Northside
City Council Members Gray and Hilbert release statement on Westwood Tract development
In a joint statement about the Westwood Tract development, Councilwoman Gray and Councilman Hilbert stated the following: “The Canopy project will cost City taxpayers and ratepayers at least $10 million.
Ginter and Sherwood Park neighbors have largely been against the Union Presbyterian Seminary’s development plans for the Westwood Tract. The current plan would consist of 301 units but has the potential to put as many as 1,100 units. The neighborhoods argue that the resulting impact on city services would be disastrous.
They now have a new pair of allies in Councilwoman Kim Gray and Councilman Chris Hilbert.
Full Statement:
The Honorable Kim B. Gray, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District, and The Honorable Chris A. Hilbert, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Northside 3rd Voter District, received a report from residents of neighborhoods in Richmond’s Northside area which summarized their concerns over the potential impact of the development of a portion of the Westwood Tract property, to be called the Canopy at Ginter Park.
On March 27, 2017, Richmond City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2017-R015 which requested the Administration of Mayor Levar M. Stoney, Richmond Public Schools Board of Trustees, and other affected governmental agencies to produce an impact study of the proposed Westwood Tract development. However, funding for the study was not identified.
While the submitted report is not a formal impact study produced by the Richmond City Government, residents of neighborhoods near the development collaborated with Richmond Public Schools, local engineers and state agencies to summarize potential costs to taxpayers and voice concerns over traffic safety issues, storm water drainage, impact on schools, and historic preservation in the area. The report estimates that the Canopy at Ginter Park development may have a taxpayer cost of $9.7 million to $13.2 million in the first five years to pay for school, roadway, and storm water drainage improvements, and further recommends that no further permits, approvals or development be allowed until the traffic and storm water issues are properly reviewed and fully resolved.
In a joint statement about the Westwood Tract development, Councilwoman Gray and Councilman Hilbert stated the following:
“The Canopy project will cost City taxpayers and ratepayers at least $10 million. We are trying to protect taxpayers and ratepayers throughout the entire City. We also believe that the traffic and storm water public safety issues raised in the report are troubling and deserve in-depth review before any development is allowed to occur on the site.”
CONTACT For more information, please contact:
Mr. Craig K. Bieber, Liaison for The Honorable Kim B. Gray, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District, at 804.646.6532 (office tel) or craig.bieber@richmondgov.com (email).
Ms. Lisa F. Townes, Liaison for The Honorable Chris A. Hilbert, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Northside 3rd Voter District, at 804.646.6055 (office tel) or lisa.townes@richmondgov.com(email).
