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Sunrise 7:24 a.m. | Sunset 5:07 p.m.

RICtoday_SpringlineDevelopment_DemolitionGif

The county hosted a ceremonial demolition of the former Best Products building. | Gif by RICtoday

Chesterfield is saying goodbye to the old Spring Rock Green shopping center in favor of a redevelopment called Springline at District 60.

Located at the intersection of Route 60 and Chippenham Parkway, the shopping center will soon be the site of a 42-acre, mixed-use urban village. The plan is to center it around a gathering space designed for festivals, farmers markets, and public events.

At an announcement event on Tuesday, March 21, county leaders expressed their excitement for Springline’s promise of employment opportunities, retail, and restaurants.

The name Springline comes from a nearby spring where businessman James Robertson started the Beaufont Lithia Springs Company in 1896. The name District 60 — a reference to nearby Route 60 — is meant to connect the broader area, including the nearby Stonebridge development.

RICtoday_SpringlineDevelopment_Announcement — County Administrator Joseph Casey at the development announcement.
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Photo by RICtoday

County officials kicked off the redevelopment with a ceremonial demolition of the former Best Products building. The first phase of construction will include:

A six-story mixed-use building with 300 residential units
A 150,000-sqft office building
A green common area
A sports tournament and entertainment venue

After the first phase, expect more housing, commercial space, entertainment venues, and a hotel to be added. The site will also host a new precinct for CCPD.

Mark Miller, the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors member for the Midlothian District, spoke about the opportunity for sustainability and connectivity at Springline. Plans for the development include walking and biking trails, public lawns, and trees for shade.

“I can feel the community spirit beginning to lift,” Miller said.

Asked

What excites you most about Springline?

A. Retail options
B. Green space and trails
C. New restaurants
D. Office space

Let us know

Events

Wednesday, March 22

“Les Misérables” | Wednesday, March 22-Sunday, March 26 | Times vary | Altria Theater, 6 N. Laurel St., Richmond | $32-$104 | If you’ve dreamed a dream of seeing this musical onstage, get tickets for the Broadway in Richmond production.

Thursday, March 23

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” | Thursday, Mar. 23 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $8 | Seeing this action classic on the big screen will be no problemo.

Friday, March 24

4th Friday Reception | Friday, Mar. 24 | 6-8 p.m. | Art Works, 320 Hull St., Richmond | Free | Meet artists Cary Loving, Bev Ulrich, James Torres, and Helene Ruiz, and check out the Recycled All Media Show while enjoying live music.

Saturday, March 25

Dog Jog, 5K, and Block Party | Saturday, Mar. 25 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Richmond SPCA, 2519 Hermitage Rd., Richmond | $0-$75 | Join the fun in person or virtually while supporting the SPCA.
Smashed RVA @ Westray’s Finest | Saturday, Mar. 25 | 5-9 p.m. | Westray’s Finest Ice Cream, 214 N. Lombardy St., Richmond | Cost of purchase | Grab dinner and dessert at this Fan pop-up.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

Click here to have your event featured.

100+ more events

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Finance

Average retirement savings by age: Are you on track?

SmartAsset matches you with vetted financial advisors in your area. | Photo by SmartAsset

Many Americans worry they’re not saving enough for retirement, and rightfully so. Do your current savings meet the recommended amount for people your age? Find out. 👀

The amount some people have saved may be shocking, but it’s not too late to seek advice. A financial advisor could help increase your returns and alleviate stress. Try this free tool to get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area.*

FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE = FINANCIAL POWER

News Notes

Weather

60º | Cloudy | 5% chance of rain

Open

The Arts District just added to its restaurant lineup. Wok This Way is now serving Asian street food out of the upstairs space of Switch Pop-Up Bar. The concept is from Trey Owens — a co-owner of Soul Taco and JewFro — and local entertainment company LX Group. (Richmond BizSense)

Closing

The Church Hill pizza and ice cream place Anthony’s on the Hill announced that it will close permanently. Owner Michael Calogerakis said in a social media post that he is retiring after 45 years in the restaurant industry. Anthony’s has been open since 2010.

Edu

Several RPS schools will be renamed due to their connection to racist ideologies. Binford MS, John B. Cary ES, Ginter Park ES, and George Wythe HS will get new names. Principals of each school will facilitate receiving suggestions and feedback. Give your input at a community meeting.
RPS has made moves to address chronic student absenteeism, which has been a particular challenge during the pandemic. The district conducted a pilot with the dropout recovery program ChallengeU in 2021 and has since hired three droput recovery specialists and five more family liaisons. (VPM)

Plan Ahead

NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace is bringing his block party back to Richmond after a successful first iteration last August. The festivities will take place on Friday, March 31 from 6-10 p.m. at the Richmond Raceway amphitheater. You can register in advance for the free event. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Holiday

Carytown is hosting its annual egg hunt on Sunday, April 9. Shop around throughout the day and search for eggs with special treats and discounts hidden inside.

Award

Deau Eyes won the Newlin Music Prize for the album “Legacies.” A jury of 80+ local musicians, journalists, and artists as well as fans voted for the best album released in 2022 in the Richmond-Petersburg metropolitan area. Listen to “Legacies” and other nominees on our community Spotify playlist.

Edu

Looking for summer enrichment opportunities for your high school student? The Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program can help to determine if your child’s passions could lead to a future career or college major. Choose from a variety of courses (think: medicine, business, law, and government) and learn online from world-class professors and engaging, interactive videos.*

Shop

It’s that time of year to freshen up your home’s aroma, and our online shop (Six & Main) has the perfect candles. Drift away to scents such as woods + berries by The Rustic House or ripe juniper in a reusable vessel by Plant Based Candles. That smells just about right.

Seasonal

Has spring sprung in your home yet? If you’re looking to get outdoors, this wipeable tablecloth is just begging for some alfresco dining, and these garden and herb labels will get you in a planting mood. Plus, this viral birdfeeder practically brings the birds inside with you.

City

Budget breakdown: Education

The FY24 and CIP proposals emphasize education funding. | Graphic by RICtoday

Mayor Levar Stoney introduced his budget proposal for fiscal year 2024 to City Council on Monday, March 6. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the numbers on education.

A major point of emphasis in Stoney’s original proposal was his $21,152,485 increase in funds for Richmond Public Schools. He also highlighted a 46.1% increase in RPS funding since he became mayor in 2016.

There’s also:

$800,000 in new funding for the Richmond Public Library to add Sunday hours at the Main, Ginter Park, Broad Rock, and West End branches
$474,000 in increased funding for Communities in Schools
$1.36 million in increased funding for NextUp RVA

Meanwhile, the Capital Improvement Plan proposal — which covers FY 2024-2028 — has $2.5 million per year for school maintenance, $200 million in FY 2024 for school modernization, and $15 million specifically to help rebuild Fox Elementary.