A Resistance To Reflexively Go Along Part III: VCU

If you look back at real leaders in history, they were seldom timid. I can't remember the last real leader from Richmond's past. The two are not unrelated.

Teddy Roosevelt led the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill. The Bedford Boys were just kids and the first to hit Omaha Beach. Evel Knievel broke half the bones in his body and still came back for more.

In Richmond, however, our Planning Commission (PC) is just slightly less bold and daring. PC Chair Robert Mills in reference to the Downtown Master Plan's (DMP) suggestion on how to deal with the enormity of state and VCU owned land in the studied area said "we need to realize our position with VCU and the state. They are building some of the best buildings architecturally and reviving empty areas."

The West Hospital's future became a hot topic and the DMP currently says it should not be torn down but VCU wants to do so eventually. Mr. Mills suggested better communication of our position between all three parties, less antagonism in the DMP, and then said "We need to know our limits."

The French didn't surrender that fast in 1940 but it seems to be ok to subordinate the city's interests for someone else's. Why the hell not? We've been doing it for decades, right?

At this point Rachel Flynn noted the city does have a say in such matters through an Environmental Impact Review (EIR), which the city used to alter VCU's plan for the Cary St. Gym project. VCU wanted to close Linden St. and the city was against it (no superblocks) and won the day.

So we can have an impact rather than "reflexively go along." Which makes it troubling that the PC is so ready to just toss in the towel when we can have input and make a difference.

The interesting thing I learned about the EIR is that the State Department of Environmental Quality asks for our input. Bev Lacy said we should use this this to achieve compatibility (i.e. not get run over) but some on the PC are ready to just say well, there is nothing we can do about it. But Flynn is using existing state law to favor the city's vision. Good for her - and us.

PC member William Hutchins didn't even wait to throw in the towel - he went down during the instructions. He said we "can't really have an input or take a position" on the West Hospital in our DMP and we needed to cut down on the sniping of VCU's standards in the document. "Why alienate them? They do a tremendous amount for the city."

In my notes at this point I wrote "who's town is this?"

There is no question VCU has generated untold amounts of redevelopment and energy in the midtown and downtown area. I for one am supportive and admire their efforts, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything they do nor believe we should bow down and let them do whatever they want.

They are an economic engine as important as any other in this city, but they do not run the city, they are not elected to serve the city, and their interests primarily serve, as they should, the students and faculty and not the rest of us who live here.

Mr. Mills suggested taking out the picture and italicized statement about the West Hospital remaining because it was too pointed. Mr. Law chimed in and noted that there are hardly any hospitals left in the city and that they were critically needed to remain and thrive and to do that they needed a modern facility.

He then asked "is this a Master Plan or a report on the public's desires?" After I picked my jaw off the floor and took the pen out of my skull I thought why can't these guys see that it can be and should be both and why can't our PC and other blue blooders get that through their heads?

Is that too difficult a concept or am I just a simpleton?

It is another shining example of reflexively going along for consensus sake. If this city were a school of fish, we would die off because we would never return up river against the current to spawn. Too much effort and some of the other fish might get mad.

At least Bev Lacy - again the voice of hope on this committee - said we need to reaffirm adaptive reuse and let the state and VCU know our values and where we are and want to go. Amen to that.

Contrast that with Mills' statement that followed: "It is dangerous to override VCU's Master Plan in our Master Plan."

Dangerous to whom? Is it ok and within our rights to at least say this is what we believe? Will VCU send us to bed without dinner if we dare stand up and say, "Hey guys, we'd like to talk to you about this issue and see if we can both benefit from it? instead of "Here are the keys, go to town because you really own it!"

Victor Dover then said they could and would address these concerns point by point in their revisions and suggested that it would be possible but that the color coded map of downtown could be changed to color white - which means outside the study area - all the VCU and state owned buildings.

That essentially would mean the city is giving up any type of say in how those properties affect the street next to it, the building across the street, or how it will effect where we want to go. Dover said he didn't think the PC was at that point yet but in my eyes they have their white flags handy.

Which sums up the entire three hours - our Planning Commission seems ready to subordinate our DMP to VCU's own, they want to slow down the implementation process, and would prefer two documents so escape valves are present and we don't have to follow the rules and can discard the vision if and when the next big boondoggle comes along.

The city's interests as a whole have never been as important as those that make up the parts. Our history is littered with the individual pieces being given priority over the whole pie. As long as the powers that be get theirs, they are happy. Sure they would like others to enjoy the pie, but if they don't they are secure with the fact that they got theirs.

Towards the end of the meeting, Mr. Law asked what was the urgency to adopt the DMP? The answer was that the momentum is there, the community is excited, and the Council budget process will soon be underway and study and seed money for implementation of first steps should be included in that process.

There were a few other items brought up I will save for later, but if you see a pattern here in Part I, Part II:The River, or Part III: VCU, it is that Richmond is not used to having engaged citizens. We are not used to having vision or the ability to make it happen. In this DMP we have both.

Nevertheless, many people are too scared to go out on a limb. We are too beholden to do what others tell us is best and too ready to believe what others tell us. And we are too scared to upset those that might shun us or speak ill of us on the cocktail party circuit or in boardrooms.

The DMP process had opened my eyes to urban planning and how it can affect and improve a city. It also opened my eyes to how detrimental and ingrained our timidness and indecision have become. They more than anything are holding us back from making the changes we all know we need to improve.

It was truly my "we have met the enemy and he is us" moment. Many of us have known that for a long time but it crystallized for me on Wednesday.

I thought I knew our attitude was bad but now I see it is much worse than I feared and we need to change it to decisive and courageous. At one point later on Wednesday I actually entertained the thought of moving somewhere else which I don't think I have ever done. I love it here and want to remain and see Richmond achieve a great future.

Those that want it to stay the same or change at a safe snail's pace and think their influence and ideas are from the hand of Midas count on us going away or losing the drive to stand up and be heard. But I think the attitude of change is here to stay whether they like it or not.

Richmond is much different that it was 10 years ago and has new residents from other cities and new ideas are taking hold, gaining ground, and being heard.

That spirit and fresh perspective have not permeated everywhere yet, but it has opened up many eyes to the potential that is our future. It is a bright future and one that need not be enjoyed by just by the small elite but by every resident.
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A Resistance To Reflexively Go Along Part II: The River
A Resistance to Reflexively Go Along Part I
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