September 16, 2008
Another weblog look at Battery Park recovery
Read, Drink and Be Merry takes another look at post-flooding progress in the Battery Park neighborhood, and revises the city’s restoration grade to an “I” for “incomplete”. Here’s the skinny:
Recently I gave Wilder and the city an ugly grade of D+ for the reconstruction of Battery Park. I’m thinking I may have been wrong in giving out that grade. You see, giving a grade or an evaluation implies that the project is complete and can now be assessed. In reality the project is not complete, the park is not open, empty lots abound with no sign of progress or even real clues as to what to expect. The bi-weekly newsletter the city promised to send after the floods to keep us informed of the project and it’s progress? We received two hard copies a couple of years ago (the same exact information with only the dates changed) before it went online. I’m not sure what bi-weekly means to the city of Richmond but it looks like 4 issues in over two years. The last one released claims it’s now a monthly, published in June…
I should have given them an ‘I’, for incomplete.
Four years after the floods started and two years after the collapse of the storm drains and the destruction of the park and $47 million dollars later where should we be? Frankly, a lot further along than we are.
Battery Park is in Chris Hilbert’s district. I don’t beleive that this person even lives in Battery Park neighborhood, but more so Brookfield Gardens. The $$ for the expansion was spent on the failed effort of the mayor to move the school board. This person should attend a Battery Park Civic association meeting to become a little more informed of the goings on of Battery Park.
Sorry, BPCA meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of every month.
If you really want to be specific the zoning for my house is in Barton Heights. We are however within a couple of blocks of the south side of the actual park and within sight of the planned expansion on the southside of Norell. You might be surprised to learn that all of us on the west side of North and south of Overbrook call the neighbourhood Battery Park. This person should drive around the entire park to see all the different areas impacted by the flood not those just served by his ‘civic’ association.
A word about the Battery Park Civic Association. It would be great if there was an organization where all the citizens effected by the floods could gather to get information about the reconstruction - especially since most of the demolition of houses and destruction of streets for the giant pumping pipes was in our area, south of Overbrook. Sadly, the BPCA is rather exclusionary and has never reached out to all of those around the park. After the first floods started in 2004 a couple of people from our area tried to attend their meetings. My neighbour was told the meeting was for ‘residents only’.
Anyone can attend the BPCA meetings, I am sorry that you were told anything other than that. Our meetings are open to the public. To be a member you have to live withing the set boundaries. I was just trying to point out that since you do not live in “Battery Park Proper” you are probably not getting the information you are seeking in a timely manner. The newsletters from the City are usually distributed at the monthly meetings at the Stonehouse. The city did not provide one in July, but has issued an August edition…although they do not answer many questions, and the time frame for the South end of the park reopening seems to be pushed back each day, they are issued. I am an avid reader of your blog and did not mean to upset you.
Not upset, just a bit annoyed by the city and the way they communicate to one group but not another. Even though the newsletter states it’s for the citizens of Battery Park, Barton Heights and Brookfield Gardens it looks to only distributed to one of those groups if I’m reading you correctly. The BPCA probably is the right group to take the lead but I do think they should do a broader outreach to include the other areas in the flood zone. Barton Heights and Brookfield Gardens are very poorly organized as communities and with Ellen Robertson’s attention elsewhere (I wish I knew where…) our little area is feeling like someone has forgotten about the several blocks of buildings that were plowed under and are slowly becoming the new ‘hang’ for the thugs that used to run the basketball courts.
It’s almost like our Mayor, and by extension the city, has ADD. They rush from one project to another making noise and big promises but never actually finish anything before their attention moves to the next big thing. Has any project really been finished since Wilder took office?
Thanks for reading my blog, BTW.
I think Piet should go write for Style. Sometimes accurate, hardly informative. Thanks, Scott for the helpful info.
I agree with you on the city, and the mayor, but as far as reaching out to the outlying comminities, that would be hard to do. As I am sure you know, volunteers are needed to deliver newsletters and we can only come up with a handfull to deliver our own BCPA newsletter, much less the city’s.
Keep blogging, I do enjoy the reads!
I would also like to mention that the BCPA has formed a “Friends of Battery Park” group that anyone can participate in, no matter where they live, for the beautification of the park and the park alone. (Plantings, beautification, wish list items) However, that group can not really do anything until the park reopens, whenever that may be. They are in the process of just starting up and need funds to get off of the ground. It would be all donated money and those donations are tax deductible. The group is in need of volunteers, again which are very hard to come by. Should you be interested in this group, please come to a meeting to find out more information. Battery Park Civic Association meets every Tuesday at 6:30. 2803 Dupont Circle, The Stonehouse.
I mean BPCA,,
Sorry last time—BPCA meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Stonehouse.
The Free Press has an article about BP and the finishing touches they are putting on it. Quite a different perspective from those doing the work v. those whining about it.
http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17748
Battery Park has a starring role in this Style Weekly story. Check it out.
I just checked the Free Press’ website and read section “A” and “B.” There was no mention of Battery Park. Is this story from an old issue?
ALTHOUGH, I did see one of Battery Park’s own advertised on page 9 of section “B.” Check this out BPCA!
City’s September Issue - you can pick it up at the Stonehouse IN Battery Park or get it online:
http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/departments/parks/battery_park_newsletter.pdf
After reading the article, why isn’t any screaming for $500,000 for the repair of BP. Is missing $500,000 causing the delay of the repair of the park?
Southern Barton Heights has a very active Civic Association that meets at Sandy’s the 3rd Tuesday monthly. We welcome our neighbors to join!
Some of us who live in SBH also watched the storm waters rise and are still waiting for the park to reopen. It was a jewel that has really been missed.