Media Advisory
Monday, October 11, 2021
Contact: Devin Wood
Cell: 804-484-4800
Devin.Wood@rva.gov

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond has launched a new website to start marketing the redevelopment of the 66.7 acre Diamond site on North Arthur Ashe Boulevard. The new website precedes a Request for Interest (RFI) that will be released by the city before the end of 2021. The city has also created a new webpage on RVA.gov to keep citizens informed on the vision, process, and opportunity for the redevelopment site. Both websites will have documents associated with the RFI process after the RFI is released.

“The Diamond site is the premier redevelopment opportunity on the east coast and presents a transformational opportunity for Richmond,” said Maritza Mercado Pechin, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Development Review and leader of the city’s Office of Equitable Development. “Residents were clear in communicating their desires for the redevelopment of the site in Richmond 300 and the Greater Scott’s Addition Small Area Plan. Generating interest in the redevelopment opportunity and issuing the RFI are the next steps to see the shared vision become a reality.”

The marketing website can be found at www.rvadiamond.com.

The new webpage on RVA.gov can be found at www.rva.gov/economic-development/diamond.

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RICHMOND, Va. – The Department of Public Works kicks off the city’s annual Leaf Collection Program on October 4. Residents have two collection options for bagged leaves, (1) put out up to 10 bags on their regular trash pick-up day and (2) use the Sector Collection system, which coincides with trash collection days, but allows for an unlimited number of bags and an extended collection period. Biodegradable bags are preferred.

• Sector 1: Wednesday trash collection
  
  • All bagged leaves will be picked up between November 3 and November 17
• Sector 2: Thursday trash collection
  
  • All bagged leaves will be picked up between November 18 and November 27
• Sector 3: Monday trash collection
  
  • All bagged leaves will be picked up between November 29 and December 11
• Sector 4: Tuesday trash collection
  
  • All bagged leaves will be picked up between December 14 and December 31

Vacuum collection begins on November 1. There is a $30 fee per request for this service. Residents must remove sticks, stones or other objects that may damage equipment and rake leaves to the curb or property line, but not into the street or gutters. The leaves must be ready for collection when the request is made. The service will take place within 15 days of the request. Please note, vacuum service may be delayed during inclement weather.

Requests and payments can be made at www.RVA311.com or by calling 3-1-1 or by mailing a check/money order to: City Hall, DPW Vacuum Service; 900 East Broad Street, Room 704; Richmond, VA 23219 

A service request ID number is generated for requests made through the RVA311 system, please be sure to include that number on the check or money order.

Lastly, there is an option to do-it-yourself. Residents can drop off loose leaves or put them in biodegradable bags at East Richmond Road Convenience Center at 3800 East Richmond Road or at the Maury Street Landfill at 2900 Maury Street. The transfer station located at 3506 North Hopkins Road accepts only bagged leaves. Additionally, residents can compost or mulch leaves. Compost bins are available for $41.50. Send an email to askpublicworks@rva.gov or call 804-646-8325 for information on ordering a compost bin.  

For more information on leaf collection please visit www.rva.gov/public-works or for assistance, call 3-1-1.

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.

Para leer una copia de las declaraciones del alcalde, oprima aquí. Para conocer más detalles del plan, visite la página www.rva.gov/arp.

Richmond, Virginia — Hoy, durante la reunión informal del Concejo de la ciudad de Richmond, fue presentado el borrador del plan de inversiones para unos $155 millones otorgados por el gobierno federal.

El borrador incorpora las opiniones de unas dos mil personas que llenaron la encuesta, además de las perspectivas particulares de los miembros del Concejo de la ciudad, quienes compartieron las prioridades y preocupaciones principales de cada uno de sus distritos.

El alcalde llamó al plan “un plano para una mejor y más poderosa reconstrucción, a través de inversiones estratégicas, intencionales y equitativas que satisfacen la promesa de una calidad de vida que nuestros residentes quieren, necesitan y merecen”.

Los siguientes son algunos puntos llamativos del plan. Puede encontrar los detalles completos en la página www.rva.gov/arp:

Incluye $32 millones para volver a construir hogares asequibles y saludables. Esto incluye $20 millones para el Fideicomiso para Vivienda Asequible, lo que permitiría cumplir con la meta establecida en la Agenda de Equidad apoyada por el Concejo cuatro años antes de lo programado.

El plan propone la creación de un Fondo para Equidad en Salud de $5 millones, que sería administrado por el Distrito de Salud de la Ciudad de Richmond mediante un memorando de acuerdo (MOU, por sus siglas en inglés) con la ciudad. Este fondo apoyaría una respuesta continua contra el COVID-19, además de salud materno-infantil, acceso a alimentación, salud mental y del comportamiento, entre otros.

Dijo la directora de Equidad en la Salud del Distrito de Salud de la Ciudad de Richmond, Jackie Lawrence: “Sabemos que el acceso individual y familiar a la alimentación, a los servicios preventivos y de salud mental tienen un impacto enorme en su salud… hemos visto cómo esto ha ocurrido durante la pandemia, pero esto no es exclusivo del COVID-19. Una inversión financiera en servicios de salud pública que sea incluyente y que tenga en cuenta los determinantes sociales de la salud, tendrá beneficios de larga duración para la comunidad”.

Se dirigirán $2 millones hacia el cuidado infantil (guarderías, etc.) y otros $78 millones hacia los parques y centros comunitarios, para un total de $80 millones de inversión en los niños y sus familias, la cual fue señalada como la prioridad número uno de los richmondeses durante la primera ronda de participación pública. Los centros comunitarios que recibirían la inversión incluyen a los siguientes:

• T.B. Smith
• Southside
• Calhoun
• y un nuevo centro comunitario en el actual Lucks Field.

