April 17 Newsletter: Code refresh's advocates

Weather: Scattered afternoon showers will break up another hot day, with a high of 85.

On this date in 1959, City Council advises Richmond school officials to construct a high school for Black students in the Southside, out of fear that a new school in the area would be subject to the “threat of integration,” according to a Times-Dispatch report.

For some Richmonders, code refresh is a promise for a better future

As Richmond continues to overhaul its 1970s-era zoning code, officials have encountered sharp resistance to proposals to allow greater density throughout the city.

But for some Richmonders, concerns about the code refresh are outweighed by the opportunities they believe it would unlock: More affordable homes. More shops and services within walking distance. Neighborhoods with a wider range of housing types and residents.

“I do think there is a lot of new energy that has come to the city in recent years that is probably a younger crowd that maybe has lived in other cities and are more open to something different versus anchoring on what they’ve known their whole lives,” one advocate said. Read more here.

Lakeside’s giant scissors, newly refurbished, will return in Sunday ceremony

A pair of giant wooden scissors will return to their prominent spot in Henrico’s Lakeside neighborhood this Sunday at 3 p.m., part of an “ASL Crawl” that will celebrate Richmond’s Deaf community.

The building, initially constructed as a hair salon, was purchased last year and will be repurposed into a “Shared Signing Community,” where deaf and hearing people work together, by a group called Common Thread RVA.

At the time of the purchase, the scissors, which are 13-feet-tall and made of wood, had begun to deteriorate. Read more here.

Video shows RPS employee allegedly biting Fairfield elementary student

Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said Wednesday he was “absolutely horrified” by “disturbing” video footage circulating on social media showing an employee allegedly biting the hand of a Fairfield Court Elementary student.

“While I cannot comment on personnel actions, I want to assure our families and the public that I simply will not tolerate any such behavior at RPS, and I’ve taken every necessary step accordingly,” he said in a social media post. Read more here.

Street closures for Saturday's Monument Avenue 10k

Richmonders are being advised to use highways 95 and 195 on Saturday morning to avoid road closures for this year's Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k.

In response to hot weather conditions, organizers said they will add misting stations on the course if needed.

Sports Backers said the event is on pace to welcome 26,000 runners on Saturday morning. Read more, and see the course map, here.

In other news

• VPM is commissioning two murals for its new downtown Richmond headquarters, and is asking for artist proposals (VPM)
• Hit crossing the street, she was traumatized again in Richmond court: 'I was mad, a lot of rage' (CBS 6)
• Henrico Board of Supervisors approves $2-billion budget, decries 'false narrative' that schools are not fully funded (Henrico Citizen)

The editor's desk

Good luck to all the 10k runners! The faster you run, the sooner you can find air conditioning.

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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