Public-private partnership will fund five new 360º cameras to increase safety in Shockoe Bottom

The Shockoe Partnership, Venture Richmond, and the Richmond Police Department announced today a public-private partnership to enhance safety in Shockoe Bottom by installing five 360-degree cameras.

The new cameras will serve the growing and diverse area, which has experienced tremendous growth in the past several years with the renovation of Main Street Station, the addition of the 1717 Innovation Center, the creation of the Virginia Capital Trail, and soon-to-be-reopened 17th Street Farmers Market.

Earlier this year, Richmond City Police Chief Alfred Durham suggested installing cameras in the area but cited the need for funding partners. Venture Richmond and The Shockoe Partnership offered to fund the safety initiative. The camera investment totaled $30,000 and was funded entirely by private money; the bill split between the Shockoe Partnership – a coalition of area business leaders committed to the preservation and enhancement of the historic Shockoe corridor – and Venture Richmond. The cameras will be maintained and utilized by the City of Richmond and the Richmond Police Department.

“Shockoe Bottom is one of Richmond’s most historically and culturally-rich neighborhoods,” said Brian White, president of the Shockoe Partnership and head of Shockoe-based development firm Main Street Reality. “It’s already one of the city’s fastest-growing areas, but there is still so much untapped potential. These cameras are just another step in reaching that.”

“For years, cameras have been used in many other cities as an important tool for public safety. We are happy to help bring them to the Bottom and make the Chief’s vision a reality,” said Brian Jackson, Chairman of Venture Richmond and a partner with Hirschler Fleischer. “Hopefully, this public-private partnership can be a model replicated by other neighborhoods in the City that could benefit from a similar program.”

In total, five state-of-the-art, high-definition cameras were installed and are located at the following intersections:

• 17th Street and Main Street, observing north and east
• 17th Street and Franklin Street, observing north and west
• The 0000 block of 17th Street, observing the 17th Street Farmer’s Market and foot traffic from Walnut Alley
• 18th Street and Main Street, observing north and west
• 18th Street and Franklin Street, observing north and east

The five cameras to be installed will join a network of another eight that will be installed as part of the renovations to the 17th Street Market Plaza.

Information gathered by the new cameras will be shared with a myriad of various organizations and businesses, including the Richmond Police and Fire Departments, the Department of Taxation, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and other Shockoe Bottom businesses. The partnership hopes this will lead to greater coordination between local businesses and city and statewide organizations.

“I am pleased [with] how well we all worked together to make this happen,” said Richmond Police Department Chief Alfred Durham. “The enthusiastic support the RPD received from the Shockoe Partnership and Venture Richmond when I asked for funding for these safety cameras is (a) wonderful example of how public-private partnerships can work effectively to make our city safe.”