June 3 Newsletter: Diamond drama
Weather: Temperatures remain blissful before a late-week warmup. High of 81.
On this date in 1957, City Council votes against a proposal to build a playground in Bellevue after neighbors protested, saying it would decrease property values.
Today's newsletter sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University: As a top 50 public research institution, Virginia Commonwealth University has an unparalleled drive to discover, innovate and create. VCU impacts the human experience and tackles the problems of tomorrow. It's a university unlike any you’ve ever seen.
City, VCU appear to set a September deadline for Squirrels agreement in new contract
The lease for CarMax Park instructs the Richmond Flying Squirrels to work “in good faith” with VCU to reach an agreement allowing the Rams baseball team to play at the new stadium.
What exactly that language means could be the next legal frontier in a project that has turned increasingly acrimonious.
The Squirrels say any agreement without their permission is unlawful. A city spokesperson said the agreement "envisions" that the deal with the Squirrels will get completed by then. Read more here.
Children’s Museum of Richmond gives first peek at major renovation, auctions old exhibits
For the first time in 25 years, the Children’s Museum of Richmond is undergoing a major renovation at its Downtown location.
- Skylights now adorn the ceilings of the new exhibits, allowing natural light to shine onto the Magic Meadow and Itty Bitty River City.
The new exhibits will open to the public on June 16. As for the old exhibits, they're being auctioned off this week online. Read more here.
Chosen co-developer for Fay Towers at edge of Gilpin Court withdraws proposal
A group selected by Richmond’s public housing authority to act as a co-developer for the overhaul of Fay Towers has backed away from a proposed partnership, saying additional research found the project would be too expensive.
The 11-story towers that sit on the edge of Gilpin Court were once home to about 200 public housing units for seniors before deteriorating conditions led RRHA to relocate residents beginning in 2016.
The latest plan would convert the existing 200 studio and one-bedroom units into approximately 150 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, with all units affordable. Read more here.
RPS adopts next year’s budget, makes last-minute cuts to teacher stipends to save money
The Richmond School Board unanimously adopted its budget for fiscal year 2027 – a budget that is somewhat living on a prayer due to state uncertainty, and includes new cuts to some teacher pay.
- To make the numbers work, teachers filling in for an absent colleague will now receive $35 per hour instead of $55 for lost planning periods and other additional time.
- The final budget includes a 75/25 split in health care insurance increase costs with employees.
The Board also provided an update on the RHSA move-in timeline, noting it will be a "rushed" process to get ready for the first day of school. Read more here.
Legendary New York filmmaker visits Richmond on Thursday to screen Best Products documentaries
On Thursday night, the Branch museum will bring in New York filmmaker Howard Silver for a sold-out screening of his documentary about Best Products showrooms, followed by a Q&A.
Architect Don O'Keefe, who assembled the exhibition with his students at Harvard, reflected on the impact of the Best Products showrooms and the exhibition. Read more here.
Today's sponsor:
NEXT Step VCU expands
The dual-admissions program, which now includes three college partners, provides transfer students with personalized support, cost savings and a clear route to a VCU degree.
“The NEXT Step partnership reflects the future of public higher education: institutions working together and serving the public good,” said VCU President Michael Rao. “At VCU, we believe higher education should expand opportunity and eliminate barriers. We see talent everywhere and in everyone, and our responsibility is to help more hard-working students clear the path for the completion of a degree that leads to a meaningful career in a timely way.”
In other news
- Some DPU billing accounts showing errors after system upgrade, city says it will automatically fix
- Richmond officials said there is no action needed by customers, and resolution is expected to occur within one to two business days.
- Richmond gets $850K in federal funds for Shockoe stormwater projects
- The funds will alleviate flooding in Shockoe Bottom, near where the city is planning a variety of projects to tell the history of the slave trade.
- Chesterfield memorial grows for police K9 Knight (CBS 6)
- The 5-year-old German Shepherd/Malinois mix was shot and killed in the line of duty when police responded to a domestic disturbance call on Sunday afternoon.
- Man charged with DUI after jeep ends up in Richmond’s Kanawha Canal (8News)
- There were two people in the vehicle at the time.
- How much are lawsuits against GRTC costing taxpayers? Officials won’t say (Times-Dispatch)
- Since January 2025, at least a dozen people have sued GRTC over collisions and other incidents.
The editor's desk
After reading about the Children's Museum auction, I suggested on the group chat that we add an animatronic tree to the newsroom.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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