The city and Venture Richmond are prepared to cut the ribbon on a new, vibrant public space connecting the Historic Jackson Ward neighborhood and City Center. The intersection of Brook Road and W Marshall Street now hosts a three-part placemaking project consisting of a custom-designed parklet, pedestrian plaza, and intersection mural designed to provide space for community gatherings and art appreciation.

Designed by local firm Walter Parks Architects, this is the first custom-designed public parklet built in the City of Richmond. Located outside of ART 180, it will provide safe space for participants in the nonprofit’s youth programming to gather before and after class, and is open to the general public as well. 

Local artist Chris Visions designed the mural, which references the rich history of Jackson Ward and the neighborhood’s enduring mission to carry on a legacy of Black excellence. The design is based on the Sankofa, an Andikra symbol from Ghana meaning “to go back and retrieve/get,” and the colors echo the red, black and green of the Pan-African flag. ART 180 youth painted the mural as part of  the culmination of their Community Program earlier this fall.

The plaza is a result of reclaiming unused public space in front of Gallery 5 and restoring the historic bricks that existed beneath the asphalt. Artist Chris Visions created an artistic extension of the intersection mural into the plaza space and Venture Richmond provided bike racks for people visiting Gallery 5, ART 180, and neighboring businesses and residents.

The Broad Street Task Force, a group of proponents of Richmond’s Downtown convened by the mayor, shared that residents want more vibrant spaces to gather in the area. This, alongside an Asphalt Art Initiative placemaking grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the advocacy of community partners, acted as a catalyst for this new public space placemaking project at the intersection of Brook and Marshall.

City of Richmond staff from Planning and Development Review, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Utilities and the Public Art Commission worked alongside Venture Richmond to make the project possible. Additional project partners include ART 180, Big Secret, CB Chandler Construction, Cite Design, Gallery 5, Richmond Toolbank, Vanderbilt Properties, and Walter Parks Architects.

A ribbon cutting for the placemaking project will take place on site in front of Gallery 5 (200 W Marshall St) on Wednesday, November 17 at 2:00 p.m. All are welcome.

Quotes from partners:

Mayor Levar Stoney: “The pandemic has taught us that safe and welcoming outdoor space is more important than ever. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the many people who dedicated their time and talents to make this possible. It will be an enduring community asset and a model for future endeavors.”

Max Hepp-Buchanan, Director of Riverfront and Downtown Placemaking, Venture Richmond: “It has been so rewarding to see this shared vision take shape over two years of work with the ever-growing team of businesses, nonprofit organizations, residents, and artists in the area immediately surrounding the intersection of Brook and Marshall. By working together and bringing everything we have to offer to the table, we have created a sense of place through lasting infrastructure change that everyone in the neighborhood can enjoy.”

Prabir Mehta, Chair of the Board of Directors, Gallery 5: “Having a place for the Jackson Ward community to gather, enjoy art, and interact with one another is vital for our neighborhood's general health. Gallery5 is excited too as we will now be able to create unique programing that we would have never been able to do in the past. We're very excited to see how this new plaza will become a home for engaging communities through the arts!”

Sean Wheeler, Project Manager and Registered Architect, Walter Parks Architects: “WPA collaborated on the design and provided drawings for the project. When we entered the Park(ing) Day competition [hosted by Venture Richmond] back in 2019, we were excited to try and create an engaging but temporary public space. And although all of the installations only lasted a day, the transformations and interactions within those creative spaces sparked hope for a more permanent placemaking. That is why our office and I think the immediate neighborhood were willing to pursue a more durable site specific design in our shared public way.”

Marlene Paul, Cofounder and Executive Director of ART 180: “I love the ‘intersection’ of public art, placemaking, and community building that this intersection promotes. As a nine-year resident of Marshall Street, ART 180 welcomes this new way to connect our young people and our teaching artists to our neighborhood, honor its history, and positively participate in its future. We hope the parklet and plaza will be active spaces that invite the community beyond our block to gather and connect. The mural is intended to slow cars, just as the parklet and plaza will seek to slow human beings—to gather, connect, intersect.” 

Susan Glasser, Secretary of the Richmond Public Art Commission: “This mural embodies public art in every sense: created by a local artist, painted by local young people and marking space for local gatherings. The Public Art Commission is proud to have supported this effort and looks forward to continuing our work to empower the making of art for all.”
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Systemic Sight Distance Improvements at Signalized Intersections Project 

RICHMOND, VA – The Department of Public Works (DPW) Transportation Engineering Division will be improving the visibility of vehicular and pedestrian traffic signal heads at 399 signalized intersections across the City. Work for the Systemic Sight Distance Improvements at Signalized Intersections Project starts Monday, November 15. Temporary lane closure notices needed for this project will be issued in advance. Project improvements include:

• Tree pruning at signalized approaches and signalized intersection corners to maintain vehicular and pedestrian signal head visibility, and
• The installation of high-visibility traffic signal backplates, also known as retroreflective backplates at 20 signalized intersections. These signal heads are more conspicuous and they increase visibility in both daytime and nighttime conditions, helping to reduce crashes at the intersection.

