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VOL. 30 NO. 46
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
www.richmondfreepress.com
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Richmond Free Press
NovembER 11-13, 2021
The next big thing? City officials are turning to the planned development of 60 acres of city-owned property in North Side around The Diamond for a big return By Jeremy M. Lazarus
Diamond area proposed development map Legend A G a t e w a y d i s t r i c t : Offices, shopping and entertainment B B a l l p a r k and entertainment district: Community integrated with entertainment and a new sports venue C Ownby district: Mixeduse development D Allison district: Dense, compact, transit-oriented mixed-use development E Industrial mixed use:Area combining entertainment, residential, office and light industrial uses F Office Park 1 Ballpark and plaza 2 Crescent Park: Public space and site for large-scale community events 3 Landmark Bridge: Bridge over CSX railroad tracks connecting Crescent Park and development on the north side to the Pulse corridor 4 Southern Park: Public space with sports fields for youths 5 Public flex site: For future community needs such as a school, library, rec center or public space 6 Pedestrian and bicycle bridge over train tracks 7 Neighborhood parks
What’s the next big thing for Richmond now that the $565 million casino-resort project for South Side and the $1.5 billion Navy Hill project for Downtown are kaput? The answer is the Diamond District, so it appears. That’s the new name for about 60 acres of city-owned property on Arthur Ashe Boulevard where The Diamond baseball stadium, Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center, a softball field and a recycling center now stand. City Hall is focusing once again on transforming the property with a major redevelopment that was first envisioned 15 years ago but stalled five years ago. There still are major question marks, however, including the thorniest: How to pay for a replacement baseball stadium to keep a minor league team in the city. This is far from the only project going on in a booming city. Virginia Commonwealth University alone is planning $1.2 billion in new construction through 2028. Public housing communities are being targeted for transformation into mixed-income neighborhoods from the East End to Gilpin Court and South Side. Plans are afoot for redevelopment of the Coliseum area near City Hall, and apartments and other private developments continue to rise in Manchester and other parts of the city. But for the moment, Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s
administration is focusing on the Diamond District, which potentially could yield a hefty $300 million to $400 million in apartments, offices and retail shops that potentially would return $6 million to $8 million annually in new tax revenue if all goes well. Since at least 2012, taxpayers have invested $14 million to $20 million — city documents are unclear — to remove former city and school repair shops and offices from The Diamond site, clear old buildings and clean up the land for new development. Please turn to A4
Casino defeat raises questions about what’s next By Jeremy M. Lazarus
Alfred C. Liggins III is firmly committed to making casino gaming a key part of Urban One, the Black media conglomerate he runs with his mother, Cathy Hughes. Mr. Liggins That’s still his plan despite the company’s first big casino splash in Richmond going down to a stinging defeat in the Nov. 2 election. What happens now is still up in the air, Mr. Liggins said Monday in a brief telephone interview with the Free Press. “We’re still going to pursue opportunities in that field. We the first time since March 2020. In August, the board see it as complementary to our endorsed Superintendent Jason Kamras’ request to current businesses.” institute a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for teachBut he said in the aftermath ers and staff for the health and safety of Richmond’s of the election, no decisions 20,000-plus students. have been made. “I believe this body made that decision because “We’re still processing we felt it was so critical that the staff in our buildings the information and looking working with our children be fully vaccinated,” Mr. at our different options,” he Kamras told the board Monday. said. “After all, it’s just been He said the mandate raised the vaccination rate a week.” among teachers and staff from 37 percent to the According to the vote tally current 92 percent. that has not yet been certified
City School Board reverses vaccine mandate for teachers, staff By Ronald E. Carrington
In a stunning 180-degree turn, the Richmond School Board reversed its mandate that teachers and staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 or forfeit their pay and possibly ultimately be fired. Instead, the board voted to allow those who defy the mandate to stay employed if they agree to weekly COVID-19 testing provided by the school district. During the board’s meeting Monday night, Vice Chairman Jonathan M. Young, 4th District, introduced a measure to halt disciplinary action against noncompliant employees if they are tested weekly for the virus. He said if employees agree to weekly
testing, any teacher or staff member who has lost pay as part of the mandate action should be reimbursed. His motion was seconded by board member Kenya J. Gibson, 3rd District, and was approved by the board in a 6-3 vote. Board members voting against Mr. Kamras the motion were Elizabeth B. “Liz” Doerr, 1st District; board Chairwoman Cheryl L. Burke, 7th District; and Dawn C. Page, 8th District. Monday’s action is a reversal from August as schools were about to open for in-person learning for
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Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin talks transition with Northam; releases tax info Free Press wire report
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Vaccine ready Jayden Holmes, 9, a student at Carver Elementary School, is ready to get his COVID-19 vaccine. On Monday, he and his mother, Shankita Holmes, who works in nursing, were outside the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center on Arthur Ashe Boulevard, which has been set up as a community vaccination center by local health officials. The youngster, who was nervous about getting a needle, survived the shot and said he was feeling good when he left. Children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive the vaccine. Please see article, A5.
