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Past PSG Events

Local Foods Celebration!

  • Thursday, June 27th from 5pm to 8pm at Tuckahoe Plantation

Members of Falls of the James Group Sierra Club, the Center for Rural Culture (the umbrella organization for the Richmond Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter), Partnership for Smarter Growth, Richmond Green Drinks and our contributing sponsor, Capital Region Land Conservancy gathered for a lovely event, along with some local Farmers Market vendors and organic and vegetarian restaurateurs, to celebrate the approach of summer. Thank you to those in attendance!

Innsbrook Walk & Talk: Growing Smarter in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Places
  • Thursday, June 3, 5:30 - 7:30: Innsbrook Office Park, Glen Allen

    • Innsbrook Archive Picture

Over 20 citizens attended part 3 of PSG's 4-part Smart Economics Series to hear presentations about the history, inspiration, and process of the auto-oriented office park's potential evolution into a mixed-use, pedestrian friendly community. Innsbrook is evolving from its early-1980s roots. The Innsbrook Owners Association is examining how this traditional, car-oriented office park can become a place where people can work, live, and shop. Henrico County Planning Department's recent study, requested by the Board of Supervisors in September of 2009 as a component of the Comprehensive Plan adopted in August 2009, recommends redeveloping this site into a mixed use community. PSG hosted this event to facilitate conversation about the opportunities and obstacles to achieving this vision and how Innsbrook Next will affect the big picture of the Richmond region's environmental and economic sustainability.

PSG’s Smart Economics Program is a 4 part program illustrating the economic impacts of the choices we make in where and how we grow in rural, urban, and suburban places.  

Manchester Walk & Talk: Growing Smarter in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Places

  • Thursday, May 20th, 5:30 - 7:30: Manchester District, Richmond

    • Manchester Archive Pic

For part 2 of PSG's 4-part Smart Economics Series, over 35 participants came together to learn from smart growth experts and developers about Manchester's urban fabric and infill opportunities that will accommodate major growth with mixed uses and incomes. On March 22nd, City Council approved the Manchester Rezoning, which marked a historic first step in the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan. The new zoning designation changes from M-2 heavy-industrial district to a more flexible RF-2 “riverfront” designation that accommodates residential, commercial, and office uses. The Plan for Old Manchester provides recommendations for creating the unique urban village envisioned by the community. The primary goal of the City is to encourage the development of Old Manchester as a premier in-town mixed-use community that builds on the unique historic character of the neighborhood. A blend of residential, commercial, office and institutional uses will be developed to create an urban village on the James River where the community can live, work, shop and recreate.

PSG’s Smart Economics Program is a 4 part program illustrating the economic impacts of the choices we make in where and how we grow in rural, urban, and suburban places.  

New Kent Walk & Talk: Growing Smarter in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Places

  • Thursday, May 13th, 5:30 - 7:30: New Kent, New Kent Courthouse Village

    • New Kent Archive Pic

Over 30 citizens gathered to explore New Kent Courthouse Village and hear from the developer, architect, and planner who were behind the process and a citizen and smart growth leader who watched the process evolve. The Village is comprised of Preservation Park business & cultural center and Maidstone. Community stakeholders were involved in determining that this was the location where New Kent sought new growth. A node, though incomplete, already existed as the historic government and education complex for the County.  The creation of a Village Ordinance
has made possible developer John Crump's vision of infilling this area with residential and commercial development.  As rural areas expand, PSG encourages new growth to be high quality, walkable, and sensitive to existing infrastructure and regional context, coupled with conservation and revitalization strategies. 

PSG’s Smart Economics Program is a 4 part program illustrating the economic impacts of the choices we make in where and how we grow in rural, urban, and suburban places.  

Tools to Protect the Land You Love: PDR and TDR

  • Tuesday, May 11th,7:00 - 9:00: Chesterfield County Cosby High School Auditorium, 14300 Fox Club Parkway

See how landowners in Virginia Beach are using a Purchase of Development Rights program to protect their land and pocketbooks while the local government and taxpayers avoid paying for new infrastructure. Learn how a Transfer of Development Rights program can benefit landowners, developers, communities, and local governments. Hear how Virginia’s Office of Farmland Preservation can help landowners and local governments protect farmland, forests, and open space. Learn how a Land Conservancy can assist landowners who wish to donate conservation easements and earn tax credits.

Jane's Walk

  • Saturday, May 2nd, 3:00 p.m.: Chimborazo Park, Church Hill, Richmond

Jane's Walk will be held in 65 cities worldwide [35 in Canada, 25 in the USA] with a combined total of over 450 walking tours available. And now, Richmond will not be left behind! The goal is to be inspired by the work of Jane Jacobs,author and activist, and to look closely at how people live in, work in, and enjoy their urban environment. 

