The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities kicks off 2009 Movie Night in the Park tonight with a showing of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa at Jefferson Hill Park. The showing will begin around dark.

City Council is considering offering a hefty tax break on the real estate taxes for new constructing in certain areas with a high number of empty lots, “including North Church Hill, Carver, and Highland Park”. With around 1500 vacant lots in the city, the possible 100% exemption on real estate tax for 5 years could be expected to lead to 200 new homes per year. [via]

Read more >

Contributed by Bryan Nolde (Capital News Service)

The most recent Friends of Jefferson Park meeting featured a presentation on plans to renovate Jefferson Park over the next year.

Read more >

Chris on the spot sends word that the already complex intersection at Jefferson/Clay/22nd is shut down:

Police have a portion of the intersection of Jefferson Ave., Clay St., and N. 22nd (very close to Alamo BBQ) blocked due to what appears to be a break in a water main. They estimate it happened approximately 7:00am this morning. Just before getting these photos (7:30am), city employees were shutting off the water at a valve in the middle of the intersection.

Read more >

In response to Church Hill being named the “10th Most Dangerous Neighborhood in America”, Matt Conrad of the Union Hill Civic Association had data provided by Lt. Laino of Sector 111 that brings some perspective to the designation (PDF). The data makes very clear what residents of the Union Hill and Church Hill North already know: crime is not only down from a few years ago, but is dramatically down from 6 and 7 years ago.

Read more >

A skateboarder was sent to the hospital after being hit by an an SUV overnight on Cedar Street near 20th Street. No word on injuries or charges filed. [via]

Read more >

Testimony today against Eric Driver in the April 22nd shooting of Jamall Holman was convincing enough to have the case sent to grand jury in July:

At a court hearing that ended early this afternoon, testimony indicated that the man charged with murder in the shooting death of Jamall Holman fired two shots, then chased him and fired four more. [...] Richmond authorities said it was a clear case of someone violating state law that prohibits people from using deadly force to protect property. They charged Driver, 25, of the 500 block of North 22nd Street, with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in a felony.

UHCA President Matt Conrad recently sent out a reminder that the next Union Hill Civic Association meeting will be at Jefferson Park:

The first of our summer picnics is nearly upon us and it is going to be an amazing time! After much anticipation, the Friends of Jefferson Park and the City of Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will be unveiling the plans for restoration of OUR park’s hillside stairs and bandstand. We will be one step closer to making Jefferson Park the jewel of the City that we know it can be! The festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. on June 17th at Jefferson Park.

Read more >

In response to last week’s coverage of the Union Hill O&H initiative, Style Weekly this week includes 2 letters from Union Hill residents: a letter detailing support for the initiative, and a letter from UHCA President Matt Conrad connecting the dots between the appeal of urban living and the current woes of megasuburban development (also in last week’s issue).

Style Weekly takes a look at some of the discussion engendered by the move to designate Union Hill as Old & Historic:

Union Hill [...] is poised to clear the first hurdle to officially becoming one of Richmond’s old and historic districts. But some of the area’s residents are less than enthusiastic about the looming designation.

One of them, Buddy Corbett, a longtime Richmond bouncer, worries that the Commission of Architectural Review, which must approve all modifications to homes in city old and historic districts, isn’t up to the task.

Police have the blocks around Pink and Venable Streets taped off after an early evening shooting.

The two new houses by Better Housing Coalition at 976 and 978 Pink Street will be open this Sunday, May 31, from 2-4:30PM.

Read more >

Read more >

Mosby Street, the Mosby Public Housing Developments, and the former Mosby Middle School were all named for Benjamin Mosby, a realtor who developed the area early in the nineteenth century. Part of this area became known as Union Hill and part as Howard’s Grove.

Twenty-year-old grey&white tabby missing from 21st&M Street since yesterday; has never been outside before. No ID tag. Hard of hearing but very friendly. She is very thin, matted fur, and has upper respiratory infection. Contact Brandi at (434)480-0819 if you have any information.

Read more >

A message from Matt Conrad of the UHCA:

Please plan to attend the Union Hill Civic Association meeting at 7 pm at Cedar Street Baptist Church TONIGHT. As you recall, Lieutenant Laino of RPD’s First Precinct has asked us to hold our meeting a week early so that he, RBHA and Second Responders may address community concerns related to the shooting in our community on 22nd Street and other matters. We must also elect officers for the 2009-10 year.

Read more >

The Commission of Architectural Review last week sent out a letter (PDF) to all property owners in Union Hill as formal notice that the neighborhood is being considered for status as an Old and Historic District. A public hearing will be held on May 14 at 6PM at City Council Chambers in City Hall.

Read more >

The Planning Commission yesterday voted in favor of raising the heights allowed for development along the river and also in favor of rezoning the interior of Union Hill to R-63.

Read more >

With the new BBQ place still not quite open yet, here is a photo from the 1979 to feast your eyes upon.

Read more >

City planning staff will hold an informational meeting at 6PM at the East District Initiative (25th&M Street) to discuss plans to re-zone Union Hill. [via]