CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! went the trolleys at the intersection of West Cary Street and Robinson Street which once served as a bustling hub of activity for the old Richmond transit lines. Now progress is about to strike again at this historic property when the GRTC bus company moves its operations and transfers the property to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA).
With so much history associated with the property many area residents are wondering what will be done to preserve the historic character of the transit oriented neighborhood.
Valerie Dixon with RRHA tells us that preservation of the property is priority in the redevelopment planning. "The current City Master Plan calls for the historic trolley sheds to be preserved. The City and RRHA will study the feasibility of adaptively reusing the buildings."
The 2000 Richmond Master Plan designates the four square block area as a mixed use development for extending Carytown eastward and also as a "Housing Opportunity Area."
"When [GRTC relocates] this site presents a unique opportunity for high quality mixed-use, urban infill development. Given the size of the site, a mixture of commercial and office uses may be appropriate within the residential development." The plan adds "Any future redevelopment activities should retain and preserve the historic trolley sheds located on-site."
According to Dixon "RRHA’s next task is to work with the City to formulate a redevelopment strategy consistent with market conditions, site conditions, and City and neighborhood priorities."
Dixon says settlement of the land transfer from GRTC to RRHA will be completed within the next 60 days however the actual transfer of the property from the bus company to the government authority could take until late 2011.
"GRTC estimates that environmental assessment and remediation will be completed in late 2011. RRHA will take title to and possession of the property after remediation is complete and all other pre-settlement conditions have been satisfied." said Dixon of the industrial sized cleanup required of the property before further development is possible.
Our neighbors over at ByrdPark.net have an ongoing discussion about the use of the property with a number of thoughtful suggestions for future development.