As the site for the inaugural Jane’s Walk in Richmond, the organizers have selected the Church Hill neighborhood, a community located immediately east of Downtown Richmond and rich with history and culture. Learn more.

 

Conservation Tools to Protect Your Land

3.20.10

Landowners and conversation minded citizens from near and far gathered at Dorey Park to learn more about tools available to protect land. Participants learned about tax credits, how conservation easements work and what costs are involved. Featuring Varina District Supervisor Jim Donati, landowners, and experts and exhibitors from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Conservation Partners, Virginia Department of Forestry, Capital Region Land Conservancy, Partnership for Smarter Growth, Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District, Williamsburg Environmental Group, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Association for the Preservation of Henrico Antiquities, Varina Beautification Committee, and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

2nd Annual River City Saunter: Bus Tour and Regional Community Celebration

10.25.09

Over 150 people absorbed the sights of the bus tours – underutilized land and blight in the inner suburbs, juxtaposed with new developments and roads on former fields and forests. The positive message of opportunity in abandonment was hard to miss against the backdrop of the former Cloverleaf Mall, a future mixed-use development site, where participants enjoyed local food and music.  Later that night, elected officials and community and business leaders saw themselves on every news channel highlighting the importance of revitalization and conservation. Learn more.

PSG Open House and 5 Year Anniversary Celebration

8.13.09

PSG friends and supporters gathered to enjoy homebaked cake and punch, to commemorate our progress, to honor our leadership, and to warm up our new office at 2319 E. Broad Street at St. John's Parish Center in Historic Church Hill. Learn more.

James River Branch Rail-to-Trail Community Interest Meetings

07.24.09 • 10.27.09

Over 75 citizens gathered to learn more about the potential and possibility of transforming an abandoned railway into a Southside neighborhood trail. At the follow-up meeting, dozens of citizens reviewed the landscape architects plans and helped make this great idea become a reality for the Southside. Contact Eli Wong at Eli.Wong@richmondgov.com for questions or to get involved.

River City Saunter Bus Tour Test Run

06.25.09

PSG friends, including elected officials, non-profit and business, and citizen leaders, boarded a bus to test-run the River City Saunter route designed to open eyes to the need for smarter growth in the Richmond region. Participants gathered at the historic Byrd Park Pump House and shared their insights on how to best maximize the opportunity the River City Saunter provides the community. Learn more.

Citizen Education Workshops

05.16.09 • 06.06.09

Over 35 participants became smarter growth advocates and conservation easement champions at our Citizen Education Workshops held in Midlothian and Sandston. PSG and Capital Region Land Conservancy sponsored the Workshops, entitled Planning Strong Communities: Rural Land Conservation and Your Role as a Citizen Promoting Smarter Growth in the Richmond region. Participants learned from other citizens who have lead citizen participation in planning efforts in their communities, became veterans of Planning 101, and absorbed the principles of smarter growth, community organizing, media tools, conservation easements, and effective lobbying!

Many thanks to our great speakers: Maureen Moslow Benway, Pattie Bland, Supervisor Jimmy Burrell, Mike Christen, Supervisor Marleen Durfee, Helen Graham, Lisa Guthrie, Jane Koontz, Adele MacLean, Pam McCune, Nick Rogers, Jason Roop, Lynn Wilson, and Martha Wingfield. Look for more PSG workshops in the fall!

Nick Rogers, Charlottesville Neighborhood Planner, shares the basics of planning - and how to participate in the process with confidence!

Garden Party: A Goochland Gathering to Celebrate Our Community's Healthy Future

05.07.09

Over 120 Goochland citizens and elected officials gathered at beautiful Tuckahoe Plantation, to celebrate PSG and a shared vision of conservation and smarter growth in Goochland county and the Richmond regon. Keynote speaker Stewart Schwartz, PSG Steering Committee member and Executive Director of D.C.'s Coalition for Smarter Growth, spoke about the need to learn from other localities' decisions and ensure that Goochland maintain its rural character and community integrity through citizen engagement in planning. Attendees enjoyed local wine from Barboursville Vineyards and local food catered by Edible Garden in the lovely Tuckahoe gardens.

Many thanks to our hosts, Sue and Tad Thompson, and the exceptional Event Committee, Molly Harris, Hank Hartz, Evie Scott, Tad Thompson, and Ennion Williams. We also appreciate each and every guest who shared the evening with us.

