IN NEED OF ATTENTION

▲ Blues Armory

600 E. Marshall St

It’s a disgrace. The fortress-like, architecturally-distinctive, 122year old Richmond Light Infantry Blues Armory, which once served as a fire station, and the food court and offices for the former Sixth Street Marketplace, is shuttered and choked by chain link fencing. This rusting sight greets thousands of visitors to downtown hotels and the Greater Richmond Convention Center. It shows a lack of civic pride and common sense that the exemplary landmark hasn’t been at least cleaned up.

Richmond public housing communities

Including Creighton, Fairfield, Gilpin and Mosby courts

The executive suite at the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has been a rapidly revolving door during the past four decades. Meanwhile, as local rents and home prices rise, social, economic and racial justice issues surrounding public housing heighten [and national media has taken notice of disparate health outcomes in overheated areas of Richmond that lack trees, shade and air conditioning].

As RRHA seeks to shrink and redistribute the populations of these communities, it should incorporate stronger environmental design standards into the new residences. For 40 years, there’s been a dearth of landscaping or meaningful outdoor living space

Manchester

Defined by Semmes Avenue, the James River, Maury Street and Cowardin Avenue

No local neighborhood has been all-but decimated, and then rebuilt so dramatically during the past 40 years. The floodwall is visually brutal and new housing structures exude the charm of stacked shipping containers. Too little thought and monetary out-lay has gone to traffic and pedestrian infrastructure, green spaces, recreation outlets, and historic interpretation of what was once an independent city.

Richmond Coliseum and Arthur Ashe, Jr. Athletic Center

The Diamond is apparently going to be rebuilt. The Richmond Kickers have brightened up weathered City Stadium with coats of paint and savvy soccer promotions. But why was the Richmond Coliseum, a grand facility with a dramatic interior and terrific sight lines, shut down suddenly some years ago? Wasn’t it essential as a convention lure? And didn’t we once enjoy Elvis, the P. T. Barnum and Bailey Circus, Tina Turner and Elton John here? Across town, folks aren’t sure who has authority with the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center. Am I missing something? Who decided that major in-town public sports facilities are dinosaurs?

▼ Greater Richmond Transit Company Transfer Plaza

North Ninth Street between Marshall and Leigh Streets

Much is made of the GRTC Pulse route that runs from Rockett’s Landing to Willow Lawn. Still, while riders may transfer to other buses along the route, precious few locals ride the bus by choice. This has much to do with the lack of such rider amenities as signage, shelter and benches. The downtown central transfer point, preposterously called a “plaza,” is currently being relocated to a North Ninth Street surface parking lot. Expect little.

Editor’s note: Edwin Slipek was a former Style weekly senior contributing editor and wrote architectural criticism for 32 years.

For a more comprehensive list, go to styleweekly.com/architecture.