Free COVID-19 testing, vaccines Free community testing for COVID-19 continues. The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations: • Tuesday, Nov. 16, 9 to 11 a.m., Second Baptist Church of South Richmond, 3300 Broad Rock Blvd., drive-thru testing. • Wednesday, Nov. 17, 9 to 11 a.m., Eastern Henrico Recreation Center Pavilion, 1440 N. Laburnum Ave. Appointments are not necessary, but can be made by
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Republican Gov.-elect Glenn A. Youngkin met with outgoing Democratic Gov. Ralph S. Northam last week for a lunch with their wives at the Executive Mansion in Capitol Square, with both pledging a smooth transition of power. “Today was the beginning of a friendship,” said Gov.-elect Youngkin, who defeated Democratic nominee and former Gov. Terry R. McAuliffe Nov. 2 in an election that also saw a wave of Republican victories in down-ballot races. Gov.-elect Youngkin, a 54-year-old former private equity firm executive and political neophyte, said he was humbled to stand in front of the historic Governor’s Mansion. In brief remarks Nov. 4 to the
Related story on A2 news media, he thanked Gov. Northam for hosting what he called “a lovely lunch.” “I just want to thank you for the incredibly cooperative way that you’ve, of course, expressed you’re going to help us,” Gov.-elect Youngkin said. “It’s important. We have a lot of work to do.” The governor-elect, who selectively engaged with reporters while campaigning, pledged to be “incredibly open and accessible” while in office. Late last week, Gov.-elect Youngkin disclosed what his campaign said are summaries of recent tax returns that show the substantial amounts of income he made and has given away. Summaries of his returns over the past
Steve Helber/Associated Press
Gov. Ralph S. Northam, second from left, speaks to the media as Gov.-elect Glenn A. Youngkin and his wife, Suzanne, right, and First Lady Pam Northam listen after a luncheon Nov. 4 at the Governor’s Mansion in Capitol Square in Downtown.
five tax years indicate that Gov.-elect Youngkin cumulatively made $127 million during that period. Almost half of that income, or $59 million, originated from capital gains, according to a spreadsheet provided to The Washington Post by his campaign a few days after his election. The spreadsheet also shows Gov.-elect Youngkin also gave $52.6 million to charity and paid nearly $18 million in taxes, the newspaper reported. Virginia gubernatorial candidates aren’t required to disclose their returns. Gov.-
elect Youngkin’s release comes after his campaign and former Gov. McAuliffe’s campaign made commitments to The Associated Press months ago that they would disclose at least some information from recent tax returns before the Nov. 2 election. But time passed and neither fulfilled that commitment. Gov.-elect Youngkin, who stepped down as co-CEO of The Carlyle Group in 2020, made $39.8 million last year, the Post Please turn to A4