Special thanks to our supporting organizations: Virginia Farm Bureau's Save Our Food Campaign and Capital Region Land Conservancy.

PSG Founding Members Martha and Lynn Wingfield enjoy the beautiful Tuckahoe Gardens, while Event Committee members Strother and Evie Scott and Hank Hartz discuss the benefits of smarter growth.

Event Committee member Ennion Williams takes in the scene of over 100 Goochland residents discussing smarter growth and enjoying local food from Edible Garden, while Sue Thompson guides guests through the interior of her beautiful historic home.

Host Tad Thompson welcomes guests to Tuckahoe, and introduces keynote speaker Stewart Schwartz of Coalition for Smarter Growth. Event Committee member Hank Hartz and PSG Coordinator Sheila Sheppard also share with guests their reasons for working toward smarter growth solutions.

Envision Richmond Kick-Off Meeting

01.15.09

Over 150 people gathered at the Expansion Joint in Manchester to connect with one another, learn about smarter growth in the City of Richmond, and explore the citizen role in shaping the future of our communities. The City's Department of Community Development, Rachel Flynn, presented on strategies for a more vibrant city, and PSG Coordinator Sheila Sheppard shared PSG's Blueprint for a Better Region power point presentation on PSG's grassroots eduction mission and smarter growth principles. Participants enjoyed refreshments courtesy of Gray Haven Winery and Ukrop's / First Market Bank and the tunes of River City Band, and scoped out the Scoot Richmond scooter we raffled in May. Listen to the audio, courtesy of John Murden of Church Hill's People's News.

The Grassroots Is Always Greener Workshop

11.15.08

About 25 individuals from around the region participated in a Saturday morning workshop designed to provide tools for smart growth advocacy. Presenters included planner John Zeugner, Sierra Club Virginia Director Glen Besa, and others.

Richmond Decision '08 Mayoral Candidate Forums

09.23.08 • 10.14.08 •10.28.08

The series, “Richmond Decision ’08,” was in response to the intense interest in this election by Richmond citizens, as well as many community groups, neighborhood associations and special-interest organizations, and was hosted September - October 2008.

Forum I: The Future of Downtown Richmond. The Renaissance Conference Center, 107 W. Broad St. Development, revitalization, city services and the Master Plan.

Forum II: Arts, Culture and Education. Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard. Arts and Culture and Richmond Public Schools.

Forum III: Living and Working in Richmond. The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. Growth, Safety, Environmentalism, Housing, Health Care and Workforce Issues.

Envision Richmond Seminars on the Downtown Master Plan and Our Role for a More Vibrant River City

06.25.08 • 10.07.08

Dozens of citizens deepend their understanding of the Downtown Master Plan and Leveraging Constituency Power at Common Groundz Coffee Shop and Capital Ale House. Participants, from as far west as Goochland and far east as Church Hill, gained in-depth knowledge of the Downtown Master Plan and the skills to effectively advocate for a cohesive, connected Capital Speaker.

Many thanks to our inspiring speakers: John Taylor, City of Richmond Department of Community Development; Richard Taylor, PSG Steering Committee Member and Government Relations Manager with the Virginia Housing Development Authority; Helen O'Beirne, Housing Opportunities Made Equal; and Tom Phan, City of Richmond Department of Community Development.

River City Saunter 2008

09.21.08

Over 170 participants explored the City and learned about smart growth principles and the Downtown Master Plan at PSG's River City Saunter Bus Tour. Afterwards we celebrated with local food and local beer at Legend Brewing Company, with great music by MOOSSA and a silent auction on transportation alternatives like bus tickets, bike equipment, and outdoor adventures. Learn more.

Hands-On Community Visioning Session in Varina

09.15.09

240 citizens joined Jim Donati, Henrico County staff, and a special guest presenter at Henrico Theatre for a hands-on working group discussion regarding the Henrico 2026 Comprehensive Plan. The Varina District Town Meeting was sponsored by the Honorable James B. Donati, Jr., Supervisor, Varina Magisterial District.

10% Night at Que Pasa Restaurant in Church Hill

08.14.08

Church Hill residents and West End Henricans alike joined PSG at Richmond's oldest neighborhood's newly renovated Que Pasa Restaurant. PSG benefited from ten percent of the night's proceeds. Lively discussions and idea sharing made this a special night of community engagement and supporting a new local favorite. Thank you to Que Pasa Restaurant, owner John Sanchez, and the smart growthers who came out to learn more about PSG, the Downtown Master Plan, Church Hill, and our role for a more vibrant Richmond.

Tree Hill Farm in Varina.