Is it too late for Brookland Park Boulevard?
Style has an interesting and depressing look at the state of Brookland Park Boulevard.
The bad economy isn’t the only reason the area is suffering, Epps and other merchants say. They point to the city’s failure to invest in infrastructure and, more importantly, to curb the crime that makes some people afraid to shop here.
Epps blames Councilman Chris Hilbert, who’s represented the district since 2004. “Look at this corridor,” Epps says.
Hilbert blames the administration of former mayor L. Douglas Wilder for failing to carry out promised renovations, even when money was available in the budget. “It has been frustrating,” Hilbert says. “There’s no question about that.”
The article goes on to mention crime and loitering as the main reason holding the area back. Recently, a new group, the International Alliance of Guardian Angels has taken it upon themselves to make the area safer.
Photo by John Murden.
I live near the Blvd., the strip had gotten better but slipped backwards in the last 8 months. I blame the merchants such as R&S Grocery store. There has been several merchants that run without business liscense. They also have not really organized themselves that well. I used to go out there and pick up trash along the street but stop when one of business owner walked his door and dropped his trash on the sidewalk.
The police dept is not cracking down on the illegal activity that is taking place even though they have officer assigned just that area but for someone ever enfores anything.
There are several buildings that are owned by RRHA and they have done nothing in regards to marketing to sell them.
There is a lot to pass around but to lay it at Hilbert’s feet isn’t fair.
This area should be another “Cary Town”. Kinda an anti-Cary Town. Hip, cool place to go. Wouldn’t it be great not to have to get in your car and just walk, for all the people in the area. Here’s are some of the problems: 1st there was a plan to redo the sideawalks and put in street lights but the Mayor and Helbert didn’t like each other and the Mayor killed this. 2nd the businesses have to go after the people with money and get them to come. The people who have money don’t want to go where the businesses are mostly barber shops, beauty salons and nail places, instead they want cafe’s, coffee houses, pizza joints and specialty clothing shops (sorry no African garb) 3rd Safty, one customer gets robbed and/or shot, it’s all over. When the police let drug dealers hang out in front of the R & S store and intimidate people or in front of the ABC store across the street, customers with money will not come.
Solutions: The cummunity has to say, nobody can bother our customers along this business area. These are the people we make money from and nobody can make them feel unwelcomed. If you are selling drugs you can’t do it here. Maybe hire young men like the “Guardian Angels” along with the police to make this happen. Business is about finding out who has money and what do they want. Simple as that. Everybody has heard of “Little Italy” “Little China” “Little Mexico” “Little Asia” these communities are are doing just that, get people to come spend money and feel safe. Simple as that. Why can’t this comunity do the same? Ask some of the older people in the area, they will tell you, it was just that back in the day, it CAN happen again! Who is going to step up and lead? This area could be a gold mine.
Agreed, Max, this area could be a gold mine. All of Ginter Park and Bellevue are driving crazy miles to buy a box of organic mac & cheese at Trader Joe’s. Someone with capital and vision could transform this strip and more than recoup their investment.
Yep very true.
And the folks from the East End are making the same drive. I’d much prefer to spend my $$ on Brookland Park or 25th Street than West Broad, but I’m not given the opportunity.
The question is how do you build it up and without evey thug thanking you for bringing the sheep to the wolves? There has to be an unwriten rule in the community that you don’t mess with anyone along this area. But only the community can do this, no law or cop can.
Maybe tonight’s 3rd District meeting discussing what to do with the budget surplus would be a good time to bring these issues up to Hilbert.
http://northrichmondnews.com/news/2010/09/22/3rd-district-meeting-tonight-2/
Regarding Crime on BPB:
I happen to know Officer Taylor, and as much as I think he is a nice guy, he is not helping the walking beat. I have watched him walk right past drug dealers and prostitutes who were lifting customers and look the other way.
The community associations on both sides of BPB have given a ton of information regarding which houses supply the dealers that stay on BPB. And yet, nothing happens and 2902 Montrose finally becomes a shooting range. I have personally walked an officer and a Commonwealth’s Attorney’s assistant around this area and pointed out the drug houses from where these guys base some of their operations.
A few people who live in Battery Park have even been attending the R&S hearings, which resulted in the owner leaving the country back to the Middle East. And, the manager has been able to dodge any liability by not speaking English inside the courtroom.
Murden: Is there a way to find out WHEN the Angels patrol BPB? Maybe Max Fisher and I can volunteer to walk with them and point out who the players are/where the hot spots are.
This was sent to City Council last week:
Not knowing what other proposals have been raised, I encourage the city to use this money toward visual improvements for aging commercial corridors (e.g. Brookland Park Boulevard, areas of Manchester, Chamberlayne, Azalea, etc.). This money could be used by the city to improve lighting, landscaping, etc., and it could also be used in the form of matching grants to commercial property owners who improve their facades. This program would be beneficial toward multiple public goals: safety, economic development, general public perception, and ensuring a growing, stable tax base.
The Gaurdian Angels have already done at least one walk around BPB — RVANews will have a story up about it next week.
In the mean time you can contact them at this email address: richmondva@guardianangels.org
If that address doesn’t work let me know and I’ll see if I can dig up another one.
Thanks, Ross!
anon- you can point out all the drug houses and players you want,to whom ever you want, they know the drug houses and players probably better then you. See as long as it stays in our community and not spill over into the Fan or VCU or Winsor Farms, everybody is cool with that. You want a drug house off your block, you and your block are only people that can do it, the cops can’t, they look the other way as you have seen. I’m not blaming the cops, they just can’t do it alone, they can help a little but they are not going to do it by themselves. You have to get creative. Story: Our block has been quiet for a good long time till the other day when the family let there son move back in (probably after a stint in jail). During the day when the parents are at work the son works right out in front of the house. So when the parents (who I’ve had long conversations with, including over hearing there son threaten to burn my house down, his customers threaten me as I was sitting on my porch, etc..) got home I went out on my front porch had a little BBQ and turned my radio to the country station ( hate country music sorry) volume set at 11 (spinal tap) and played it from 5pm to 10pm pointing straight at there house. Make it hell to live next to them, I’ll make it hell to live next to me. Haven’t seen the son out front since then.
I have also seen Officer Taylor walk the other direction when he see a group dealers out on BPB. Yes the police know where the drug houses and who the dealers are but it is better for their stats to ignore the issue. Cause if they make a arrest for dealing it goes on their monthly report and makes their stats look bad.
Max you are partly right the community has decide that they will not accept this behavior. I believe on many blocks they have had that decision and turned valid information into the police so it now has to be address by the police. If the police won’t address. The commnuity should demand a new leadership from RPD.
It starts in the home. BPB is just a representation of what is happening inside the homes of the community in my opinion. Until fathers become Dads and mothers become Moms, nothing will change and it will only get worse.