This project is funded throughout the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) totaling approximately $1.3 million.

For information on the Department of Public Works, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public-works or email us at askpublicworks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 178 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1.

The City of Richmond’s online permitting portal will be down for a system update beginning Friday, November 12th at 4 p.m. through Tuesday, November 16th at 8 a.m. During this time, users will not have access to the permitting portal.

The system update will impact all portal operations, including submitting permit requests, pulling existing permits, paying invoices, scheduling inspections, and any other tasks typically completed within the portal.

Once restored, the portal will feature several significant interface changes. An updated user guide is available at www.rva.gov/planning-development-review/online-permit-portal to assist with the transition.

For questions or issues, please call (804) 646-4169 or email CSSHelp@richmondgov.com.

For more information about the permitting portal, visit: www.rva.gov/planning-development-review/online-permit-portal

RICHMOND, VA – The Department of Public Works (DPW) has begun implementation of new bike lane projects throughout the city. These projects will enhance our transportation infrastructure, improve safety for all roadway users, and are an important part of the City’s commitment to Vision Zero. Using designs selected from two public engagement opportunities, the enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure project will be completed as part of the City’s paving and resurfacing program by summer 2022 on the following corridors:

• Brookland Parkway (from Arthur Ashe Boulevard/Hermitage Road to Brook Road)
• Marshall Street (from 29^th Street to 21^st Street)
• Walmsley Boulevard (from the west City line to Belmont Road)
• Warwick Road (from Hull Street to Richmond Highway)

Of note, two additional corridors were included in the public engagement but will not be completed this fiscal year. They are: Colorado Avenue (from Hampton Street to Dance Street) and Grove Avenue (from Shadwell Road to Seneca Road). As Colorado Avenue was removed from the paving schedule, implementation of the proposed bike lane project will be delayed until the street is resurfaced. Additionally, based on feedback received, DPW will not move forward with the proposed bike lane project on Grove Avenue at this time. The street is still included as part of the paving program and will be resurfaced, but the existing conditions will be restored and no additional improvements are proposed.

This project also supports the Better Streets multimodal approach by implementing safety improvements such as high-visibility crosswalks for people who walk, accessible curb ramps for people who roll, and dedicated space for people who bike or scoot.

More information, including results from the public engagement, can be found on the City’s website at www.rva.gov/public-works/pedestrian-bicycling-and-trails  If you have any questions, please contact Emily Dalphy at 804-646-0346 or email Emily.Dalphy@rva.gov.

For information on the Department of Public Works, please visit us online at www.rva.gov/public-works or email us at askpublicworks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA

The city has hired Sabrina Joy-Hogg as the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Finance and Administration.

The Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Finance and Administration oversees the Finance, Budget and Strategic Planning, Human Resources, Procurement, and Information Technology Departments and reports directly to the Chief Administrative Officer.

“I am fortunate to have been selected by the City of Richmond and am excited to join a stellar team of individuals,” said Ms. Joy-Hogg. “My work in international, state and local governments has taught me many valuable lessons. I look forward to using those experiences to enhance the work that Mr. Saunders and his team have already begun to provide the best city services to the people of Richmond.”

“Sabrina Joy-Hogg brings unparalleled expertise and enthusiasm to this role,” said Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders. “With her experience in a variety of comparable localities, she’ll be both an innovative and dependable addition to the team.”

“I couldn’t be more excited about bringing Ms. Joy-Hogg on as a Deputy Chief Administrative Officer,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “Our Finance and Administration portfolio is full of hardworking, creative public servants. I have no doubt that under her strong portfolio leadership, unified around a vision of efficiency and being customer-focused, they will thrive.”

Ms. Joy-Hogg has a total of three decades of experience in public service. She previously served as the Chief Deputy City Manager of Norfolk, Virginia and Deputy City Manager of Charlotte, North Carolina. Before accepting this role, she served as a residential technical advisor to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of the Republic of Uganda through the United States Treasury.

Before her time in leadership roles in Norfolk, Charlotte and the U.S. Treasury, Ms. Joy-Hogg worked as a Policy and Planning Specialist for the Commonwealth’s Department of Planning and Budget, headquartered in Richmond.

The DCAO for Finance and Administration seat was previously occupied by Lenora Reid. It had not been filled during her tenure as acting Chief Administrative Officer or during her subsequent absence.

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