The Richmond City Council purchased Libby Hill Park in 1851
for the then unusually large sum of $5,000.
The land was set aside by the city leaders specifically for its views of
the entire City, “because it affords a
commanding and picturesque view of the lower portions of the City, the river,
the falls, the railroad bridges.”
It seems like a miracle that we can still enjoy that
extraordinary view today, but it’s not.
For more than 150 years Richmond’s leaders have been guarding the City’s
birthright. Surely we can’t let it be
destroyed on our watch.
Of course developers see the profit potential of building in
this historic viewshed. The high-rise
condo being proposed by Salomonsky and White would take this spectacular view
from the people and sell it to wealthy residents. All they need to do is convince City Council
to ignore the Downtown Master Plan, to ignore the will of the people, and to
ignore inherent responsibility. Then they could have it all to themselves.
But City Council members know that tourism, second only to agriculture, is the industry in Virginia that brings in more money than any other business – than any other business. Libby Hill Park and its famous view of the James River is the top visual destination in our Capital City. The trolley and Segway tours, large bus groups, wedding parties, romantic dates, family reunions, birthdays and traditions for large gatherings at the Libby Hill view all reflect the value people place on the park and its panoramic views. And they all bring money to the City.
In early May, Edwin Slipek wrote an insightful article in
Style exposing this proposed structure as a massive intrusion on the park and on
Tobacco Row, and advancing the idea that this land should be left open to facilitate the flow of nature from the
river to the park above. That vision is
reminiscent of urban park connectivity as pioneered by Frederick Olmsted, designer
of Central Park, and is shared by many who want it to remain in its natural
state.
The Downtown Master Plan, adopted in 2008 by City Council
after two years of research, planning, and extensive public involvement (a
process that cost close to half a million dollars in tax payer money) reflected
many compromises. It identified the
parcel in question not for a park, but for building up to five stories in
keeping with its historic surroundings.
Salomonsky and White want more. They are asking for a Special Use Permit
(SUP) to allow them to construct a 16 story building, and to change the
zoning from light industrial to residential, and for the City to sell
them a right-of-way at what appears to be a discounted price.
Voting on this decision has been postponed twice by City
Council member Newbille, who has been meeting one-on-one with the
developers. The result is a false
compromise. The developers are willing
to drop the penthouse one and a half stories down. Unfortunately, shaving off one + floors
solves nothing. And presenting it to the
public as a solution is disingenuous.
Our elected representatives on City Council are smarter than
that. They understand the economic
value of this public asset. They hear
their constituents and they see the growing strength of its supporters. Just within the last few months, over 1600
citizens have signed a petition supporting the Downtown Master Plan’s vision
for this property, which is the true compromise. It is a waste of time and money to revisit a
decision that already has an overwhelming public stamp of approval.
So this is the
compromise: It’s a 5-story building. All of the units would have wonderful
views - for some the river, for others historic Tobacco Row, and for others,
beautiful Libby Hill Park. To further this compromise, it should include the
City’s sale of the Cary Street right-of-way needed to develop the land, but at
an assessed market price.
A park would be lovely, but that’s not the Downtown Master
Plan. The plan is a structure of up to
five stories that would protect the view, while allowing the builders to
profit.
Eugenia Anderson–Ellis:
On behalf of all concerned Richmonders
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