All Roads Lead to Shockoe!

Welcome the conversation about the Revitalization of the Historic Shockoe Valley, Richmond's center for tourism as it's primary entertainment district. Where some may argue this fact, it is essential to the entire city that this fact be reinforced and promoted. That is what I am here to do!

So, some of you might have been following the idea of where the next stadium might be built. I am a proponent for having a stadium built in Shockoe Bottom, the obvious entertainment district of Richmond that needs an anchor for redevelopment.

For those of us that study urban planning, all entertainment districts are anchored by some sort of arena or stadium and historic districts are anchored by some sort of massive historic landmark. Why not do both? Shockoe Bottom is the "Historic District" of the city and also the obvious entertainment district. In every other city across the country, the historic district is also the entertainment district. By building a stadium in Shockoe, it would bring about new developments similar to that of Kansas City's Power and Light District. The area would be more attractive to developers like the Cordish Companies (the developers of KC Power & Light).  By funding a new stadium project, new traffic patterns would also accompany such a development to relieve congestion.  Better sidewalks and lighting would be installed, landlords would be forced to hold their tenants more accountable for their businesses, and the area would become more attractive to more upscale restaurants and nightlife establishments. It would trigger a boom in what is already the obvious location of Richmond's central district!

For those of you that are against a Shockoe Bottom Stadium, do you ever go to Shockoe Bottom? My guess is no. Do you study urban planning and development? Probably not. Do you know that tourism is the third largest revenue source for both the city and the state? Well now you do. Anchoring Shockoe Bottom with a Stadium will centralize tourism to the center of the city. Being that Shockoe Bottom is the first neighborhood laid out by William Mayo in 1737, it is the most historic neighborhood in Richmond. It needs an anchor for revitalization and a Stadium is the answer! Sure you can stick to your Fan bars and restaurants, and they will always still be fun, but Shockoe Bottom will be where the real entertainment district of Richmond is and will always be located!

Now to help with traffic congestion with the area, a new plan shall be proposed. Here is what I suggest. Franklin Street should be continued one-way east through the Train Shed all the way to 21st Street. Main Street should be one-way headed west starting at 21st Street. 16th Street should be one-way heading south from the southbound lanes of Oliver Hill to Main, 18th Street should be one-way headed north from Canal to the northbound lanes of Oliver Hill. Both Grace and Marshall Streets would be one-way headed west starting at 21st Street. 21st Street will be one way headed south and 20th Street will be one way headed north. 19th Street will be one-way headed south. 17th Street will become a pedestrian walkway and preserve the cobblestones. 

Let's talk numbers.

The land value of City Stadium, the Diamond, and the Coliseum are $35 million combined, $102 million if you include the improvement values. And while we are on the subject, might as well build an arena nearby the stadium and make it a sports complex. The price of the stadium land, which is majority owned by the City of Richmond, is $8 million. The price of the arena land is $13 million. That leaves $13 million left over to put towards building a stadium and an arena, just based on the land values of the sold city properties and the improvement values of the needed land. 

Now this would just be a start to the redevelopment of Shockoe Bottom, but acknowledging it as the Entertainment District of Richmond is the first step towards revitalization. Stadiums and Arenas are key to developing entertainment districts. They are the large venues of entertainment for sports, concerts, and large spectacles. Afterwards, people want to walk to restaurants and bars to have a nearby bite to eat and couple of drinks to celebrate victory (or defeat). Or they just want to keep the party going and they don't want to travel far to do it! They could take a carriage ride through Shockoe Bottom and Shockoe Slip. They could walk up to Church Hill and see the best views of the city. They could walk over to the Canal Walk and take a Canal Cruise and learn about how Richmond's waterways were vital to our history. There is so much history in Shockoe Bottom, but right now, no one cares to know about it because it is our biggest eyesore. Let's make it pretty, lets make it fun, and let's do something about it NOW!