Con los fondos provistos por el plan, los centros comunitarios se convertirán en centros de oportunidades – ejes de los vecindarios, que pueden brindarles a sus residentes ayuda y acceso a asistencia y beneficios financieros y de vivienda, además de servicios para la tercera edad, acceso a la alimentación, cuidado en salud, educación para el bienestar y programación para jóvenes, así como capacitación y desarrollo de la fuerza laboral. 

El director de Parques, Recreación e Instalaciones Comunitarias, Chris Frelke, dijo acerca de esta inversión: “Esta es la más grande inversión en Parques y Recreación que se haya hecho en varias generaciones y es un acto monumental para darle prioridad a las comunidades de Richmond que han sido ignoradas con más frecuencia”.

El plan también incluye un total de $23.3 millones para planear y enfrentar los desafíos ambientales y climáticos de la ciudad, $8.5 millones de inversión en seguridad pública y $5.9 millones en apoyo financiero. Si desea conocer más detalles, visite la página www.rva.gov/arp.

Mañana lanzaremos la segunda fase de la participación en el plan propuesto, lo que incluye tanto oportunidades digitales como en persona para que el público dé su opinión.

El alcalde ha puesto la meta de aprobar el plan antes de que finalice octubre, haciendo hincapié en la necesidad de “ponernos a trabajar para continuar mejorando las vidas de nuestros residentes”.

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To view a copy of the mayor’s remarks, click here. For plan details, visit www.rva.gov/arp.

At today’s informal meeting of Richmond City Council, the draft spending plan for roughly $155 million from the federal government was presented.

The draft plan incorporates the feedback of roughly 2,000 survey respondents and the unique insights of Richmond City Council members, who shared the core priorities and concerns of each of their districts.

The mayor called the plan, “a blueprint for building back better and stronger through strategic, intentional and equitable investments that deliver on the promise of a quality of life our residents want, need and deserve.”

The following are some highlights from the plan. Full plan details can be found at www.rva.gov/arp:

It includes $32 million to build back affordable and healthy homes. This includes $20 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, meeting the goal established in the Equity Agenda and supported by City Council four years ahead of schedule.

The plan proposes the creation of a $5 million Health Equity fund, managed by the Richmond City Health District through an MOU with the city. The fund would support ongoing COVID-19 response, maternal and infant health, food access, mental and behavioral health, and more.

Says Jackie Lawrence, Director of Health Equity for the Richmond City Health District, “"We know that an individual's and a family's access to food, mental health services, and preventative services has a massive impact on their health... we've seen this play out during the pandemic, but this is not unique COVID-19. A financial investment for public health services that is inclusive of those that address the social determinants of health will have long lasting benefits to our community."

$2 million is directed toward childcare and $78 million in parks and community centers, totaling $80 million invested in children and families, residents’ top priority in the first round of public engagement. The funded community centers include:

• TB Smith Community Center
• Southside Community Center
• Calhoun Center
• A new center on the current site of Lucks Field.

With funding in the plan, the community centers will become opportunity centers - neighborhood hubs that can provide residents with assistance and access to financial and housing assistance and benefits, senior services, food access, healthcare, wellness education, youth programming and workforce development and training.

Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Chris Frelke says of the investment, “This is the largest investment in Parks and Recreation in generations and a monumental movement to prioritize Richmond’s most often overlooked communities.”

The plan also includes $23.3 million in total to plan for and address climate and environmental challenges in the city, an $8.5 million investment in public safety, and $5.9 million in economic supports. For full details, visit www.rva.gov/arp.

Tomorrow, the city will launch the second phase of our engagement on the proposed plan, which will include both digital and in-person opportunities to provide feedback.

The mayor set a goal to approve the plan before the end of October, emphasizing the need to, “get to work and continue to improve the lives of our residents.”

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The 10^th Annual Richmond 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will be held at a new location, to properly adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. Hundreds of participants are registered to climb the stairs at the City Stadium (Address: 3201 Maplewood Avenue) on Saturday, September 11, 2021. The event honors and remembers the 343 FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives on September 11, 2001, so that others may live. Each participant will pay tribute to a FDNY firefighter by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.

Here is an outline of the event schedule:

7-8 a.m. Walk-up registration

8:30 a.m. Ceremony begins

9 a.m. Stair Climb begins

Anyone still interested in participating can sign up for $40 during the walk-up registration period. Cash, card, check and payments via Venmo will be accepted.

This year’s ceremony will feature remarks from several individuals including Mayor Levar Stoney and Fire Chief Melvin Carter. They will also participate in the Memorial Stair Climb. The guest speaker will be retired Deputy Chief of DC Fire and EMS Michael Donlon.

September 11, 2021 marks the 20^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. On the National Day of Service and Remembrance, the City of Richmond will also hold a Public Safety Fair at the City Stadium – while the Memorial Stair Climb is taking place. Participating agencies include the Richmond Police Department, the Richmond Office of Emergency Management, the Richmond Ambulance Authority, the Richmond City Health District, the Richmond Sheriff’s Office, and the Richmond Department of Emergency Communications.

The Public Safety Fair will feature a variety of demonstrations and safety information for attendees of all ages. There will be plenty of parking, several food trucks on-site, and drink concessions available.

In addition to the Memorial Stair Climb and Public Safety Fair, the City of Richmond has also planned several volunteer projects for the public to engage. Please go to the following link to learn more and register to serve – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Sept11-2021.