Nov. 24 Newsletter: This old house
Weather: High of 60 today. Enjoy the pleasant weather — unfortunately, it won't last.
On this date in 1976, Henrico's Board of Supervisors votes to widen Horsepen Road between Three Chopt and Patterson. Residents had been fighting the plan for 8 years.
Does anybody want this historic home in Bellevue? If not, RPS is ready to tear it down.
The structure in question is the Thirteen Acres School building, a 140-year-old, two-story house owned by Richmond Public Schools residing behind Holton Elementary in Richmond's Northside.
The building has remained vacant for nearly 20 years with no upkeep, resulting in its deterioration.
RPS wants to give community members a one-year window to offer potential solutions, including moving it to another site. If nothing happens, the division would demolish the building and create green space for students. Read more here.
Group proposing indoor tennis facility offers alternate plan, but school parents remain hesitant
Four months ago, the Richmond School Board expressed skepticism towards a group’s proposal to create a $15-$20 million indoor tennis facility on land adjacent to Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary.
But at a recent town hall, parents were still skeptical, community members called for a feasibility study, and an RPS board member said he would like more long-term benefits for schools from the plan. Read more here.
Would Avula admin budget for lower taxes if Council asked? ‘No ma’am,’ says CAO
At a recent City Council committee meeting, Councilor Ellen Robertson (6th District) asked a particularly direct question.
If the Council voted to ask Mayor Danny Avula to build a alternate budget based on a lower property tax rate, she inquired, would the administration do it?
“No ma’am,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II.
Donald cited the challenges his office has in meet the current deadline while producing one budget for the Council to review.
The CAO’s answer didn’t sit well with some Council members. Read more here.
We Were There: Richmond's postcard collecting show
Local writer Elizabeth Cogar debuts a new series visiting the off-the-beaten-path events that make Richmond great.
Today, the Old Dominion Postcard Club Postcard and Paper Show and Sale, where she saw a postcard of the Titanic mailed before the famed ocean liner went down. Meet other deltiologists here.
In other news
- Judge gives UVA shooter five life sentences (CVille Right Now)
- Chesterfield gives Shady Hill mobile home park extra time to fix violations (VPM)
- VCU approves 1,000-bed dormitory on West Grace Street (Times-Dispatch)
The editor's desk
Thomas Dale defeated Manchester on Friday night in one of the most improbable finishes in local high school football history, returning an interception 99-yards to win on the last play. How good was it? ESPN ranked it the day's No. 1 play nationally.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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