Lakeside looks ahead: public design charrette runs August 25–28

Henrico County is inviting residents to take part in shaping the future of the Lakeside Avenue business corridor through a four-day design charrette set for Aug. 25–28. The event will be held in the Kelly Education Center auditorium at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., and is being led by the county’s Planning Department in partnership with Glavé & Holmes Architecture. A charrette is a collaborative process that allows community members, designers, and planners to work together and exchange ideas in real time.

The focus of the charrette is the Lakeside Avenue corridor stretching from Henrico’s border with Richmond near Bryan Park to Hilliard Road, as well as Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Lakeside Park Club. Residents will have opportunities throughout the week to provide feedback, observe design work, and review emerging concepts. The event begins Monday, Aug. 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., when the project team will introduce themselves and gather initial ideas.

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., the public can drop in to watch the design process in progress. Wednesday, Aug. 27, from noon to 1:30 p.m., will feature a review of draft designs, with more feedback opportunities. The charrette will close on Thursday, Aug. 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with a presentation of the completed work and a discussion of next steps.

Residents are encouraged to attend any or all sessions, as feedback will be collected throughout the week to help guide the vision for the area. For more information, visit the county Planning Department’s page here or the county’s announcement here. Information about the venue is available on the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden website here.