby Scott's domain] [WRONG!!! THE WORLD BELONGS TO CHARLIE DIRADOUR!!!] [LOL]
Get rid of the eyesore - Velvets [That's a bit iffy. Those spotlights draw a crowd to the right area of town. You might have something, though. We should open it up for discussion. I don't like the Obama sign, but hooray for freedom of speech.]

Financing Ideas

Who's going to pay for it?

In the case of a Shockoe Bottom Baseball Field - Private funding should account for at least 50% of the construction and ownership.
On that note, ban Bryan Bostick from ever having anything to do with Richmond baseball and development. Bring back the parking by the Diamond that was overrun by the Sportsbackers field. That caused the decline in attendance.
Interest rates are still low. The City of Richmond through its Economic Development Authority could issue bonds at low rates, and create a special tax assessment district in the Bottom to help repay the debt. Similar districts already exist along the Broad Street corridor, central downtown, the riverfront district and Shockoe Slip. These districts provide additional, more timely and more complete services than otherwise available. Such services could incldue additional law enforcement, additional street cleaning or trash pickup, special lighting, parking decks other other improvements to improve the viability of the Bottom.

The Deal

"If our study is accepted or used in any way by the city, the fee is one case of Bud Light. That is approximately $124,982 less than what the city plans to pay a consultant with your tax dollars." ~Tobacco Avenue